Violinist.com - Because you can't say enough about the violin

News by E-mail
Violinist.com - Violin Blogs - Patricia Baser - Blog Entry
Printer-friendly version
Patricia Baser

the class that wouldn't die

September 13, 2007 at 2:43 AM

Last night, oh foolish me. I had to check my email before I went to bed. All of the sudden I was teaching my favorite class again. It's a bit like an old Night Gallery show where someone dies, goes south and then they find out that their eternal punishment is to watch an elderly couple's vacation slides over and over. Only in this case, I think I have somehow made it to purgatory. The class has been adjusted to have a bit fewer students (took out the worst of the worst, the ones with something like 25-40 discipline referrals), but since I was told that I wouldn't have the class anymore, well GRRRR. So, since I wasn't given adequate notice to prepare anything, I was given a couple of videos to show them. One was the A & E Mozart (excuse me, Moe-Zart) video. I have seen this particular video before, and remembered them showing some of Mozart's letters to his cousin that included some rather inappropriate doodling. Hey, Mozart has something in common with my students! Fortunately, the students, as usual, were not paying much attention and did not notice. Oh, how I can only pine for the old days up north, where my union rep would have filed a grievance and the problem would have magically disappeared.

So we'll see how tomorrow goes. I'll have a symphony rehearsal in the evening with Otis III and Dexter Redding. It's Georgia music week and this year features the music of Otis Redding, Jr. If only I were sittin' on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll in...

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on September 13, 2007 at 3:12 AM
I really feel for you. Your teaching job is god-awful. Can you find another job? Even working as a cashier at a store would be preferable, I suppose.
From Anne Horvath
Posted on September 13, 2007 at 2:52 PM
The anti-union attitudes in the Southeast are fascinating. ("Union" is pronounced "Yoon-Yawn" around here). Interestingly enough, Labor Day is a very popular vacation day. Go figure.

Also, one of my private school students was taught about "Hay-Din" in her general music class at school.

Also, I have never seen any "Night Gallery" episodes. Are they any good? I watched Vol. 34 of "The Twilight Zone" last night, courtesy of my online DVD rental company. Good stuff...

From Patricia Baser
Posted on September 13, 2007 at 7:58 PM
Night Gallery was a show Rod Serling did in the early 1970s (I think). Its along the same lines as the Twilight Zone. Maybe I am in the Twilight Zone.
From Anne Horvath
Posted on September 13, 2007 at 8:14 PM
Cool. I'll add that show to my online mail order DVD rental company queue. I put ALL of the Twilight Zone episodes on my queue, and have enjoyed them so much.
From Albert Justice
Posted on September 14, 2007 at 2:24 AM
I'm sorry this has happened, but glad you have a more manageable class. I loved MA in High School, and am sorry though, that it has been such a burden for you.

Have'm interpret Stravinsky and modern progressives! ;).

This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

Music Giveaway

Mark O'Connor Mark O'Connor's method books -- released this week -- teach students using many styles of American music. Enter to win a set of the books this week, on Violinist.com. Photo: Deanna Rose

Search

About Patricia

Patricia Baser is from Macon, Georgia. Biography

E-mail to Patricia Baser

RSS Subscribe in a reader

Blog Archive

2009: Oct. Sep. Jul. Jun. May Apr. Mar. Feb. Jan.

2008: Dec. Nov. Oct. Sep. Aug. Jul. Jun. May Apr. Mar. Feb. Jan.

2007: Dec. Nov. Oct. Sep. Aug. Jul. Jun. May Apr. Mar. Feb. Jan.