Tag: education

Music Ed Mondays, VGM Wednesdays

VGM Ed Mondnesday – “Dying Over and Over Repeatedly” or “Why Super Meat Boy Makes Students Into More Successful Human Beings”

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”

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Composition, Music Ed Mondays

Music Ed Monday – The Space Between

I stopped complaining about how busy I was a long time ago because I realized that I wasn’t really as busy as most people, especially parents… and especially moms.  I have no kids to drive to soccer practice, I have no lunches to make, I have very little laundry to do (comparatively), I enjoy my job, I have an easy commute… Organizationally, my life is … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – The Space Between

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Music, Music Ed Mondays

Music Ed Monday – The Rollerskating Girl

Wow, October already, eh? What a wild start up.  For teachers and/or students reading this, I hope it’s been grand and the machine is running full steam ahead! We had a wonderful PD session on Friday.  Actually, “wonderful” doesn’t quite cut it – it was earth-shattering.  I barely slept all weekend because I couldn’t keep my mind out of it. The speaker’s name is Debbie … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – The Rollerskating Girl

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Music Ed Mondays

Music Ed Monday – The Gift is Ours

Around this time of the year, teachers often get cards and letters and usually for thanks.  It’s a nice gesture and I always look forward to it. That sounds a  bit pretentious, but given that the nature of our job is to help other human beings further themselves and figure out the world around them, the notion that some of them may be grateful isn’t … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – The Gift is Ours

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Music Ed Mondays

Music Ed Monday – Before You Go…

Today is the last day of class.   So, Grade 12s, you made it.  Congratulations 🙂 This wasn’t the hardest thing you’ve had to do, but it certainly wasn’t the easiest either.  It took a lot of work – sometimes, you didn’t put in quite as much as you should, put it appears that you put in enough.  You’ve made a great start. Mr. Brandon had … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – Before You Go…

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Music, Music Ed Mondays

Music Ed Monday – Good News Calls

 But the most important lesson to be learned about calling parents at home to praise the achievements of their children is that those calls are actually more effective.  The student comes into class the next day with a lighter step, a brighter smile, and usually more of the same wonderfulness that prompted me to call home the night before. – Taylor Mali “What Teachers Make” … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – Good News Calls

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Music, Music Ed Mondays

Music Ed Mondays – Listen Harder Than You Play

This is one of my favourite one-liners.  It just says so much in so little (the mark of a good one-liner, I say!): – It tells the musicians to ramp their awareness. – It encourages them to focus their attention on something. – It reinforces them to take a greater responsibility for the whole… And more! As musicians, it’s so easy to get lost in … Continue reading Music Ed Mondays – Listen Harder Than You Play

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Music, Music Ed Mondays

Music Ed Mondays – They Just Aren’t Scared

So, Spring Break is done and we’re back to real life now.  Teachers reading, I hope that you’ve had some chance to rest; students reading, welcome back 🙂 About two weeks before, we went to the Brandon Jazz Festival in Brandon, MB, Canada.  The playing is fabulous and the clinics are usually good (like any festival, some clinics are good and others… not so), but … Continue reading Music Ed Mondays – They Just Aren’t Scared

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Music Ed Mondays

Music Ed Monday – Allow Yourself To Be Moved

The strangest thing happened on Friday night: I went to “Indie Game: The Movie” and was emotionally moved.  I mean, really emotionally. I had to go home and journal after watching the movie, it was that profound. If you don’t know of IGTM, then watch the trailer below and read up on it.  There were only two screenings in Winnipeg and both were sold out – … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – Allow Yourself To Be Moved

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Music, Music Ed Mondays

Music Ed Monday – A Flute Player’s Relationship With Music

Good afternoon! Here is another essay from a Grade 11 Fundamentals of Music student describing her relationship with Music.  It’s very personal (but I have her permission to post it) and that’s its greatest strength: It’s authentic. This reminds me how lucky I am to teach Music to young adults who are invested in this collaborative effort.  But while the ensemble is collaborative, there are individual rewards 🙂 … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – A Flute Player’s Relationship With Music

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