So, I was lucky enough to marry my best friend. We have things in common, things we do on our own. We have similar views in almost every aspect. We get along swimmingly (as long as does what I say). :)
I know that I am not the easiest person to live with. In fact, I might be one of the harder people on this planet to live with. However, my husband knows just when to stand up to me, just when to back down, when to hold me up, and when to step aside and let me fall a little. He has been my strength through the majority of my life. Now that I am 32, Sam has officially been IN my life for longer than he was NOT.
He has so many wonderful qualities. I don't think I tell him often enough how I feel. I try to show him. Much like it's explained in the wonderful book, "The Five Love Languages", I feel loved through physical affection and that's how I try to SHOW my love as well. Sam's love language is more towards the words of affirmation. That's where I need to be better. Trying to show more respect and love towards my husband through my words.
I'm not saying he's perfect, as no one is. But, he's perfect for me.
I love you, mr. Sam and am very proud of who you are.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Thursday, May 05, 2011
I love my job...part 652
So, I am skipping the rest of the blog challenge...unless I want to blog and don't have a topic. :)
I know I say all the time how much I love my job. I just want to say it one more time. Teaching is an amazing thing. When I first started teaching lessons, I just copied what my teacher did with me. I didn't always understand the why behind everything. In fact, in the beginning days when I was still in my undergrad program and teaching a few lessons, I didn't know the why at all. Once I learned the why, it became very important for me to help my students to understand the why as well. I found they were able to make changes sooner and for the better if they understood why I wanted them to do certain exercises or obtain certain techniques.
Then, there are amazing days like today. And really, most of the days so far this year. There are always exceptions, but my students are... interested. :) When students are interested, they ask intelligent questions. They do the work and understand the reasoning behind why I want them to. The start to put two and two together and understand that in music history, they learned who Debussy was and in theory class, they analyzed his chord usage. Now they get to perform his piece. Sometimes they can't link all of those things together, but it's fun to teach them that it's possible to do so. It's fun to see the looks on their faces when they realize that a term they learned in conducting class is now showing up in the song they are singing for their lesson. They may have to look up what it means, but it helps to solidify the understanding that everything they are given is connected. It's music. All of it. Sometimes that is hard for them to grasp.
I introduced one of my voice classes to several different listening examples today. They heard a recording of a castrato, countertenor, contralto, along with several other examples. They were able to use descriptors to talk about and identify what they were hearing. What they liked about a "bright" sound, what they didn't like about a "heavy" sound. I just logged off of facebook where a student was posting at 10:45 pm about the opera singers she was listening to. Would she have been exposed otherwise? Who knows? Add to that the fact that she is also taking voice lessons (along with class voice) and is required by my syllabus to actively listen to 3 hours of music per term. She will hear things this term that she has never heard before. How fun is that? How about the student who is graduating who opened her own studio in the fall and will be providing her first student recital at the end of this month? She has taken her learning and passed it on to others. that's fun too. :) Students who have gone on to teach in classrooms, go into grad school, and audition for opera programs.
It's happening as I get older and teach for a longer period of time. The idea that my students not only have an understanding and working knowledge of their voices, but they develop a passion for a new level of learning. One where they combine their music history and theory and conducting classes with their vocal proficiencies and end up better on the other side. Better people, better learners, better teachers, and better singers. I am so lucky to be able to watch their self-realization and their growth!
To quote a Jason Robert Brown song, "I'm a part of that"! Maybe someone who has never experienced their head voice and had no idea they could sing that high. Or someone who has never been able to stand in front of people yet alone sing in front of them. I get to show them. It's quite an honor that comes with (what I feel is) a great responsibility.
I have had students take voice lessons from within other majors and switch to music and go on to Master's programs in music once they realized they had potential. and she is LOVING every minute of it!!
I am so lucky to have the chance to work with my students. They are all wonderful in their own ways. They must have a lot of faith in me and in themselves to do what I ask of them. To put themselves out on the line and learn to fail in order to succeed. I am so happy that I get the brief moment to guide them on their journey to self discovery. Thank you students of the past, present, and future for your trust and your work. I am so lucky!!
I know I say all the time how much I love my job. I just want to say it one more time. Teaching is an amazing thing. When I first started teaching lessons, I just copied what my teacher did with me. I didn't always understand the why behind everything. In fact, in the beginning days when I was still in my undergrad program and teaching a few lessons, I didn't know the why at all. Once I learned the why, it became very important for me to help my students to understand the why as well. I found they were able to make changes sooner and for the better if they understood why I wanted them to do certain exercises or obtain certain techniques.
Then, there are amazing days like today. And really, most of the days so far this year. There are always exceptions, but my students are... interested. :) When students are interested, they ask intelligent questions. They do the work and understand the reasoning behind why I want them to. The start to put two and two together and understand that in music history, they learned who Debussy was and in theory class, they analyzed his chord usage. Now they get to perform his piece. Sometimes they can't link all of those things together, but it's fun to teach them that it's possible to do so. It's fun to see the looks on their faces when they realize that a term they learned in conducting class is now showing up in the song they are singing for their lesson. They may have to look up what it means, but it helps to solidify the understanding that everything they are given is connected. It's music. All of it. Sometimes that is hard for them to grasp.
I introduced one of my voice classes to several different listening examples today. They heard a recording of a castrato, countertenor, contralto, along with several other examples. They were able to use descriptors to talk about and identify what they were hearing. What they liked about a "bright" sound, what they didn't like about a "heavy" sound. I just logged off of facebook where a student was posting at 10:45 pm about the opera singers she was listening to. Would she have been exposed otherwise? Who knows? Add to that the fact that she is also taking voice lessons (along with class voice) and is required by my syllabus to actively listen to 3 hours of music per term. She will hear things this term that she has never heard before. How fun is that? How about the student who is graduating who opened her own studio in the fall and will be providing her first student recital at the end of this month? She has taken her learning and passed it on to others. that's fun too. :) Students who have gone on to teach in classrooms, go into grad school, and audition for opera programs.
It's happening as I get older and teach for a longer period of time. The idea that my students not only have an understanding and working knowledge of their voices, but they develop a passion for a new level of learning. One where they combine their music history and theory and conducting classes with their vocal proficiencies and end up better on the other side. Better people, better learners, better teachers, and better singers. I am so lucky to be able to watch their self-realization and their growth!
To quote a Jason Robert Brown song, "I'm a part of that"! Maybe someone who has never experienced their head voice and had no idea they could sing that high. Or someone who has never been able to stand in front of people yet alone sing in front of them. I get to show them. It's quite an honor that comes with (what I feel is) a great responsibility.
I have had students take voice lessons from within other majors and switch to music and go on to Master's programs in music once they realized they had potential. and she is LOVING every minute of it!!
I am so lucky to have the chance to work with my students. They are all wonderful in their own ways. They must have a lot of faith in me and in themselves to do what I ask of them. To put themselves out on the line and learn to fail in order to succeed. I am so happy that I get the brief moment to guide them on their journey to self discovery. Thank you students of the past, present, and future for your trust and your work. I am so lucky!!
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