Tomorrow is the first day of school. I can’t remember a time where the September Long Weekend didn’t mean “it’s time to get ready for school.” As a kid, that meant schedules, timetables, and school supplies. As a young adult, that meant paying tuition and buying textbooks. As a grown-up (whatever that even means), that meant prepping the classroom and getting ready to head back … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – The First Day
When I was in third year university, a flautist and fellow student named Jessica was killed in a car accident. I remember that winter being very traumatic at school, but one moment was particularly so. While I wasn’t in the U of M Symphony Orchestra, my friends who were told me that the next rehearsal was cancelled, but practice would resume on its next regular … Continue reading Music Ed Monday (Tuesday) – Kindness Matters
When I walked into Complex Games that fateful Spring day of 2013, I saw 3D models of, what looked like, the nephews from DuckTales, but immediately put it aside. I had a meeting with Noah Decter-Jackson (the CEO of the studio) because he wanted to talk to me about an upcoming project. “… No…” I thought to myself in disbelief. “I must be mistaken.” I … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – The Big Leagues
In Part One of this mini-series, I reviewed how the character of Jean-Luc Picard was influential to me in my adolescence. But, when I was a lot younger, I had Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime (from Generation One) was strong without being brutish. He would fight, but only when necessary. He would take responsibility of his actions and always, always protect the humans. That was a … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – Transform and Make It So (Part 2)
“Opportunity looks a lot like hard work.” -Steve Jobs That sounds like something he’d say, right? Except that he didn’t, the actor playing him said that. “Opportunity looks a lot like hard work.” – Ashton Kutcher Yes, Ashton Kutcher. I went to see Jobs the other day (with my amazing wife) and I was a bit leary of Kutcher’s portrayal of one of the greatest thinkers … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – Books, Covers, and Opportunity
While at Grade 10 Band Camp, the chaperones (all of whom were educators) were discussing the trials of teaching and one of them said something that I haven’t forgotten: What really troubles me isn’t when they don’t get the material, but when they resist it. If they’re trying, then they’ll get it eventually, but when they resist it, they will always miss the beauty. That’s what is really … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – When They Miss the Beauty
So, I’m reading a book that’s blowing my mind. It’s called The Curse of the Good Girl and it’s by Rachel Simmons. I’ve had it on my book shelf for about three years – I bought it in the same shopping trip as The Purity Myth, which also blew my mind. Clearly, this was a good day at the bookstore. The Curse of the Good … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – The Double Bind of Truth-Telling
Strolling along the edge of the sea, a man catches sight of a young woman who appears to be engaged in a ritual dance. She stoops down, then straightens to her full height, casting her arm out in an arc. Drawing closer, he sees that the beach around her is littered with starfish, and she is throwing them one by one into the sea. He … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – The Starfish Story
At the beginning of this year, we had a PD session on character development which really changed the way that think about teaching. It didn’t change it in a philosophical way, but more in a practical and pragmatic way. It’s good that you want to make kids more successful and happier people, but how do you actually do it in a classroom day to day? … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – Little one, what do you choose to be when you grow up?
Once upon a time, console platformers (Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, Wonder Boy, etc.) gave the player three lives to beat the level. In the case of Super Mario Bros., you got three lives to beat the whole game. You may be thinking “but you’ve got 1ups!” and yes, that’s true, but allow me to pull you into a stressful part of your past… You (as … Continue reading VGM Ed Mondnesday – “Dying Over and Over Repeatedly” or “Why Super Meat Boy Makes Students Into More Successful Human Beings”
