Proud teacher moment

[tjcurtin1]

I hope you'll indulge me this - here are 4 short pieces played by my 8 eighth grade students who just graduated yesterday. We have played music and/or sung together almost every day since first grade - it has been one of my greatest pleasures (among many) in working with them. They all play several instruments - the two 14-year old guitarists only started playing this fall.

Instrumentation: soprano, alto, tenor and bass recorders, guitars, and cello (in Ashokan Farewell)

Star of the County Down
http://www.box.net/shared/64gqjsk29e

Si Beag Si Mor
http://www.box.net/shared/xgkbcdajzy

Now is the Hour - a Maori Farewell
http://www.box.net/shared/4ikhjn0or2

Ashokan Farewell
http://www.box.net/shared/izn13uotvf

[Algonquin]

That was excellent!

Where all skills learned in school are important, I am certain without a doubt that when these students pick up an instrument in the future, they will fondly think back to the teacher that helped instill their love of music.
I can't think of a better reward. Your students are incredible! :bravo:

Great post!
David

[tunghaichuan]

Awesome! :bravo:

Those kids are very lucky to have you as a teacher. :master:

There me be hope for the future after all. :AOK:

tung

[bigG]

Absolutely marvelous, tj! :bravo:

You, and they, must be VERY proud! You do, indeed, have a GREAT job! :D

Are those traditional arrangements, or done by you?

[tjcurtin1]

Are those traditional arrangements, or done by you?


Thanks for listening and for the kind words, everyone. Working with these kids has given me a new perspective on the world, and yes, Tung, real hope for the future!

bigG -all of those arrangements happen to come out of one book - a great source for recorder music: Music from Around the World for Recorders · Michael Preston (another Waldorf teacher) published by AWSNA publications. It includes guitar chords, too. If anyone is interested and can't find it, PM me and I'll give you a link.

[aeolian]

The kids did a fantastic job! Thanks to you for guiding them to this stage of ability.

I have 2 kids and both of them did a year of band in the 6th grade. My daughter (who is now a high school freshman) played clarinet, and my son (who is just finishing up 7th grade) took trumpet. My wife and I went to every concert they did. Unfortunately neither of them decided to stay in band after that one year, but still I'm happy that they got some basic musical education in them.

I've been trying to get them to pick up guitar, but to no avail. I'm guessing they listen to me and decide it is not worth their time to sound like that!

[oldguy]

Beautiful, TJ!
You should be as proud of those students as they should be of you.
I wish every child could have someone like you to tutor them, absolutely wonderful stuff, and thanks so much for sharing that with us all.:)

[60's guy]

I hope you'll indulge me this - here are 4 short pieces played by my 8 eighth grade students who just graduated yesterday. We have played music and/or sung together almost every day since first grade - it has been one of my greatest pleasures (among many) in working with them. They all play several instruments - the two 14-year old guitarists only started playing this fall.

Instrumentation: soprano, alto, tenor and bass recorders, guitars, and cello (in Ashokan Farewell)

Star of the County Down
http://www.box.net/shared/64gqjsk29e

Si Beag Si Mor
http://www.box.net/shared/xgkbcdajzy

Now is the Hour - a Maori Farewell
http://www.box.net/shared/4ikhjn0or2

Ashokan Farewell
http://www.box.net/shared/izn13uotvf
That was incredible!

It's always great to hear young people's talent.

BTW, You're not all too far away from where I am.

I grew up in Westerly, R.I. and I was the Drum Major for my junior high school band in (yikes :eek: )1963 when our local school bands were 120 or more students strong. Westerly, R.I. always had a very strong music program until 1970. We performed at the 1963 World's Fair.

:poke: I had to poke myself. OH NO! I'm gettin' old!

After 1970, the local school bands amounted to perhaps 30 or 40 students because of budget cuts or a lack of interest.

Sorry for getting off track.

Good for you! You did a great job of recording those kids. Keep up the good work and do everything you can to keep your music program going!

[street music]

TJ, amazing work you did with those students. That was very nice and must make you very proud.

[tjcurtin1]

Keep up the good work and do everything you can to keep your music program going!
Music is integral to our curriculum, in every classroom. Those pieces are just what I did with my own class - I usually tie the music to what we are studying (geography or history - we played some ancient Greek music in 5th grade which was really cool!). They also all sing in the upper grades chorus and play in the upper grades orchestra, taught by our 'real' music teacher. THey start with pentatonic flutes in first grade, recorders from second grade on. Everyone does a year with violin in the 4th grade, then continues or chooses another orchestra instrument. The guitar I brought in because the boys were interested, and they just took off with it (they both already play cello, which helped). It's pretty great - having music be just a regular part of your life growing up is a great gift, I think.