Welcome to my blog!
I am so honored to be the 2nd hop and also participating with this
FANTASTIC group of music bloggers!
I haven't been blogging as much as I would like, but I really enjoy it,and am looking forward to doing this more often throughout this next school year! I'm hoping that during this blog hop, you will be able to learn some things about us, and we will get a chance to learn about you. There is also a giveaway, so make sure to read to the end to find out what to do next.
1. What state/region are you in?
I was born and raised in North Carolina but married a South Carolina boy! He won out, and we now live in South Carolina. We lived in the Upstate when we were first married but now live in the Pee Dee region. It's definitely different than where I grew up, but I'm adjusting well - the beach sure does help!
2. What is your background education/experience?
I received my bachelor's degrees from East Carolina University in Music Therapy and (another) in Flute Performance. I was an overachiever. Ha! After being married for several years to a high school band director and also the birth of our daughter, I decided to go back to school to get a degree that would allow me to teach. I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received my Masters in the Art of Teaching (MAT). While I was in a cohort of Music majors, there were also English, History, Math, and ESOL majors in the program.
3. Why did you become a teacher?
Both of my parents were music teachers. In fact, my dad was my middle school band director. I was always playing my flute anywhere and everywhere growing up. But, my dad always discouraged my brothers and me from being a teacher. "There's no money teaching. The students are horrible." And on, and on. So, I didn't want to teach. I started college thinking I wanted to be a Physical Therapist but then realized how much Biology I was going to have to take. I HATE Biology. By the end of my first semester, I was torn between going to school for Accounting or Music Therapy. During winter break, I observed both an Accountant and a Music Therapist. I absolutely loved my time with the music therapist. I went back to college after break, and enrolled in as many general education classes as I could to get them out of the way before getting into the music program for the fall. I spent 4 years finishing classes for Music Therapy, but I still LOVED to play my flute. And, I was very good at it. I decided to stay an extra year and get a second degree in Flute Performance. My dad considers this a "useless" degree. "What can you do with that degree?"
And, honestly, while my dad was always quite negative about teaching and my performance degree, he does have a point, right? Teaching is not an easy job, and it's not always fun! Having a performance degree does nothing for you. You have to continue on in school to get your Master's and Doctorate to be able to do anything with that. And often when you get that far, you still struggle to make ends meet each month because you are teaching private lessons and traveling all over the place playing in 5 different orchestras in 5 different states.
Whew! That was long! Now that I'm done, let me tell you about the giveaway!
After you're finished with the hop, you can enter a giveaway for your chance to win tons of teacher goodies that are sure to make you smile! Simply leave a comment on this post with an answer to the highlighted question at the bottom of this post. Then, do the same at each blog hop stop. When you reach the end of the blog hop, you'll be able to enter the giveaway for your chance to win!
As I said earlier, my husband is a high school band director. I know all too well the struggles that he has. Student retention, tiny budgets, small paychecks, school politics, LONG days (he still hasn't made it home from his first band camp day-it's 9:56 p.m. as I write this). But, I also see the joy that teaching brings him. When he can "get through" to those few students. When students are so excited to come into the band room and tell him about their day. When those same students make region band or state band. And, who can complain about those summers off? No teacher ever!
We moved while I was pregnant, and I was not able to keep my job after having our daughter. And, that was ok. Because I was working way much harder than I wanted to, and I didn't really enjoy it. I did not want to spend more time at work than with my family. I chose to go back to college to get my Master's degree so that I could get my teaching license. It was one year of school, and a huge sacrifice. But, I now get to work with children and see the smiles on their faces every day. I get to share my love of music every day. I get to spend time with our daughter in the afternoons. I get to spend time with my family during the summers. I don't have to work on the holidays. I get more time off from work (and do not have to ask for it). I basically have the same yearly schedule as my husband and daughter. No, I do not get paid enough. Sure, sometimes teaching makes me crazy. But,
I.Love.Every.Day.Of.It!
Whew! That was long! Now that I'm done, let me tell you about the giveaway!
After you're finished with the hop, you can enter a giveaway for your chance to win tons of teacher goodies that are sure to make you smile! Simply leave a comment on this post with an answer to the highlighted question at the bottom of this post. Then, do the same at each blog hop stop. When you reach the end of the blog hop, you'll be able to enter the giveaway for your chance to win!
The winner will receive some paper goodies to stay organized, an inspirational quote block for your desk, a book to make you laugh when you need it, hand sanitizer, a glass jar to store your pencils, magnetic clips, paper clips, binder clips, and push pins.
Here's the question you need to answer!
Why did you become a teacher?
Click on the image below to go to the next stop! Happy hopping!
I've pretty much always wanted to be a teacher. I love children and I just love the art of teaching! I honestly don't care too much what subject I teach, although as a music teacher I am definitely passionate about music- I think I could teach almost any subject at the elementary level and be equally happy though!
ReplyDeleteI became a teacher because I liked making a difference, but also because I wanted to make a positive difference through music. In general, I enjoy teaching students of all ages and situations. I can literally see the difference I make as they learn a new concept, and that's a great feeling!
ReplyDeleteI became a music teacher because music became such an important role in my life in high school. I wanted to pursue a career I would enjoy and be passionate about. I first wanted to be a band director. It wasn't until junior year of college hat I discovered the wonderful world of elementary music :)
ReplyDeleteI started out wanting to be a band director too, but changed my mind after several years in elementary music :)
DeleteMe too! Junior year of college was when I added in the elementary methods so I could have a combined vocal & instrumental degree. That was the best decision I made!
DeleteI always loved music too and played and sang at every opportunity-mainly self taught. My father didn't want me to pursue anything in the arts-hence a history degree (ugh). I pursued the music ed on my own after having 4 children and a stint in Japan--got very lucky and landed a teaching job in elementary school on an emergency certificate and just had to take the education classes. As I went through my first day on the job I realized that I'd come home-love the kids, the music and living in that world. Awesome story and so glad you stuck to your HEART.
ReplyDeleteGinny, that sounds so much like my husband's situation! His mom taught kindergarten for 30 years and encouraged him NOT to get into teaching. He had thought about teaching but he ultimately majored in political science and creative writing then went for a masters in literature. Long story short, he has gone through all the certification classes and is now teaching HS English. LOL Anyway, that's not my story. Yours just made me think of his situation!
ReplyDeleteAs for me...although I came from a very musical family and was always involved in music (piano lessons, band, choir, church choir, all-county and all-state festivals, etc.) I never considered music as a career. In fact, for the longest time (until beginning high school possibly?) I wanted to be an archeologist! Weird, huh?
While in ninth grade I was approached by my choir teacher about a state summer program for the arts, specifically their choir program. I thought it sounded fun so I auditioned and got in. It was truly a mini college experience. I lived in a dorm for four weeks, had 3-hour choir rehearsals each day, took theory and music history classes, was in a small ensemble, and took voice lessons. That's when I feel in LOVE with choir and was incredibly inspired by the passion of the director I worked with that summer.
My plan from there was to become a choral conductor but, since there aren't any undergrad programs in that and there was no way I was about to become a performance major, I settled on Music Ed. After taking a couple conducting classes and seeing more of the "politics" involved, I had no desire to go on for choral conducting.
At that point I wasn't sure about education but I didn't know what else to do so I stuck with it. I'm glad I did! Although there are some days it's really hard, it has been wonderfully rewarding and I'm so happy to be doing what I do!
I know it's not the typical story of "I always wanted to do it! It was my passion and nothing was getting in my way!" and I don't want anyone to think from my story that education was a cop-out. Although my decision started out as a path to another career and after that changed their was still a lot of uncertainty, I believe all of these were necessary steps to lead me to where I am today and to help me appreciate what I do!
Sorry for such a long story, but it's not a simple question to answer. ; )
I think I've always been a teacher. In high school I taught swimming lessons, twirling lessons, vacation bible school. (Never reading or math though!) It just took me a while to finally find my place as a music teacher.
ReplyDeleteJust like you, both of my parents are teachers! My mother is an elementary reading teacher and my father is an elementary music teacher. Everyone in my family is musical- randomly bursting into song was a regular part of my childhood. So I've always known that music would be an essential part of my life. In high school I also began exploring my love of art, specifically graphic design and web design. However I knew that when it came time to apply to colleges, I really needed to narrow my focus in order to get a degree I was proud of. And that's when I decided on Music Education. I love my job and I also really love being able to use my passion for graphic design and web design in my blogging!
ReplyDeleteI think I came into teaching honestly. Both of my parents were teachers as well as a brother, and several aunts, uncles and cousins. I think the that choice was made before I was even born!
ReplyDeleteI helped teach the 8th grade pre-band camp in high school and loved sharing my love of music (and bossing people around) :) After that, I just never thought of doing anything else!
ReplyDeleteI knew I wanted to pursue music after completing my 6th grade year in band. I never really thought about teaching until I went to college though. When I switched from clarinet to vocal emphasis it was either performance or education. I went the education route. From my experience as a student, elementary music was awful and high school was awesome. So, I was set on becoming a high school choir director. Student teaching completely changed my mind though. Because of my lack of choral / piano skills, I felt intimidated by middle and high school students. Some of them had far more experience singing in ensembles than I had. My elementary student teaching was amazing. I found my niche there and the younger personalities suit me better. There is where I found my love, my true calling :)
ReplyDeleteI knew I always wanted to be a teacher and music was part of my life starting at the age of 5. I lived in a rural area and was not able to attend kindergarten. My mother loved music and decided I should take piano lessons. Growing up, she would form music groups for kids in our area. We would rehearse and then she would take us to perform - even on a Pittsburgh TV show. I started clarinet in the 4th grade and continued playing it throughout high school. My piano lessons continued as well. My Saturdays as a teenager were spent driving an hour to take a 45 minute piano lesson and another hour drive home. In high school I gave up band for a year so that I could accompany the high school choir. I think that was when I knew I wanted to be a music teacher.
ReplyDeleteI became a music teacher because it was something I was good at and I had a very inspirational middle band teacher who really encouraged me and gave me confidence...it was since then that I knew I was going to be a music teacher. Although, I had always thought I'd be a Junior HS band director and I teach elementary school and LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteHonestly I never thought I would not be a teacher. I knew that in some way I would be teaching as an adult. It was just a part of who I was. My plan was to teach the early elementary grades (K-2), but it ended up being to teach piano. Which I love!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I ever had a moment of deciding to be a teacher. I just remember knowing I was on the wrong path, and taking steps to fix it. There was never a, I think I'll do this, moment. It was just what I was supposed to do.
ReplyDeleteI will admit that becoming a teacher was not the first thing on my list of things to do when I grew up. I knew and have always known that I wanted to be involved in something to do with music. Being a music educator was the most logical and stable way in my mind to provide for my children while also doing something I enjoyed. As I did my student teaching, I had that moment that let me know I was for sure where I was supposed to be. I have loved teaching ever since!
ReplyDeleteMalinda
My Musical Menagerie: Kodaly and Orff Classroom
My dad was an 8th grade English teacher so he was probably my first teacher role model. In high school, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, I just kept changing my mind about what kind of teacher: math teacher, English teacher, or music teacher? Eventually, music won out. I originally wanted to be a high school choir teacher, because that was what inspired me. But I had to observe a kindergarten music class every week my freshman year of college, and I quickly became passionate about teaching elementary music. Every job I've ever had has involved working with kids. It just made sense.
ReplyDelete