tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10476142524466726052024-03-12T19:18:20.451-07:00In the Middle With Mr Dinthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.comBlogger391125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-90244538351398442422024-03-05T14:43:00.000-08:002024-03-06T04:27:35.130-08:00My First Choir Teacher- An epic example of what is really important<div>I was in 5th grade.</div><div><br /></div><div>My sister, who was 6 years older than I was came home from school one day, and she said to me, "You're auditioning tomorrow for Amahl and the Night Visitors. Mrs. Pierce says we need a boy to play Amahl. Come in here for a quick voice lesson." </div><div><br /></div><div>She was bossy.</div><div><br /></div><div>But I worshipped at her altar, and I said, OK.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even though I hadn't sung very much at all at that point. ...And certainly not a lead role in a high school production. </div><div><br /></div><div>I went in the next day to audition. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was so nervous. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ms. Pierce handled me with great care, and I felt so comfortable with her. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was double cast with a very good childhood friend named Tony.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, it all felt very good to the young version of myself, and I moved forward.</div><div><br /></div><div>Getting this part and moving toward production was such an epic experience... life-changing really. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was a 5th grader. </div><div><br /></div><div>I loved going to rehearsals and communing with my sister's peers. I gained so much self-esteem from that experience, and it was a testament to how good Mrs. Pierce was at her job of being a choir teacher.</div><div><br /></div><div>Her standards were so incredibly high. I felt it even then. I mean...we were singing Menotti for goodness sake. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's not easy. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had no concept of the difficulty. </div><div><br /></div><div>I just did what she asked me to do. When I would miss a chromatic, she would help me hear it...so compassionately. I never felt any negative energy from her in any way. ...Just encouragement.</div><div><br /></div><div>We ended up doing the show again the following year, and I was so happy to get to do it again. </div><div><br /></div><div>That really says it all...I wouldn't have wanted to do it in 6th grade if it had been in any way a negative experience in 5th grade. All I felt was happiness for the opportunity and excitement to get started.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ms. Pierce's husband got a job in another town, and she resigned in 1976. It was my sister's senior year. </div><div><br /></div><div>5 years after she arrived, she was gone.</div><div><br /></div><div>I never got the high school experience under her direction.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fast forward to this past weekend...The weekend of March 1-3, 2024.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mn5phmtZsafQkkhd9Ke7hY8GZMXm5M8h9S1ZPiXuT6aWRj7-nH6exOURG43doOtH7IJtAOlozXwQFxj2VacVErcUSdemQH1wvLGAyODSoHDes2BP6r9drbLtBy5W5c19NQmfQKiW1s_ugGUbVw2SJn6JBi7se9LFwren9SMNwLCTzdDHqCH0UKu5nldF/s4032/IMG_3288.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mn5phmtZsafQkkhd9Ke7hY8GZMXm5M8h9S1ZPiXuT6aWRj7-nH6exOURG43doOtH7IJtAOlozXwQFxj2VacVErcUSdemQH1wvLGAyODSoHDes2BP6r9drbLtBy5W5c19NQmfQKiW1s_ugGUbVw2SJn6JBi7se9LFwren9SMNwLCTzdDHqCH0UKu5nldF/s320/IMG_3288.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's my sister.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She poured her heart into creating an event to honor Mrs. Pierce who entered my sister's life 50 years ago. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She did it because this teacher saw her and supported her through all of the personal challenges my sister faced during her high school years...and there were many.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My sister and about 10 of her peers worked together for months putting together this event.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUL7KMzy_mrn1JuAPrYCL4jVB2pwjKzrVhiFrVblSDjJZM_XJ-RyLXyLJdZDncKCZOT_WX_STDfzDcvPNBmnQXzdZHcV55hWV98z-sDZPOjT4ZXqzAYctCIEuXyXJChzPqfvugCAcElvhc1ykk-ypcynhwfjWj4T4FhL_ieNYmhWBl-JtzfklwSeNpZ-5/s4032/IMG_3296.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUL7KMzy_mrn1JuAPrYCL4jVB2pwjKzrVhiFrVblSDjJZM_XJ-RyLXyLJdZDncKCZOT_WX_STDfzDcvPNBmnQXzdZHcV55hWV98z-sDZPOjT4ZXqzAYctCIEuXyXJChzPqfvugCAcElvhc1ykk-ypcynhwfjWj4T4FhL_ieNYmhWBl-JtzfklwSeNpZ-5/s320/IMG_3296.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the group of singers who chose to be a part of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBV4zFpwMJptQmOnM-faL17PhKxZfWRLWp8M12xCenholnZd_BfirHXhQ9XEqRpt9iNGurKwCYDTPaj2q5xMVZOtM_KnSeCjQKxPXt4MpZGyydancG6zD65rF73qnbNurXp3rL6cZTsUQCke7RxFUY7ku7ZnvrXy4FvymKbm8lk7AQj4rfUMVkM0ebqiOp/s2048/429586305_7632829133416840_8174118862844182922_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBV4zFpwMJptQmOnM-faL17PhKxZfWRLWp8M12xCenholnZd_BfirHXhQ9XEqRpt9iNGurKwCYDTPaj2q5xMVZOtM_KnSeCjQKxPXt4MpZGyydancG6zD65rF73qnbNurXp3rL6cZTsUQCke7RxFUY7ku7ZnvrXy4FvymKbm8lk7AQj4rfUMVkM0ebqiOp/s320/429586305_7632829133416840_8174118862844182922_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The organizers gave us tracks for the three songs so we could learn them. One of the committee members arranged a special tribute song just for this event that included snippets of songs the choir had sung under Mrs. Pierce's leadership.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our old high school had closed down because they built a new one down the street. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The organizers contacted the school district and asked if they could open it for a day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And if you teach public school, you know that is no small feat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the photo I snapped as I walked up to the building to enter for the first time since I graduated in 1982.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwf9uLX6JziGeX3BiXoNZVDvNngHW7vc0fqHjTLiWuzVMbOFIstYgXcmxv_5-aIzNT_Alm-xYW4NNLYHuGwwXOXFKOYqtwzoxybRGGbItSkRyVpkxUujMlTPuARlhlPoROZhqhK5owTMnrbRfYZPBYgZyLK8z1say9Ne-kAFX189mgmxhey565lE8XEyn/s4032/IMG_3280.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwf9uLX6JziGeX3BiXoNZVDvNngHW7vc0fqHjTLiWuzVMbOFIstYgXcmxv_5-aIzNT_Alm-xYW4NNLYHuGwwXOXFKOYqtwzoxybRGGbItSkRyVpkxUujMlTPuARlhlPoROZhqhK5owTMnrbRfYZPBYgZyLK8z1say9Ne-kAFX189mgmxhey565lE8XEyn/s320/IMG_3280.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And this is Mrs. Pierce.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisulfWbggHz1kat8f5Y5_XvaBcaUfHJ2E6cszBSwqTmThweNjDgH9zyf-44nlCQdik1ymypjQ2iaVLWHenew71cEmClBfxJyHO908R3Gxn8IB8_G2n3UICHzj4boT_vqOBZ9e0oX9RZOLxau2Y29gOn06S5eOXSMliM3DqRhEAJWwu-hVzJq2ntcSmzYhP/s4032/IMG_3313.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisulfWbggHz1kat8f5Y5_XvaBcaUfHJ2E6cszBSwqTmThweNjDgH9zyf-44nlCQdik1ymypjQ2iaVLWHenew71cEmClBfxJyHO908R3Gxn8IB8_G2n3UICHzj4boT_vqOBZ9e0oX9RZOLxau2Y29gOn06S5eOXSMliM3DqRhEAJWwu-hVzJq2ntcSmzYhP/s320/IMG_3313.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">81 years old. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See that bin on the right? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She brought things to US. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What?! We were honoring YOU.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She handed out framed posters to students who'd done special events.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She played the piano for us and sang for us. It was so special. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Three of her former students volunteered to conduct the three songs we sang and they rehearsed us all day. Some of the people in the choir hadn't sung in a choir in 50 years. Some had flown from as far away as Missouri to Durham, NC to be a part of honoring Mrs. Pierce.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The plan was to minimize the hardship on Mrs. Pierce.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She was to conduct us in singing the Northern High School Alma Mater.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My sister rehearsed us on it that day to make sure we had the rhythms and pitches, but she reminded us that we wouldn't get to work with Mrs. Pierce until we were in front of the audience on the stage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/eumqoGUd0Ow">This was that moment</a> when she conducted us for the first time in front of the audience.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You know how when you sing with a group, and you are fully aware that everyone's heartbeat in the choir is exactly the same? That you are totally in sync as a group?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's what it felt like...on an Alma Mater that we had never rehearsed with her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It says so much about who she is and the impact she had on each of us...That we wanted so much to sing for her...still...50 years later...and that she could wave her arms and we would respond with as much intent as possible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had goosebumps singing an Alma Mater.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-------</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, I asked myself why.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Why did she land at this moment?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Why did we land at this moment?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With that many singers who came from all over...with an audience of people who were there to see it...in our original space...with this woman, who, in five years, left such an indelible mark on us and on that community?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've thought a lot about it, and here is what I've come up with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She had incredibly high standards. She pushed her choirs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When they didn't meet the standard, she would say "Godzilla"...trying not to curse, I suppose...and then she'd push some more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She poured herself into the musicals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She took the students from Northern Durham to New York City, and they will never forget it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She took her students to sing at the North Carolina Music Educator's Conference...one of her proudest accomplishments that she talked about this past weekend...She showed us the framed certificate of it that she's kept and she talked about it with joy. That experience made her so happy when it happened.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">------</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But a lot of choir directors do those things and never get honored by their students 50 years after doing it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And as I watched her. listened to her and sang for her, it all became clear.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> It never felt toxic when Betty Jo was in charge. As a student of hers, you knew that, first, the space was safe and professional.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was about the music, the community and the children who landed in front of her who were just that...children.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was never about getting another Superior rating or winning another trophy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Although, she had plenty of all of those things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One night, after a musical, the cast and Mrs. Pierce went to a pizza place to celebrate. It was raining that night. She told the students..."It's wet out there. Please be careful when you are going home."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mike Mooney, one of her students, raised his hand and said, "Mrs. Pierce, my tires are kind of bald." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She reiterated...please be careful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That night, he slid off the road and died.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She said that moment was one of her darkest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They sang parts of the Faure Requiem at his funeral in the auditorium of Northern High School...where we performed last weekend, and I remember it like it was yesterday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She always worked to give the students an amazing musical experience all while remembering that they are children and that they need support, guidance, respect, and love and never crossing those lines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As a 5th grader, I felt safe with her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She always remembered what was most important...the safety and well-being of the children...all while pushing them to their limits musically...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you Betty Jo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And thank you to my sister and to all of the people who organized this incredible tribute to an amazing educator who should be a role model for us all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLNgnjVLDmPDIYpJ4eMqUWD_jfLJIzLfNp2g23oac3Rb-vNhkRgsS1MBYs_PW2392bWkCLhwqEaNIXsip2RunjtbJC-QlgFO0oswLOCp_4r9KvAYd4rGs2oYPemFoWh9GwBZXsq19D4m6Gu_i5V8Z1enHNpmrJSRRm1GfN04rAtCBltIkaMz42ZpfXb-q/s1196/429589597_7632828513416902_7756285999792059579_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="552" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLNgnjVLDmPDIYpJ4eMqUWD_jfLJIzLfNp2g23oac3Rb-vNhkRgsS1MBYs_PW2392bWkCLhwqEaNIXsip2RunjtbJC-QlgFO0oswLOCp_4r9KvAYd4rGs2oYPemFoWh9GwBZXsq19D4m6Gu_i5V8Z1enHNpmrJSRRm1GfN04rAtCBltIkaMz42ZpfXb-q/s320/429589597_7632828513416902_7756285999792059579_n.jpg" width="148" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyt7TIRGnTikkcgXr3q50QG6EclWgydgftPowji9ocKjYmG-lEz0le2xa7cLgMvRbQqQrsSTLFrK5OdLZeE9oE_hFJbQ5T4jfQ_hL2L6__r3FYDBfqrCg3HmV8Pvx7qm0CsMrTQQFwGN2xNykYr5bsCJNEJ9EmngF60saay5nz6Uz9SPz1hCkGkLf52Y4/s4032/IMG_1257.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyt7TIRGnTikkcgXr3q50QG6EclWgydgftPowji9ocKjYmG-lEz0le2xa7cLgMvRbQqQrsSTLFrK5OdLZeE9oE_hFJbQ5T4jfQ_hL2L6__r3FYDBfqrCg3HmV8Pvx7qm0CsMrTQQFwGN2xNykYr5bsCJNEJ9EmngF60saay5nz6Uz9SPz1hCkGkLf52Y4/s320/IMG_1257.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKrTGrE5fk4L82j_xCatFv1k8FB6fy2QDdOox4NQJg2LVpj__ofR7hvZ1GbO8CMz-Xc3ui_-IoS2hYK5I87wcs0kET99mC0LIM-LQvQZ4mD-NXxd_o6Yt1bGkmmS_0VXO9j8UiuTlJ9Np1Akr48K0lzWOn7hAiJCf10TrvI-86xXLkSDbqP4Vd5RE5FXw/s4032/IMG_1263.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-4483582204941743232024-02-28T12:44:00.000-08:002024-02-28T12:46:44.151-08:00Mastering "CHAOS" in S-Cubed Sight Singing Program from Day 1- A Pop Quiz for your student<p style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.6em; padding: 0px;">In Lesson 6 of S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners, we introduce one of the most important skill sets in the entire program, and it is critical to teach it well the very first day. Not doing so can result in timid "CHAOS" sessions all year. If you are new to the program or if you've struggled with teaching "CHAOS" to your students, this product is for you. In this product, you will get a link to the video of me teaching "CHAOS" to my beginners. Your students will watch the video and then you will give them the 10-question quiz to make sure they've got it!</p><p style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.6em; padding: 0px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.6em; padding: 0px;">Then, the next day, you will review the concepts, and have them do it for the first time. Make sure you have fun with them that day when you try to make them lose "DO"! S-Cubed must always have the fun factor that allows you to use your personality in ways that connect you to the students. Remember...S-Cubed is part method and part philosophy!</p><p style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.6em; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.6em; padding: 0px;">Go get it <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mastering-CHAOS-in-S-Cubed-Sight-Singing-Program-A-Pop-Quiz-11169798">here!</a></p><p style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.6em; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5GWlWn2PvbhA1rLXsg1bup3r1jHsuQRKAWiXLQSnpSsrmlFvjyGPsndD5iQz7hvmiCVaF2SdWnVRKQwSWzcf0oPijWopZ6-DNPr3dHCgpEn8kfEHCg1HJndjZbo2VCTSFwOZAb4W3FYQinCH3eisQOvtN1DXqowk0Ib9ju-n-vSN52gM9Kw7z16OynMo/s1468/Screenshot%202024-02-28%20at%203.38.39%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1468" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5GWlWn2PvbhA1rLXsg1bup3r1jHsuQRKAWiXLQSnpSsrmlFvjyGPsndD5iQz7hvmiCVaF2SdWnVRKQwSWzcf0oPijWopZ6-DNPr3dHCgpEn8kfEHCg1HJndjZbo2VCTSFwOZAb4W3FYQinCH3eisQOvtN1DXqowk0Ib9ju-n-vSN52gM9Kw7z16OynMo/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-28%20at%203.38.39%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.6em; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-19134876031164210382024-02-27T10:24:00.000-08:002024-02-27T16:27:22.533-08:00Hamilton the Musical- Assessment Questions for Music Class and Social Studies Class<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz_bkNthOLBu8wO33RsizTSWVzCwxEjcGDD1feHhn1yV0NF7EkXTKf0zE1MsaiQeWrMvx3vSDtSpLamUQcgKBLTvl8jFXrF6yMy13H3-t3zC4zrLAzVtYPuGz5sDhzreQZtx9V3bRVEngCCd9E1nqoNFh9x40vPDq7jgRoGGbxDDhzgzuDAMxq8bVp33b/s2880/Screenshot%202024-02-27%20at%201.12.49%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2880" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz_bkNthOLBu8wO33RsizTSWVzCwxEjcGDD1feHhn1yV0NF7EkXTKf0zE1MsaiQeWrMvx3vSDtSpLamUQcgKBLTvl8jFXrF6yMy13H3-t3zC4zrLAzVtYPuGz5sDhzreQZtx9V3bRVEngCCd9E1nqoNFh9x40vPDq7jgRoGGbxDDhzgzuDAMxq8bVp33b/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-27%20at%201.12.49%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My students loved Hamilton the Musical from the moment it came out on Broadway in 2015.</div><div><br /></div><div>When that happens, I always work to take the energy and excitement and turn it into learning, and in my case since I was in the chorus classroom, passionate singing, and in the case of Hamilton the Musical, rapping that comes from the heart and is performed with conviction.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hamilton the Musical is a valuable tool for teaching about and discussing American history, and it is appropriate for upper middle school and high school students to see. Students who are in chorus class will take it to the next level while learning about history. Most students from 5th grade up absolutely love the music from this show.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was a passion project for the creator of this show, Lin Manuel Miranda, because of his own background, and it followed his amazing show called "In the Heights" earlier in his career.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lin Manuel's parents came here from Puerto Rico. </div><div><br /></div><div>He was born in 1980 in NYC. </div><div><br /></div><div>He has an understanding of America and all of the opportunity that comes from the realness of what America really is and always was supposed to be all about- People from all over the world coming to the melting pot and achieving the America Dream.</div><div><br /></div><div>Many of us who've lived here for a long time have lost touch with that. </div><div><br /></div><div>He has not, and it is reflected in his work on both "In the Heights" and "Hamilton".</div><div><br /></div><div>I highly recommend that you watch Hamilton with your students on Disney Plus, where it is currently available exclusively as of this writing (2/27/2024).</div><div><br /></div><div>Discuss the events of the musical. Create new projects around it to spur more interest. If you are a chorus teacher, by all means, sing songs from the show. The music in this show appeals very strongly to students from upper elementary through high school and beyond. </div><div><br /></div><div>I created some assessment questions that you can use once students have finished watching the show.</div><div><br /></div><div>It includes the answer key.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hamilton-the-Musical-Assessment-11164713">Click here.</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I hope it helps you in your classroom!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-10431939077422926662024-02-21T13:14:00.000-08:002024-02-21T13:14:03.594-08:00Listen to Great Choirs- New One Day Lesson Plan for you, your music or non-music sub!<div>I just finished conducting the Colorado Middle Allstate Choir. </div><div><br /></div><div>I studied and prepared really hard for it because I chose music I'd never conducted before.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com/2024/02/goosebumps-colorado-middle-allstate.html">I blogged about it here.</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I decided to create a one-day lesson that you can use for you and your students or you can use it for a substitute (music or non-music). <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Listen-to-Great-Choirs-One-Day-Lesson-Plan-for-you-or-your-MusicNon-Music-Sub-11126499">Click here to see it in my TpT store.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>It has links to the performances I studied as I prepared. </div><div><br /></div><div>I included questions for the students to answer with you in discussion or in writing with a substitute.</div><div><br /></div><div>The total listening time is about 25 minutes, so the rest will be discussing/writing about the performances.</div><div><br /></div><div>The goal is to have your students hear and see really strong choirs that have strong technical skills with diction, intonation, dynamic control, and all of the other seven criteria of a great choir.</div><div><br /></div><div>I included those seven criteria in the Google Slide Deck along with a link to a google doc for the students. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLfMkbMaD7AojLVrfVYuiTW9N9u34ZnrxEeQBi4VIbaB6InoAG_gcUZXtY-P1I6-RcD1x-vNF3H3kdrSqIyA1Gh-g43YUk1R6gZh94I_PmUuyCx-AQxc-41-wikPG4MMnK28JQyWdOCFB_rFsa0hIPlxbnTRuvgUrxN_1YXNv3mOCuY5YFlEBMq_3ctYp/s1470/Screenshot%202024-02-21%20at%204.00.47%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1470" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLfMkbMaD7AojLVrfVYuiTW9N9u34ZnrxEeQBi4VIbaB6InoAG_gcUZXtY-P1I6-RcD1x-vNF3H3kdrSqIyA1Gh-g43YUk1R6gZh94I_PmUuyCx-AQxc-41-wikPG4MMnK28JQyWdOCFB_rFsa0hIPlxbnTRuvgUrxN_1YXNv3mOCuY5YFlEBMq_3ctYp/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-21%20at%204.00.47%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope it helps you and leads to great discussions and stronger technical and artistic results from your students! Click <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Listen-to-Great-Choirs-One-Day-Lesson-Plan-for-you-or-your-MusicNon-Music-Sub-11126499">here</a> to get it in my TpT store!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-83058667453835238402024-02-20T10:38:00.000-08:002024-02-20T11:36:21.078-08:00Goosebumps- Colorado Middle Allstate Choir- Out of the comfort zone.They say the growth happens outside of our comfort zone.<div><br /></div><div>And I was WAY outside my comfort zone.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzIW5g8su1ih1OCjMKHLlZS_baX7SOLi_8UMQ5PoYZYmO1ah-uhsz_8RZ6_6ehFt7JgHQ1Nyh759eLUIEQy02Xt8zcKw3Dy9-mVaPZLhaaLPDRQUEWaMZdK3EzAjf4E7HAZicODZg2R_t8kN9NWzXNpcoJsT1ggv5GlA9mvj780wav3n-VRbaPbnQOxLn/s1288/Screenshot%202024-02-20%20at%2012.54.23%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="924" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzIW5g8su1ih1OCjMKHLlZS_baX7SOLi_8UMQ5PoYZYmO1ah-uhsz_8RZ6_6ehFt7JgHQ1Nyh759eLUIEQy02Xt8zcKw3Dy9-mVaPZLhaaLPDRQUEWaMZdK3EzAjf4E7HAZicODZg2R_t8kN9NWzXNpcoJsT1ggv5GlA9mvj780wav3n-VRbaPbnQOxLn/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-20%20at%2012.54.23%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="230" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In February of 2023, I presented some sessions at the annual Colorado Music Educator's Convention. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the end of one of my sessions, two energetic teachers came up to me and asked if I would be interested in conducting their 2024 Middle School Allstate Choir. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What an honor! So, I immediately said yes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This would be my third Allstate Chorus conducting experience of my post-retirement career, and I have loved every single one. I am so grateful for each opportunity to work with such high-level students who've worked hard to get their spots. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Being the third, I've learned which questions to ask so that I can help the students reach their peaks in the rehearsal time we've got. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For me, it was always the third year in a new school when things turned around, and I guess the same is true for this sort of endeavor because this experience was beyond magical. I definitely haven't gotten goosebumps while conducting this many times since 2019/pre-covid, and I think this experience gave me more goosebumps than I've ever had. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEit4qhEy-ZBvmEUMGGph6YsNLD86_LsUdU4fT1tUhgOKxPioTt4FlGfqO6pFmnOsoMJ3drMuuvr5h_DU7q-yYaiIxD7cCZxk0KwEKAFQZC-3FiQ8_HmjJ3gdJBPgKXadFyqXOCexz74Oy6Glrhy6Go9ySY61wPQtUSEpGZPp3Xibmh-v9rnnV8fBAr2yD5u" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2436" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEit4qhEy-ZBvmEUMGGph6YsNLD86_LsUdU4fT1tUhgOKxPioTt4FlGfqO6pFmnOsoMJ3drMuuvr5h_DU7q-yYaiIxD7cCZxk0KwEKAFQZC-3FiQ8_HmjJ3gdJBPgKXadFyqXOCexz74Oy6Glrhy6Go9ySY61wPQtUSEpGZPp3Xibmh-v9rnnV8fBAr2yD5u" width="111" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last summer, when it was time to send in my music choices, I was paralyzed. I couldn't get over the hump. I'm not sure why exactly...other than the fact that I had actually been to Colorado's Music Convention and saw how well run it was?! So, maybe I felt extra pressure? Not sure. Or maybe it was because I was conducting the SSAA Treble Choir (mostly female), and I knew I needed to find all literature that was brand new to me so I could grow and stretch my own skills. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had chosen three of the six songs. It was turning out to be a girl power concert for sure, but I couldn't find the other three songs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Enter Alicia Moreno Mulloy from Alabama. I had adjudicated her choirs in March 2023, and I was blown away by her work with them...so much so, that I, for a quick fleeting moment, thought I wanted to get back into the classroom. I interviewed her in July 2023 for "Ask Mr. D". She gave lots of great insights about how she works her magic. <a href="https://youtu.be/hmYKoNaJZ_4?si=wgoDOtxVMv455eOm">If you missed it, here is the link.</a> She is authentically Alicia, and middle school kids love that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, I came to my senses! Loved that chapter...Next. No regrets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I messaged her and asked if she'd help me finish out the program, and she sent me a ton of options until we finally came up with this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cDT62jMjMkiATRgWyVJu7GWzsXWWSiawxg7_DxPqGV1mqm-4drkDb-1fbaaZNVlqf4IYGjgi1M6tjoQoPjW-_P_63u5Zy6NJZH6pBCoJ7DAuh6IL9UZZUNO-tdPsZ105iLurS4jrTwf29agy8UeNwxjegPNIVS3ZLlK5xgar8C2V8gMEOyVs3k7aWOBu/s4032/IMG_2985.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cDT62jMjMkiATRgWyVJu7GWzsXWWSiawxg7_DxPqGV1mqm-4drkDb-1fbaaZNVlqf4IYGjgi1M6tjoQoPjW-_P_63u5Zy6NJZH6pBCoJ7DAuh6IL9UZZUNO-tdPsZ105iLurS4jrTwf29agy8UeNwxjegPNIVS3ZLlK5xgar8C2V8gMEOyVs3k7aWOBu/s320/IMG_2985.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I loved every piece. I loved the flow...the message...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I sent it in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then, I started to question myself. Were they going to be able to do Sisters? I picked it because I found <a href="https://youtu.be/SDtFUvtLRuo">this video</a>, and loved the choreography. I went back and looked at the video after I sent it in, and the song was performed by a University Choir. I am conducting 7th and 8th graders! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm talking to myself...Ok...I'll just cut it if I have to. That way we can make magic with the other songs...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But the flow of the concert won't be the same?! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I kept having more thoughts like this about the other songs. "Those dissonances...Those Sondheim rhythms..." And on and on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">November approached, and I knew I had to start preparing. My Mississippi Allstate conducting gig was just 14 days ahead of this one, so I had two things going at once. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I dug in. I loved every second of the preparation process for both events, but this music...this concert flow...oh how I wanted it to work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started emailing the organizers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How are the students screened?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When did they get the music?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Are they expected to walk in memorized?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Who checks?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anxiety...mixed with excitement. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The day arrives when I meet the singers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did my a capella vocal warm-up. Tone quality is very nice. They respond well to my conducting cues. The energy is definitely good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, I do my normal thing. I have them pretend that it's the night of the concert. They, the collaborative pianist whom I've just met and I sing straight through the concert. I told them that no matter what happens, we are not stopping. We will recover and move on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First song...very nice! It is clear they are prepared with all pitches and rhythms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Same for second and third. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fourth is Sisters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't tell them I'm scared, but I am shaking a bit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a capella, and I've told the collaborative pianist that if she needed to bang a pitch or five half way through to save them, then she should do it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She didn't have to do it AND they stayed in tune throughout...not missing anything.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After they sang Sisters, I broke my rule, and talked to them. I let them know how scared I'd been, and thanked them for prepping so well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The final two pieces went great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't 'have to cut anything! And...I don't have to do any remediation of pitches/rhythms. YIPPEE!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Instead, I get to take them straight to the magic of creating meaningful choral art and give them and the audience an experience they'll always remember because of how it made them feel, and they can take that excitement back to their classrooms and lead. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It truly was magical.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some samples of dress rehearsal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://youtu.be/CGYkr-FtPzs?si=IEKBU7GJROGBEZMZ">Sisters</a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://youtu.be/BW2eHFrIIBo">I am</a>.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://youtu.be/SBj53G8erAQ?si=TESI-N0WeSichDfv">Lineage.</a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think we will have professional recordings within 2 weeks, and I'll try to find a way to share.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am so grateful for this experience, and I hoping to have more opportunities like this in coming years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you to all of the S-Cubed teachers who invite me to to Allstates and Honor's Choirs. It gives me the opportunity to keep working with children since I am not doing it daily any longer, and I love it. It makes me push myself outside of my comfort zone. I am so grateful for S-Cubed because no one would know anything about my work without it, but these opportunities give me the chance to show that I'm not a one-trick pony, and that means a lot to me at this point in my career.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLV0meUtmGtoLUUWasoW36yZuAYx517dRNH9SJ8-u_yth9LkkWjKAWJXgEWDTLwWW0L_8-DW-wUjNOSAjk9wqGtjtiEJnwM7ynTKNtAzzTK5kjRGY1eum9OQ-_ZOBNRneGYOLM2UHMaSVyueXr9nQY8SLbKHDADElFEf0WIC80A7FL9syS3P0FtFyPznyx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLV0meUtmGtoLUUWasoW36yZuAYx517dRNH9SJ8-u_yth9LkkWjKAWJXgEWDTLwWW0L_8-DW-wUjNOSAjk9wqGtjtiEJnwM7ynTKNtAzzTK5kjRGY1eum9OQ-_ZOBNRneGYOLM2UHMaSVyueXr9nQY8SLbKHDADElFEf0WIC80A7FL9syS3P0FtFyPznyx" width="192" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" /></div>inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-19139481725614365982024-02-07T10:42:00.000-08:002024-02-07T10:42:03.231-08:00ACDA Choral Journal Article on Sight Singing Requirements at Allstate Auditions~ Lift Every Voice <div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">I just read an article in the Choral Journal written by Marshaun R. Hyman about the manner in which various states weigh sight singing scores at Allstate Auditions. </div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">The premise~ why are many states weighing the sight singing component of Allstate auditions so heavily? In most states, they learn the music with tracks. </div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">I’m simplifying. </div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">You can read it here…. <a href="https://choralnet.org/archives/780507">https://choralnet.org/archives/780507</a></div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">In my view, annual choral assessments and adjudications are where sight singing should be evaluated. Allstate chorus is not the place…especially if Allstate prep occurs as it does in most states where students are given tracks to learn basically by rote. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">As a clinician who has had the honor and privilege of conducting two Allstate Chorus events thus far in 2024, my wish is simple when I walk in the door to prepare the students ~ please know every pitch and every rhythm perfectly and preferably have it memorized. That way, I’m not doing remediation, and I’m not having to make the difficult decision to cut a song so we can create artistic memorable moments. As a conductor who has the privilege so conducting the highest achieving choral music students in your state, I want to create experiences for the students, their parents, and their teachers to FEEL because the feelings are what art is about. Maya Angelou~. People forget what you say. They forget what you do. They don’t forget how you made them feel. The art we create if they know pitches, rhythms and words will ignite passion for the students to take back and create a hunger to experience and create more…and we will truly change our art form because we served the highest young achievers in our art form. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">In my own state of Georgia, sight singing is weighted very heavily for Allstate auditions. … Too heavily in my opinion. But in the past, (and maybe currently… I retired in 2022 after 30 years) they’ve included an audition to “check” the music and they cut students who weren’t ready. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">This is ideal. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">The time to create your sight singing standards for teachers to try to accomplish is at annual state choral assessments. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">Two prepared pieces and choral group sight singing. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">During my career, I taught in three states. North Carolinas requirement for middle school sight singing was unison stepwise with no syncopations. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">New Jersey had no sight singing requirement at choral assessment. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">Georgia, where I spent 20 of the 30 years, had such a high requirement that I called a colleague and said- “Is this for real? I couldn’t have done this a capella in my junior year of college. Seriously.” </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">I had to find a way to address the high standards so my beginners could avoid walking out of the sight singing room dejected and wanting to quit chorus and that’s what I did. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">So thank you for this article. It is sure to ignite conversation. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">I hope our national organizations will continue to guide states on standards and best practices as they relate to sight singing so our beginning students walk out of chorus classes literate musically. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">I waited for 30 years for my little middle school Mozart to show up and lead the alto section. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">It never happened. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">In public school especially, we’ve got to serve the students who land before us. </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">Thank you, </div><div dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><br /></div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">Dale Duncan</div><div data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true" dir="auto" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 1rem; word-spacing: 1px;">Creator o S~Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-88434328415058771422024-01-24T07:57:00.000-08:002024-01-24T08:06:35.883-08:00Sound of Music Unit Giveaway-Enter until 1/30/24 midnightI am a Sound of Music nerd. <div><br /></div><div>I've watched it hundreds of times. </div><div><br /></div><div>I went to Austria and did the Sound of Music bus tour in Salzburg and stayed in one of the filming locations near where the children fell into the lake wearing curtains as play clothes.</div><div><br /></div><div>I taught about the Sound of Music for 30 years as part of my curriculum in middle school and tied into real world history, and it led to many awesome conversations and lots of learning about both music and history.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I created a unit to share with you and your students, and it is offered in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Sound-of-Music-Unit-10015619">store on Teachers Pay Teachers</a>, and I am giving it away on January 30th, 2024. Everyone who enters the giveaway will receive an email from me on the morning on 1/30 with an announcement of the winner PLUS, as I have done for years with <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/S-Cubed-MEGA-Bundle-Google-Slides-Version-9420401?st=31c253feddc4ffbf38e5dcb6bf4f8be0">S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners</a>, I will tell you in the email how to get the Sound of Music Unit for 50% on 1/31/24. AND, included in this one day offer, I will also let you know how to get the Google Slides Version of S-Cubed for 50% off on 1/31/24.</div><div><br /></div><div>Enter below on the Rafflecopter to win the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Sound-of-Music-Unit-10015619">Sound of Music Unit
<a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cd9447e089/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="cd9447e089" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_lnzf5a8u">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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</a> for free!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUe2N-kCespGxG6nGQkJG7KeE7sOl-Rl112Kk88GHwsKJ0VG_QXaBjKGxsJ8FqE6NZxMtozCA4lfelPvM30qeUCFGnwYTyDEFIcx8ik8XjEYx8zbWobEXC3feEJvBgnAqMi8QO2bbKNJqNIk6f1Wptl2scpa-EhbIMYjUwtHXWOEvd9_cGoIhwgSpnoRTx/s2000/Sound%20of%20Music%20flyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1545" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUe2N-kCespGxG6nGQkJG7KeE7sOl-Rl112Kk88GHwsKJ0VG_QXaBjKGxsJ8FqE6NZxMtozCA4lfelPvM30qeUCFGnwYTyDEFIcx8ik8XjEYx8zbWobEXC3feEJvBgnAqMi8QO2bbKNJqNIk6f1Wptl2scpa-EhbIMYjUwtHXWOEvd9_cGoIhwgSpnoRTx/s320/Sound%20of%20Music%20flyer.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" /></div>inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-86636580099571083632024-01-20T13:58:00.000-08:002024-01-20T13:58:18.109-08:00Teachers Pulling Together for the Kids and their Families<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's January in Mississippi, and it's time for Allstate Chorus and the MMEA/MCDA Allstate Concert, and of course, you would expect snow and ice to disrupt it, right?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I mean...in Hattiesburg, the average January high temperature is 62 and the average low is 39. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, this year, snow and ice came...along with cold temperatures afterward leading to no melting and lots of disruptions...from members of leadership, accompanists, teachers, and sadly many students who made the Allstate Chorus not getting to be a part of the event after auditioning, making it and learning the music. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Everything and everyone shifted focus and the teamwork kicked in. Everything still ran like clockwork. It was so impressive. This organization is top notch in every way, and I was honored to be there and to get to watch it in action. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sorry for the stress they endured as they navigated the changes....but it was so awesome to see the people in MMEA/MCDA are doing so much great work for the students and for their families. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's what teachers do every single day, actually. ....Pivoting at a moment's notice and re-configuring the lesson plan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The opportunity to be a clinician in Mississippi brought me great joy, and I certainly hope it brought joy to the children and their families. I hope the teachers received children in their classrooms Monday who heard reinforcements of everything you've been teaching...and I hope they have fire in their belly to keep singing! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGRzavJhpYciDrEqD4VFR4iYiAmGPcgWG_m_4lwKbeaa6F4xwuMgKeC_ZPkDk54p3soBfYd0lREPfVN8tvGwDVBkVYxHWIUQgtrPPCQhOkXnjdjmuZ_B_gEywQgoLd7U5cDCMAMRN5aar-zfqRdY9lG-HVW1AXP-oexKiKkSFqirHJB-RY_9vCtMX4uLw/s2436/IMG_2727.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2436" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGRzavJhpYciDrEqD4VFR4iYiAmGPcgWG_m_4lwKbeaa6F4xwuMgKeC_ZPkDk54p3soBfYd0lREPfVN8tvGwDVBkVYxHWIUQgtrPPCQhOkXnjdjmuZ_B_gEywQgoLd7U5cDCMAMRN5aar-zfqRdY9lG-HVW1AXP-oexKiKkSFqirHJB-RY_9vCtMX4uLw/s320/IMG_2727.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRconhtXMjv3DmzTK7FVE0uAGSchbtdyEZu8HV10t3BnPaGygZ74teaBfNx5oqRt1xHX28efrb5qc343y4YkVBp18KavANhylvsLqV6sMXsJf1CNY4Epc1GQSBcnZB-cPoL50mP7WP-e1eme-8zVxUgkyW7iU5aV5XhVuPp0gyFflM9c01rLKm5ifkTiD/s2436/IMG_2728.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2436" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRconhtXMjv3DmzTK7FVE0uAGSchbtdyEZu8HV10t3BnPaGygZ74teaBfNx5oqRt1xHX28efrb5qc343y4YkVBp18KavANhylvsLqV6sMXsJf1CNY4Epc1GQSBcnZB-cPoL50mP7WP-e1eme-8zVxUgkyW7iU5aV5XhVuPp0gyFflM9c01rLKm5ifkTiD/s320/IMG_2728.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1hIcfv1QdMOttWbkHhY8h6e9GNHwnst-c-RQjRt7QGUL6Xisw0u7lAAOmC50KxuBeHwyY0yh08nBdRUO4IH0COtfNmoa8qJ-Jesg_dOg2IvQovim5nOcYB6d8E_lMr7gHlY7XzNBdQlRgdfAJLYj3wl8fG5yhhL8gQhvKR1V3_4Sk007GfM649-JPeux/s4032/IMG_2746.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1hIcfv1QdMOttWbkHhY8h6e9GNHwnst-c-RQjRt7QGUL6Xisw0u7lAAOmC50KxuBeHwyY0yh08nBdRUO4IH0COtfNmoa8qJ-Jesg_dOg2IvQovim5nOcYB6d8E_lMr7gHlY7XzNBdQlRgdfAJLYj3wl8fG5yhhL8gQhvKR1V3_4Sk007GfM649-JPeux/s320/IMG_2746.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-62700949314592661792023-12-12T17:45:00.000-08:002023-12-12T17:45:52.374-08:00Grateful- Reflecting on 2023 and looking ahead!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAHDX9QbWsFUar1lI4binFzI5ZYqgiq2GXF5PBgO4HzXYOo-S_yptuzeqHxtzb_mBnftsirNcajeUYiTyCVPAIs1FcnkFG_k6MdkzNYJXzM8TNd_uMkDMT8VKr-eOpJPev4aJyYc6pwqOQ8cNmD5-uGTIeSX6RrApjrGOrF0CH3cOzwj6BuSB3Fw3_fwU/s1200/Colorado.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAHDX9QbWsFUar1lI4binFzI5ZYqgiq2GXF5PBgO4HzXYOo-S_yptuzeqHxtzb_mBnftsirNcajeUYiTyCVPAIs1FcnkFG_k6MdkzNYJXzM8TNd_uMkDMT8VKr-eOpJPev4aJyYc6pwqOQ8cNmD5-uGTIeSX6RrApjrGOrF0CH3cOzwj6BuSB3Fw3_fwU/s320/Colorado.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgvOgnaUpt5NWdXudjLw9MkNgJiw0_R6weIx-nfc_t6kSRDGnr27cnzuhsdKENy7c1qwjqQLcb-Y4rGD68CqUZHF2qJerA5Bqb01uWKkR5vyeiSvPtgJdH-guMbGIxhDaYuhd-E9J7iXnqWueGDhgyJrY98o_eN0ixNb04foLY5NMs95t_AbXUNm8X1zt/s1144/Mississippi%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="1144" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgvOgnaUpt5NWdXudjLw9MkNgJiw0_R6weIx-nfc_t6kSRDGnr27cnzuhsdKENy7c1qwjqQLcb-Y4rGD68CqUZHF2qJerA5Bqb01uWKkR5vyeiSvPtgJdH-guMbGIxhDaYuhd-E9J7iXnqWueGDhgyJrY98o_eN0ixNb04foLY5NMs95t_AbXUNm8X1zt/s320/Mississippi%20.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am excited. I am nervous. I am grateful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2024 is almost here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm conducting my first Allstate chorus events early in the year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In early 2023, I was asked to conduct Allstate for Colorado and for Mississippi by the teachers who organize the events. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am/was so honored.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And honestly....I'm scared to death. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For 30 years, I knew my students...I knew what they could do. I knew how they were prepared going in. I knew which music to choose based on where they were and how well I had prepped them...or not. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could deal with the results and learn...based on my work...my own failure or success in prepping them. And I could learn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...Because it's always about those children who land before you...and not what you think/thought/hoped they were...or would be...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, as usual...I'm obsessing...because I want the children who are about to land before me, and the parents who love them...the teachers who did everything they could to get those children ready to have an experience that will impact them in ways they can't know or understand. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm looking forward to the challenges that I/we will face for these important events for the children. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope I chose the right music based on your audition processes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope they enjoy learning the music. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope you enjoy teaching it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope they, and you, have an experience that will make your hearts sing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you for trusting me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">D</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-81226301448439949142023-11-25T12:51:00.000-08:002023-11-26T02:46:30.013-08:00Remembering My Mom Each Christmas<div><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/gc5DScQsHl4?feature=share">Watch this first. </a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsBUl0PAd0Xmn9aR60X5gMQLGFFo4WViYnc1VZBW9PKSAy6RPF_BKiTpn68eYE8FjmZRzg8hs0ishqkR0klmtIf5YftGEpgy8TMHf1FrtZXfTpTHMGe2ETI6WYmUX_-rRQ-ETeFa9CnlUxGxOC9qJLQeKDPV7scjYubIDvG3w1wIdPZCNzcuCPxgFdBCQ/s834/Screenshot%202023-11-25%20at%203.52.47%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="560" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsBUl0PAd0Xmn9aR60X5gMQLGFFo4WViYnc1VZBW9PKSAy6RPF_BKiTpn68eYE8FjmZRzg8hs0ishqkR0klmtIf5YftGEpgy8TMHf1FrtZXfTpTHMGe2ETI6WYmUX_-rRQ-ETeFa9CnlUxGxOC9qJLQeKDPV7scjYubIDvG3w1wIdPZCNzcuCPxgFdBCQ/s320/Screenshot%202023-11-25%20at%203.52.47%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="215" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It was my 42nd birthday, March 24, 2006 when we got the news that my 68 year old Mom had stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer from the doctors at Duke in Durham.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had just finished adjudication with my students, and I was in full musical production mode, but I got into my car and drove straight from Atlanta to Durham. </div><div><br /></div><div>I walked into the hospital room. She was on the phone telling a friend. She wasn't crying though. She seemed relieved. Her health hadn't been good for years. She lived mostly in poverty. My siblings and I sent her money, and she had disability, but she was simply existing and not able to really live a full life. </div><div><br /></div><div>She and my father divorced after 22 years of marriage. My mother was a very smart woman in so many ways, but she never had the opportunity to get a college education. When she left my father, I think she hoped to scare him into stopping drinking...from my child's eyes, that is what I saw. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was 11. </div><div><br /></div><div>But he moved on quickly, and within 3 months of separation, Dad was dating my future step-mom who ended up being the love of his life and a wonderful human for our family at that time. She brought stability in what had been a volatile home environment. </div><div><br /></div><div>My mother and my father married 12/14/55 at the ages of 18. Six days later, my father was in a hunting accident and lost his leg. </div><div><br /></div><div>Can you imagine? Two teenagers with no means trying to cope with something like this?</div><div><br /></div><div>2 years later, they had my sister, and a year after that, they had my brother.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then...whoops...5 years after that, I came along. </div><div><br /></div><div>Because of the hunting accident, Mom never finished high school, and I think she always regretted that. She always thought she was dumb...but she was not dumb. In hindsight, she had some learning disabilities and speech issues that would have totally been dealt with much better in public school given the tools we have today. </div><div><br /></div><div>But she loved her three children...and she gave us the most incredible Christmas experiences. We were a "one-government salary" family of five, and she did it on a minimal budget. She worked so hard to make sure our Christmas mornings were special. She decorated, cooked and she tried to make sure we got whatever special gift we wanted that year from Santa.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was an over-achiever. I got straight A's from grades 1-3, but in fourth grade, I came home with a "C".</div><div><br /></div><div>I was devastated. </div><div><br /></div><div>I came teary eyed into the bathroom. She was cleaning the mirror. She kept going about her business.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Mama...I have something to tell you."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Ok baby...go ahead".</div><div><br /></div><div>She looked at me and saw my tears.</div><div><br /></div><div>"I got a C".</div><div><br /></div><div>She looked away back at the mirror and continued her work, and she said..."Did you do your best"?</div><div><br /></div><div>I said..."Yes." </div><div><br /></div><div>And it was the truth...I think I'd finally landed in classes with students who were naturally more intellectually gifted that I was/am, and I couldn't quite keep up. </div><div><br /></div><div>She wasn't mad. She just supported her disappointed over-achieving son with a hug, and we moved on. Later that year, I was back to getting straight A's.</div><div><br /></div><div>She made huge sacrifices for me as all mothers do...especially during the march to the divorce.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mom had no means. Prior to the separation between her and my dad, her job had been to take care of the house and the children, and she was great at it.</div><div><br /></div><div>But now she needed to work...without a high school degree.</div><div><br /></div><div>She figured it out. She was a cashier at the Tastee Freeze...and at Sears Cafeteria. She LOVED it. She loved the people. She was so good at it. </div><div><br /></div><div>When the separation happened, I wanted to live with Mama. </div><div><br /></div><div>She had no place for us to live. She wasn't assertive in business and with lawyers. She just wanted out of the marriage. We lived with her sister for a while. Her sister had a lovely home with a space for us that was 30 minutes from my school. Mama didn't want me to change schools, and neither did I.</div><div><br /></div><div>I slept on the floor in front of Mom's bed each night.</div><div><br /></div><div>We'd get up every morning. She'd drive 30 minutes to drop me off (We used Dad's address so I could stay in the same school) and then 30 minutes home. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then, she'd go to work.</div><div><br /></div><div>The school bus would drop me off at Dad's house and then Mom picked me up for the 30 minute drive back to our spot at her sisters house.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later on, my Mom rented a trailer from another sister about 35 minutes away, and we did the same ritual for three years.</div><div><br /></div><div>By the time I was 14, we were living back in town closer to my Dad, but it meant I'd need to switch schools for 9th grade but I'd still get to go to the same high school the next year. Best of both worlds...new friends in a new school...and we'd all combine the next year.</div><div><br /></div><div>That was a good year. Apartment living was new...we had a pool...I made new friends. Dad's house was closer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mom made a new friend at the apartment complex...a man whom she truly loved. His name was Hank. I'd never, in my life, seen my mother more radiant than this one night before they went on a date. She was wearing a bright green dress. She was gorgeous...and happy.</div><div><br /></div><div>He took time with me. We went to the pool together...to dinners together...He was a tennis player, and he taught me to play. </div><div><br /></div><div>He clearly loved my mom. </div><div><br /></div><div>He wanted to move to Arkansas to be closer to his children from his previous marriage, and he wanted her to marry him and to move with him.</div><div><br /></div><div>My mom didn't want to move me from my school. She had never lived anywhere other than the Durham area.</div><div><br /></div><div> She agonized. I told her...Mom! You're happy...GO. I'll come. It's fine. You're happy. </div><div><br /></div><div>She didn't go.</div><div><br /></div><div>And her life took a darker turn to men who weren't good for her. </div><div><br /></div><div>She had mental health struggles.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I was 18, and I was forced out of the closet before I was ready, Mom never turned her back on me or betrayed me as others who were close to me did.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will never forget her unwavering support of me at the critical times in my life. </div><div><br /></div><div>I struggled with some of her choices while I was in my 20's, and I wasn't in touch with her as much as I should have been.</div><div><br /></div><div>I met my husband Joe when I had just turned 31.</div><div><br /></div><div>Early in our relationship after hearing this journey, he said, "Your Mother never turned her back on you when everyone learned you were gay."</div><div><br /></div><div>Many LGBTQ people don't work to maintain the relationships of family and friends who turn their backs on them because they are gay, but I did. I understand why people think it isn't worth the effort. It isn't always rainbows and unicorns, but for me, it was important, and I don't regret the effort. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had 10 wonderful adult years with my Mom thanks to my husband Joe who helped me see. We went on cruises together...spent holidays together...we took her to New York together for the first time...and laughed and cried together about the joys and challenges of life.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, this Christmas tree in the video...When Mom passed, I wanted it. She got it at Walmart. She loved Christmas more than anything. My niece Josie, use to decorate it as a child when Mom wasn't able to get around as well. She'd tell her everything to do...where to put this ornament or that ornament...and on and on. I handle it so gingerly and respectfully every year I pull it out. I love it so much. The doll on the edge is a Radio City Rockette. We took Mom to the Radio City Rockette show, and she was in HEAVEN. So, we bought her one. That's why the doll has prime spot in front of the tree each year.</div><div><br /></div><div>You may see some items from students on there the tree that were for me. I only included items that I received from children while Mom was still here with us. Nothing new goes on the tree ever. It's too sacred just as it is.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mom's work continued after her passing. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DLTC9hDNe_6PexZs6a31Q29OpHJykO68kt5CTULPIeU/edit?usp=sharing">This is her Eulogy.</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>She only had 4-6 weeks to live. She didn't want treatment. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, my brother arranged for a colleague to interview her about her life. </div><div><br /></div><div>About 4 weeks later, I asked my husband if I could send Mom's eulogy to his Mom...whom I'd never met (11 years after starting our lives together), and whom hadn't spoken with her son for 6 years after he came out to her....and he said yes. She emailed immediately and said "I'll fix this. I'm in tears."</div><div><br /></div><div>And she did.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love watching Joey and his Mom together. </div><div><br /></div><div>I will never forget my Mom's face when she walked up to me on my high school graduation day. Her eyes were filled with emotion...her last of three had graduated high school.</div><div><br /></div><div>I share this because it's a part of my journey. </div><div><br /></div><div>I share it because this stuff still happens to children now. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am so thankful for the time I had with my wonderful Mom.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mom's do more than we know. </div><div><br /></div><div>And I can still hear Mama singing me "Happy Birthday" when I walked into the hospital room on March 24, 2006 for the final time. ...Just like it was yesterday.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love you Mama.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8AWy93NpOMmdRvJHgrnOXo-m5y3qhpa7hGUwGcWiAcghDFHqMzsudke9MQtCa9WgA0VOtwotZvqJohrl10pw-OojUOHTilDZRUgghE0VegNmRi-ebhdkJsztbQglIYm-vv5aMGysQfn7kJb7WwYE7m8jDOtKIlreIaPI_uc9gOMbZq7D6Sx5ZE4uVFl-/s1254/Screenshot%202023-11-25%20at%203.53.07%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="822" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8AWy93NpOMmdRvJHgrnOXo-m5y3qhpa7hGUwGcWiAcghDFHqMzsudke9MQtCa9WgA0VOtwotZvqJohrl10pw-OojUOHTilDZRUgghE0VegNmRi-ebhdkJsztbQglIYm-vv5aMGysQfn7kJb7WwYE7m8jDOtKIlreIaPI_uc9gOMbZq7D6Sx5ZE4uVFl-/s320/Screenshot%202023-11-25%20at%203.53.07%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="210" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO1SFH9DCGnf5l-reFbvSFlnkwLf22hcuVn4sK_6xOe4lRTmao3qnmgSS_b75Il_D1424_AGKPtthVToZQ-d99j5-qZ9ep8hEUk1i2xMIN-nzRM3paLP0sSeLDhQXybc93dH7j01RvEjPQqS4TrLOoe4dJcTjyKSL4xYCr-TaGjtJFvDORbR-mlcfp3vu/s874/Screenshot%202023-11-25%20at%203.53.31%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="614" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO1SFH9DCGnf5l-reFbvSFlnkwLf22hcuVn4sK_6xOe4lRTmao3qnmgSS_b75Il_D1424_AGKPtthVToZQ-d99j5-qZ9ep8hEUk1i2xMIN-nzRM3paLP0sSeLDhQXybc93dH7j01RvEjPQqS4TrLOoe4dJcTjyKSL4xYCr-TaGjtJFvDORbR-mlcfp3vu/s320/Screenshot%202023-11-25%20at%203.53.31%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>xoxo</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-68884164350058481432023-11-21T10:07:00.000-08:002023-11-21T10:07:28.258-08:00Thank you Teachers of Olathe, Kansas-and every single one of you-<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtS3SWUOhghkB6lmjetR91iqc5YheePg8WWZbhhUPRs4OrA70pIISPwy42uFrpZCgi-LkclJbmzL4UUzlDSC-96VBgaF2NsxWNLQyzT_pFvricyW-Ags0-fcU3pkGK72SkZk218feYU9ykl9GJhy4tOdAEwyE3pHfE6NORgcJGxYhu4FQLYaGbKBQ1kT3h/s1386/IMG_2160.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtS3SWUOhghkB6lmjetR91iqc5YheePg8WWZbhhUPRs4OrA70pIISPwy42uFrpZCgi-LkclJbmzL4UUzlDSC-96VBgaF2NsxWNLQyzT_pFvricyW-Ags0-fcU3pkGK72SkZk218feYU9ykl9GJhy4tOdAEwyE3pHfE6NORgcJGxYhu4FQLYaGbKBQ1kT3h/s320/IMG_2160.jpeg" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Back in mid-October, I did a one-hour Zoom training session on S-Cubed for the choir teachers of the Olathe, Kansas school district at the request of one of the teachers in their district. <div><br /></div><div>A couple of weeks later, one of the teachers reached out to me to say they'd decided as a district to all use S-Cubed Sight Singing Program district-wide, and they needed some input from me to help complete the paperwork (PAPERWORK!!!! AHHHHH!) to gain district approval for the purchase. Another week or two pass, and they emailed me the above picture because their request had been approved by the district.</div><div><br /></div><div>I loved everything about this photo- I am old, so it reminded me of the <a href="https://youtu.be/xkRkFEtVl1M?si=RSovC6RFyI_gfLkh">"Publisher's Clearing House"</a> surprise squad which I always loved watching. The impact of a surprise approval or surprise win makes the win/approval even more special.</div><div><br /></div><div>And ironically, a couple of days after they let me know about the approval, this showed up on my television screen at home randomly as we listened to holiday music. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhf_9JADQW4z3aBFXgLwOJ4jQRra7Y1LGLAQtwtxaOajMgWxfH_spNex0UFOnnjwHKma5Qnbw8l8ibPBZ3wQEZdJzGUaalERMVRRErwj6p9vyKafQyIhUEZyMJjOag5FwE-bzxThPANW52RNrNBfoSSoJLlmtKuT-WsYJ75_0ZnhgM1uYzXKDbd8S_NLm/s4032/IMG_2167.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhf_9JADQW4z3aBFXgLwOJ4jQRra7Y1LGLAQtwtxaOajMgWxfH_spNex0UFOnnjwHKma5Qnbw8l8ibPBZ3wQEZdJzGUaalERMVRRErwj6p9vyKafQyIhUEZyMJjOag5FwE-bzxThPANW52RNrNBfoSSoJLlmtKuT-WsYJ75_0ZnhgM1uYzXKDbd8S_NLm/s320/IMG_2167.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There is so much positive "juju" in this story that it reminds me how grateful I am to every single teacher who has followed my work all of these years, helped to spread the word about S-Cubed online and in your district meetings, invited me to do professional development or to conduct your Allstate and Honor's Choirs. </div><div><br /></div><div>In this season of Thanksgiving, I had to let all of you know how grateful I am for all of you.</div><div><br /></div><div>Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends!</div><div><br /></div><div>Sincerely,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-85799290571958310982023-11-06T04:45:00.001-08:002023-11-06T04:45:04.885-08:00Giveaway for Michigan!<div>Click the link below (a Rafflecopter Giveaway), and then enter using one or both of the two options. Make sure to include your correctly spelled email address at least one time so that I can ensure that you get the product! Someone in this workshop today will win the entire S-Cubed Program that includes Levels 1 and 2! That's a LOT of curriculum! You must enter before 3 PM today. Winner will be announced live at the end of the workshop day!</div><div><br /></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="cd9447e089" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cd9447e089/" id="rcwidget_37as4pzc" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUzmyE7EGNlLAC0FmtGyz9OpkuqOStQa7KdxHkL8a2VAroWe3Cv8sj2Sc-xcNXl9hkhYQfdJf1iPs_xwe6eUc-G2wStNwYV8jnFyO55lWK7DVv-6E87nZFk-uC9-mzwtuZKygb3DJ2dmg7BLmP1M4fVAU48qCnrqeaJki1zFymaVAhh1Vuybw5dBuF7te/s241/New%20S-Cubed%20Logo%20October%207%202017%20copy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="241" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUzmyE7EGNlLAC0FmtGyz9OpkuqOStQa7KdxHkL8a2VAroWe3Cv8sj2Sc-xcNXl9hkhYQfdJf1iPs_xwe6eUc-G2wStNwYV8jnFyO55lWK7DVv-6E87nZFk-uC9-mzwtuZKygb3DJ2dmg7BLmP1M4fVAU48qCnrqeaJki1zFymaVAhh1Vuybw5dBuF7te/s1600/New%20S-Cubed%20Logo%20October%207%202017%20copy.png" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-47938799610761406052023-08-27T08:52:00.002-07:002023-08-27T08:52:11.445-07:00Lesson 3 of S-Cubed is now FREE on TpTWhen I created S-Cubed a decade ago, I listed Lesson 3 - Ear Training, as a "stand alone" product because of the ear training ideas I included. <div><br /></div><div>So, I was thinking today...why not just make that lesson free so people can use those ideas for their choirs whether they use S-Cubed or not. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, today, I made it free.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/S-Cubed-Lesson-3-Ear-Training-Successful-Sight-Singing-850014">https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/S-Cubed-Lesson-3-Ear-Training-Successful-Sight-Singing-850014</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Subscribe to my email list for all future offerings! Send me an email at inthemiddlewithmrd@gmail.com and write "Subscribe" in the subject line. Join us on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/349229248864102">I Teach Middle School Chorus</a> for support!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rsfBMBflgfs5IrceVsXTP1TsSXcUGdUcPu_9zooEpWTyQz29fsxgaUunv-REMb66yJEvbB9WCZf1HF4Y-VNICcicTnT6pgydCqM9DgIB__02m97DQHoRDqI2zAmnxDyiIwGegCa86tPRaMX8XEkoNqC70yLbbqMqWJQSVkirrmQFiPBEhXgaSJEnSUIQ/s1570/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%2011.26.55%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1570" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rsfBMBflgfs5IrceVsXTP1TsSXcUGdUcPu_9zooEpWTyQz29fsxgaUunv-REMb66yJEvbB9WCZf1HF4Y-VNICcicTnT6pgydCqM9DgIB__02m97DQHoRDqI2zAmnxDyiIwGegCa86tPRaMX8XEkoNqC70yLbbqMqWJQSVkirrmQFiPBEhXgaSJEnSUIQ/s320/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%2011.26.55%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" /></div>inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-9970126061101319702023-08-15T10:43:00.002-07:002023-08-16T07:01:53.277-07:00My New "Sound of Music" Unit<div data-block="true" data-editor="75jv8" data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhMJNMjzUb1ZGqb3QSzUJ5X7_3RAE7CoXIsvy8bE_y7-ZXmjLoGgkZyZba8Qs4QcCa3VGBNmufbro2LStfR-DuX4F_YQmfu3MZUFxCN4WQ_QGo3HzSR5gjpIJ8zOGSg53TrF4IBenbVb7VFo0XRV30-4m1o00RnxdED0TtKYBHAOFQVGEAHcphFUFKDJX/s2000/The%20Sound%20of%20Music%20Unit%20Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1545" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhMJNMjzUb1ZGqb3QSzUJ5X7_3RAE7CoXIsvy8bE_y7-ZXmjLoGgkZyZba8Qs4QcCa3VGBNmufbro2LStfR-DuX4F_YQmfu3MZUFxCN4WQ_QGo3HzSR5gjpIJ8zOGSg53TrF4IBenbVb7VFo0XRV30-4m1o00RnxdED0TtKYBHAOFQVGEAHcphFUFKDJX/w204-h264/The%20Sound%20of%20Music%20Unit%20Cover.png" width="204" /></a></div><br /><span data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I love "The Sound of Music" movie...so much so that I went to Salzburg and took The Sound of Music bus tour, and I got all of the behind the scenes stories. </span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">While there, I also took the train to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and walked through the town of Sachsenhausen to the camp and took a <a href="https://sachsenhausentour.de/?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxOymBhAFEiwAnodBLDrBDRKOx7G4vJxVT53Bzq2ylmYGw-AiHXh0smas-pNnq9cdX_--VhoCIfkQAvD_BwE">tour of the camp</a>. </span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">It is with that point of view that I created <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Sound-of-Music-Unit-10015619">this unit</a> for my middle school students.</span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I wanted them to certainly enjoy the movie, but I also wanted to give them a deeper understanding of the real life events that were happening during the time the Sound of Music is set. I wanted to help them connect the dots. </span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">As you teach this unit, you will connect with your students during the discussions.</div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This Sound of Music Unit will work best with </span><span data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-1" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">mature</span><span data-offset-key="fi1v9-0-2" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> 10 year olds and up to age 15 who are in social studies and music classes. You will get a word find, a 60 question viewer's guide for students with teacher answer key, two 10 question quizzes with answer key, and a discussion guide that will help you link the events of the movie to real world history. This unit will guide you in discussions about the Holocaust, Adolf Hitler, the Anschluss, Nazi's and how it relates to the dramatization of the Von Trapp's real life experience during that time. Your students will enjoy watching one of the greatest movie musicals of all time while learning about one of the darkest times in World History. </span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="75jv8" data-offset-key="cqkq2-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cqkq2-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="cqkq2-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br data-text="true" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="75jv8" data-offset-key="7poq6-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7poq6-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7poq6-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I showed the movie every year to my 5th and 6th graders during my 30 years teaching public school, and I led these discussions with them after realizing many of the students didn't understand why the family was hiding after the Captain avoided working with the Third Reich. Even if your students have seen the movie before, this unit will give the students a greater appreciation for it, and and it will help them want to dig deeper. </span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="75jv8" data-offset-key="8v4v6-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8v4v6-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="8v4v6-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br data-text="true" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="75jv8" data-offset-key="1o43l-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1o43l-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1o43l-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">You will start the unit with a word find that leads to a discussion before you begin watching the movie. Your students will use the 60 question viewer guide as they watch. During the days you watch, you will end with a discussion about the movie plot and relate the characters to real life events from that time period. You will administer two quizzes during the time of the unit. At the end of the unit, you can choose to watch the Oprah Winfrey interview with the actors in which they tell fun stories about the filming process and what that was like. You will also get links to reliable sites with other information about the Holocaust and the real Von Trapp Family. </span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="75jv8" data-offset-key="6drmr-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6drmr-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6drmr-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br data-text="true" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="75jv8" data-offset-key="a6pbh-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="a6pbh-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="a6pbh-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">If you have a deep interest this period of history and want to teach your students about more than the surface value of this musical movie, this will be a great unit for you to use with your students!</span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="a6pbh-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><br /></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="a6pbh-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Sound-of-Music-Unit-10015619">Click here to view it in my TpT Store.</a><br /><span data-offset-key="a6pbh-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span></div></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-72743784891597352792023-08-03T13:38:00.004-07:002023-08-03T13:38:47.844-07:00Team Building is so Important.... and Successfully Introducing New Music to your Middle School Singers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAMPrIj-htC_CThcAvdna4_Q1pfVknUgvkEToI_uf17Du6-KtC4_HsxeOyHNSXFMf9ADs9Mk-TdmPtZLfeEI1TOCgNqAJGDoV5W3NdaBEI1kpUTXLg6-IrazsnsjZSCEipQFx35T1gGwLER8zTpW-EN_10MqM_cloO8bT439OFf-0SlPXNNzki_9TTTET/s1696/Screenshot%202023-08-03%20at%204.34.38%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1696" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAMPrIj-htC_CThcAvdna4_Q1pfVknUgvkEToI_uf17Du6-KtC4_HsxeOyHNSXFMf9ADs9Mk-TdmPtZLfeEI1TOCgNqAJGDoV5W3NdaBEI1kpUTXLg6-IrazsnsjZSCEipQFx35T1gGwLER8zTpW-EN_10MqM_cloO8bT439OFf-0SlPXNNzki_9TTTET/s320/Screenshot%202023-08-03%20at%204.34.38%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5c66t" data-offset-key="869v-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="869v-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="869v-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Calling ALL middle school teachers...not just chorus teachers!</span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="869v-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="869v-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="869v-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="869v-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Team Building Activities at the start of the year really help you learn about your middle school students, help them learn about you and each other creating connections from the start. The old saying "They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care" really applies to this age group.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5c66t" data-offset-key="3tcbq-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3tcbq-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="3tcbq-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br data-text="true" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5c66t" data-offset-key="59n6i-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="59n6i-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="59n6i-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">When middle school students feel connected to you and to the other students in the class, they work so hard for you and for you class. Your class will be the safe, fun space they can't wait to get to daily if you take the time to build the relationships.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5c66t" data-offset-key="a70sp-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="a70sp-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="a70sp-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br data-text="true" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="5c66t" data-offset-key="7p0rv-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7p0rv-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="7p0rv-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In this 17 page Google Slide presentation, you will get 10 games that you can use with your students. Several of them are perfect for the start of the year, and some can be used later and one of them is ongoing. The idea is to start strong connections early in the year and to keep them throughout the year. In this product, you will get games that will do all of those things. </span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ten-Team-Building-Activities-for-Middle-School-Students-9938437">Click here to see the product on TpT</a>.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihP19izoU_PARqgR5qkevRLbNCJKEahonkQPFzbty9Jpidz_O_VynBLq17I2048nnKOlEjQTqSI2rvKUHbaQZbZcexTAxDb7rfLu1cameFaHwmi1jAZd8SVHm1g2WJUTfp9GHhtqzd1g800DpPZyh1Epe33urZ5Gcxc2fNmYG6RuagOfevNnzPXVwRyVCp/s1692/Screenshot%202023-08-03%20at%204.27.13%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1692" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihP19izoU_PARqgR5qkevRLbNCJKEahonkQPFzbty9Jpidz_O_VynBLq17I2048nnKOlEjQTqSI2rvKUHbaQZbZcexTAxDb7rfLu1cameFaHwmi1jAZd8SVHm1g2WJUTfp9GHhtqzd1g800DpPZyh1Epe33urZ5Gcxc2fNmYG6RuagOfevNnzPXVwRyVCp/s320/Screenshot%202023-08-03%20at%204.27.13%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e6cud" data-offset-key="cqmd4-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="cqmd4-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="cqmd4-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Some of the most common things I see posted on social media in </span><span class="rdw-link-decorator-wrapper" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/iteachmiddleschoolchorus" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #2970ec; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" target="_blank">I Teach Middle School! Facebook page</a></span><span data-offset-key="cqmd4-2-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> are-</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e6cud" data-offset-key="5o4un-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5o4un-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5o4un-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1). How do you introduce new music?</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e6cud" data-offset-key="5ln61-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="5ln61-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="5ln61-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2). Why can't they follow an octavo? (Because we haven't taught it!)</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e6cud" data-offset-key="dp2kv-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="dp2kv-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="dp2kv-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3). Why can't they hold their parts? (Because we didn't teach carefully...habits are hard to break).</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e6cud" data-offset-key="6sfbh-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="6sfbh-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="6sfbh-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In this new product, I share an unlisted video I made just for this in which I take you through step by step, day by day how I introduced and taught a song to my beginners. It's me sitting at the piano in my living room talking you through the process.</span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e6cud" data-offset-key="fh0vm-0-0" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="fh0vm-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="fh0vm-0-0" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I also give you some rehearsal techniques to use that allow you to give them the repetition they need to get the parts ingrained and to avoid having your altos sing soprano or having the baritones sing the soprano part one octave down. I share some reasons why students struggle at certain moments in the song with pitches...things you may not have thought about. </span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Successfully-Introducing-New-Songs-to-your-Middle-School-Beginning-Choirs-9945679">Successfully Introducing New Songs to your Middle School Singers</a><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-88293033381802243672023-08-01T10:33:00.002-07:002023-08-01T10:33:55.435-07:00My Zoom Session with a Phenomenal Middle School Choral Director<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_Wku47XrZfBYgueyif6mjjZk26ZG-eR7pCR8e_6LChbir-XVbq-Su5DsnzuJCUesSdLqzfbUIj8zdjbWja3ZFQzwf094j6ICRSos-spPYuF6mcD4N_miXIvrz2VuE3duEDjrigs7ePg0DpVZp7hGM8GNEo2qflZAYjZ_VJVYSp0NhuFd3DMXlqijZxW3/s506/Screenshot%202023-08-01%20at%2012.43.21%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="506" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_Wku47XrZfBYgueyif6mjjZk26ZG-eR7pCR8e_6LChbir-XVbq-Su5DsnzuJCUesSdLqzfbUIj8zdjbWja3ZFQzwf094j6ICRSos-spPYuF6mcD4N_miXIvrz2VuE3duEDjrigs7ePg0DpVZp7hGM8GNEo2qflZAYjZ_VJVYSp0NhuFd3DMXlqijZxW3/s320/Screenshot%202023-08-01%20at%2012.43.21%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>People forget what you say. They forget what you do. But they don't forget how you made them feel.</div><div>Maya Angelou</div><div><br /></div><div>This was one of the first songs I heard (and saw) when I adjudicated in Alabama in March 2023.</div><div><a href="https://youtu.be/pHKujfYUrd4">Paper Crane.</a> Do yourself a favor and don't read on until you've listened to it...and watched it.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>-------</div><div><br /></div><div>I will never forget how I felt each time the students of Alicia Moreno Mulloy walked onto the stage that day. She had multiple groups. </div><div><br /></div><div>The way they responded to every intake of air, every crescendo/descrescendo, sforzando...all of it. The energy in the tone. The way they watched her. The looks on their faces...they were so committed to the music and the meaning and to singing for her and for us...Their conviction was profound. The feeling in the room as beauty of the what we were witnessing and hearing was unforgettable. The heartbeats of every human in the room were beating as one. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's what we all strive for when we make art.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was the work of an amazing middle school teacher, and I wanted to know what she was doing.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, naturally, I stalked her on Facebook and sent her a message.</div><div><br /></div><div>She responded.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then, she agreed to be on my 2023 Zoom series "Ask Mr. D" as the final guest for the season. I had hosted some of the greats of middle school music monthly since March (Emerson/Cari Miller/Crocker/Gilpin), and it felt right to finish with a teacher who is doing it now in the classroom with public school students....not at an Arts Academy...just a regular school...not that there is anything wrong with arts academies...it's just that I'm a big proponent of public school education and changing those kids lives who don't necessarily have many advantages in their lives. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am proponent of giving those kids passion for something they didn't see coming.</div><div><br /></div><div>And that is exactly what Alicia Moreno Mulloy (Mrs. M&M) is doing...now. </div><div><br /></div><div>Once school let out, she sent me an email including links to some of her performances with the students as well as some fun videos she makes with the students similar to <a href="https://youtu.be/0cX8CydvThY">To Dos and NOT to dos of Middle School Chorus</a> that I made almost a decade ago. Students LOVE doing stuff like that, and it is a good bonding experience as you create projects like those.</div><div><br /></div><div>After July 4th, I started sharing her videos on social media and with my email list, and the response was/is amazing...because the work she is doing is amazing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Two weeks before the July 27th Zoom, I met with her one-on-one on Zoom to learn more about her work so I could plan for the Zoom. </div><div><br /></div><div>My first impression was that she was...just Alicia. No pretense. Here I am. This is me. This is where I am from. </div><div><br /></div><div>And middle school kids love that from us because they see through us anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>She grew up with 4 siblings, and they slept in the living room because her parents worked hard, but didn't make a lot of money. As a child, her only goal in life was to not be homeless. Her parents said, we don't have money for college, so if you want to go, figure it out. </div><div><br /></div><div>She didn't intend to major in music.</div><div><br /></div><div>She wanted to get a basketball scholarship. She got one to a school in Arizona. She was scouting Alcorn State University and wanted to do the basketball thing there. She took her Clarinet with her. She was an instrumentalist. After hearing her play, the band director said, "If you play in my band, we will cover you tuition...BUT...if you study music education, we will cover tuition, room and board.</div><div><br /></div><div>And so she studied instrumental music. </div><div><br /></div><div>She started teaching band.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later, her husband's job moved the family to Alabama, where she planned to be an Assistant Principal, but the reciprocity laws state by state didn't work. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, she got a music job...but it wasn't in band. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was chorus.</div><div><br /></div><div>And THAT is why we have this incredible teacher in our area of music education.</div><div><br /></div><div>Several twists of fate...</div><div><br /></div><div>During our one-on-one meeting, she told me that we had met before. I'm like..."WHAT? When and how?" She pulled up a photo of the two of us. I had totally forgotten this, but I had presented <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/S-Cubed-MEGA-Bundle-How-to-Teach-Sight-Singing-and-Sight-Reading-to-Beginners-2371260">S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners</a> and other workshops at the Alabama ACDA summer conference several years ago, and she was there desperately looking for ideas to survive the transition from being a band teacher to being a chorus teacher. </div><div><br /></div><div>She told me that she had loved the gamification of learning sight singing so she purchased S-Cubed. As a band person by training and not a singer, she was basically in need of someone to just tell her what to do, and to make it fun...and that's was S-Cubed is all about. Over the years, I have heard from many band teachers who have been placed into the chorus classroom to teach that they've found S-Cubed to be a life saver, and it helped Mrs. M&M.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know about you, but I am so thankful I never had to teach band. I feel certain that I would not soar in a band classroom the way she is soaring in middle school choral music.</div><div><br /></div><div>For her, it is first about forming relationships with the students...before the music.</div><div><br /></div><div>And you can tell...And she shares of lot of things in the Zoom that will help you and give you ideas.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do yourself a favor if you are looking for inspiration and listen to this Zoom session. When you go to the YouTube link, read the YouTube video description I wrote. There are links to her performances as well as some materials she shared with all of us.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have pretty much decided 2024 season of Ask Mr. D will feature more teachers like Mrs. M&M. During the fall, look out for a google document where you can nominate yourself or a middle school choir director who is killing it. You'll share video links to the teacher's work, and we will try to convince them to come share their tips and tricks on Zoom! Make sure you are on my email list so you don't miss out! Write "Subscribe" in the subject link and email me at inthemiddlewithmrd@gmail.com.</div><div><br /></div><div>I want to continue to help middle school choir directors be the best they can be for the students who land in front of them.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://youtu.be/hmYKoNaJZ_4">Here is the link to the Zoom on YouTube.</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-46693123626752153492023-07-25T09:55:00.003-07:002023-07-25T09:55:51.082-07:00Does S-Cubed Work with High School Students? Matthew Sawtelle- Guest Blogger- July 2023<span id="docs-internal-guid-53dcffac-7fff-a1cb-ed46-4a2f50d5224f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, we have a guest blogger- Teacher Matthew Sawtelle- Thank you Matthew!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKazrfDhVjCBKmCzW5-3f98xbR1cxmJuif0eQjBqLMkyRVylzCPHzXI-ba89KoCgfdswuHX7k0LyJhe3i92BYnxGfk_tuVif0GwlhHHglY-ucTfNmUWppw3MgunYM1IGqSHaOk01fHl-dvyt1A7J9LCEl7iVyyReW0V_7Z50oKtMEF56jScP76HFzAZUAM/s774/Screenshot%202023-07-25%20at%2012.54.13%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="554" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKazrfDhVjCBKmCzW5-3f98xbR1cxmJuif0eQjBqLMkyRVylzCPHzXI-ba89KoCgfdswuHX7k0LyJhe3i92BYnxGfk_tuVif0GwlhHHglY-ucTfNmUWppw3MgunYM1IGqSHaOk01fHl-dvyt1A7J9LCEl7iVyyReW0V_7Z50oKtMEF56jScP76HFzAZUAM/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-25%20at%2012.54.13%20PM.png" width="229" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Matthew Sawtelle</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">DIrector of Music for the Braintree Public Schools, k-12 (Braintree, Ma)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">matthew.sawtelle@braintreeschools.org</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Teaching Experience:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Braintree High School Choral - 2019 - present</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Braintree South Middle School Choral - 2005-2019</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dudley Middle School Band - 2003-2005</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Undergraduate Degree </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Anna Maria College - Bachelors in Music Education - 2003</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Master’s Degree</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Boston University - Music Education - 2007</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">C.A.G.S.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> American International College - Education Administration - 2015</span></p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> I came across S-Cubed when searching online for new ways to teach solfege to my students at the middle school level. I went through college always thinking I would be a band teacher, and never had a focus on solfege. I knew the basics, but it was not my forte. I wanted to find a way to get the basics of solfege and sight singing instilled into my students. I have always approached middle school teaching with the philosophy that students are only limited by what we think they are able to accomplish. I saw the videos of Dale’s students at festival sight reading pieces with such accuracy and I was sold. I purchased the S-cubed program the following school year and began implementation. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of course, there was some push back with trying something new, with my veteran students, but the outcome was the proof they needed. I video taped the students working through the exercises in the start of the year, and then sporadically as the year progressed. We finished the year with students sight reading 16 measure multi-part phrases, when they started off struggling on 4 measure unison. I went back and showed the students the videos for them to see their own progressions, and they were sold. I continued using this for the last five years or so that I was at the middle school level. When I moved up to the director position, and was teaching high school, I thought my S-cubed days were done. Then Covid happened….</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As we have begun the rebuild, my students had lost not only their sight reading ability, they lost the continuity of classroom procedures. We all have experienced it. I went back to what worked with my middle school students. From day one of position one, two, and three, to the forbidden pattern game, students were becoming engaged in class again. They were asking for more sight reading examples, and forbidden pattern games. At the high school level, I was able to progress much faster, since I was now seeing the students every day, instead of only three days out of a six day cycle like we did in middle school.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The basics that are instilled in the program were exactly what was needed for the high school students. I did have to mark up the powerpoint presentations so they didn’t say anything about middle school on them, but the students were able to rebound as we pushed through each day. Students who thought they weren’t able to sight read were suddenly getting their “lightbulb” moment. I was able to rebuild and bring students to the state festival, had students being selected for All-State, as well as various choral groups across the south shore of Massachusetts. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> I cannot praise Dale’s work with S-Cubed enough. The simple approach to solfege and sight singing has been a tremendous help to my teaching. It gave me a new confidence in being able to teach music, and also boosted the confidence in all of my students. My students would not have progressed the way they did without the implementation of this program. I must say that in order for it to work, you need to buy in completely. Do each unit as prescribed and work. Don’t worry about how fast you progress. As long as you are consistent, the process works. It is proven. If you don’t fully believe it from my own testimony, then try it out for yourself. Own it! Make it your own, and push your students beyond what they ever thought they were capable of achieving. </span></p><br /><br /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-82273978593330232622023-07-24T13:49:00.002-07:002023-07-24T13:49:33.842-07:00The brain and singing- Remembering Tony Bennett<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPYDeEzA6djJIoU__JMFNE_6SnD5ju1jr_NCqOyizzPxzYRs07jAIa2LQfUYT4jbNlN9HnCeDTXW4CRbIIXbWWallBRawZr_iQEbgkZx4ZEtuQ6M88WTaNoiJ0w21CEssbMlbKVOYKiKBl07bZgAxknSWvTXAJmY6jQ5sln3-stODMHhCU8ZOPWBohoHq/s718/Screenshot%202023-07-24%20at%204.04.57%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="718" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPYDeEzA6djJIoU__JMFNE_6SnD5ju1jr_NCqOyizzPxzYRs07jAIa2LQfUYT4jbNlN9HnCeDTXW4CRbIIXbWWallBRawZr_iQEbgkZx4ZEtuQ6M88WTaNoiJ0w21CEssbMlbKVOYKiKBl07bZgAxknSWvTXAJmY6jQ5sln3-stODMHhCU8ZOPWBohoHq/s320/Screenshot%202023-07-24%20at%204.04.57%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On July 21, 2023, the great American singer, Tony Bennett, passed away at the age of 96 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What a <a href="https://youtu.be/uORPxmsBJoE">voice.</a>...what a <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=tony+bennett%27s+legacy&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS920US920&oq=tony+bennett%27s+legacy&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMgoIAxAAGIYDGIoFMgoIBBAAGIYDGIoFMgoIBRAAGIYDGIoF0gEINDI5MmowajSoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">legacy</a>...what a <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/tony-bennett-enraged-racism-championed-205533850.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKnNxdur6EzCmRm8jv-Org7o6BryE-7avrRntNC-nrnae6g1vhhXEvPvsN3Xkwq5yoWs2ggYwFIo-rTBAG90_6U10SMEppqEEeRPmgoe_p1172Ur4cpqDBrEMGPD7EXSoX0rRx1rNsjrGJTQTk6bqFxxx6OJ6W-TXQAXJBrYOA9Z">leader</a>...what an incredible <a href="https://youtu.be/6Yr60Tji_84">spirit</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you aren't aware of <a href="https://youtu.be/cIMuacCUgGY">this interview with Anderson Cooper</a>, take a look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alzheimer's robbed Mr. Bennett of most of his ability to effectively communicate, but as we have heard so many times before, it didn't rob his brain of remembering the music. The minute the music came on, he could still sing it...every single word...even in 2021.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lady Gaga paired up with Mr. Bennett in 2014 for an album and that started a really special relationship that lasted until he passed away. In 2016, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She talks about their special connection in the links above, and if you do some digging on Google/YouTube, you'll find more than I have supplied here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am not a doctor. I am not a brain expert. I haven't researched much about it at all...but as with everything I've ever written related to teaching, my research lab was my 30 years teaching middle school chorus and musical theater while teaching my beginning students to learn to sight sing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I taught ages 11-14.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Their brains are still developing at that age. And as we age, many of us have the opposite issue...our brains decline. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">During my teaching career, I loved watching my students "brains" awaken when they slowly started to develop, step by step, the skill sets needed to figure out how to take the dots and symbols off the page and effectively read the music on their own a capella without any help from me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could see it in their eyes...Their eyes looked different as they worked to figure out a sight singing example. They were so determined to take the new skill set I was methodically teaching during any given week and adding the new tool into their toolbox...and bit by bit, they became more fluent in the language of music. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Combining the kinesthetic, auditory and visual skills needed to figure out how a sight singing example happens does something to the brain...something good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Same with crescendo's and decrescendo's in our repertoire...and the focus required to follow a conductor successfully and to respond to the cues.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All of it does something good to the brain that is so good for the children who sing in our choirs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am a Pickleball enthusiast and coach these days, and I play in Open Play events with a lot of people all over the country when I travel to conduct or teach teachers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I play with an 80 year old woman sometimes. We will call her Shea. I think Shea has some dementia happening...again...not sure because I haven't asked...but she forgets the score a lot. She looks down at the ground for a really long time before serving the ball. I wait. And wait...out of respect...until she looks up at me. Then, I say the score for her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have a theory that when dementia starts, people who have it sometimes become way more visual. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's no secret that I am older (59) and that I've had a bit of...let's say...maintenance...done. Yup...and that includes some hair dye. I see my hairdresser every three weeks. Coloring isn't an exact science. So, if you have your hair done that frequently, the result isn't always going to be just right. So, every time it's not "just right", Shea's eyes light up and she says..."Did you do something to your hair?" Every single time...because she has forgotten that just 3 weeks ago, she did the same thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Her eyes look different...just like my students eyes change as their brains awaken with music...just like my father's eyes...He also has dementia. Shea's eyes and my father's eyes light up when something visually stimulating happens...like my hair color change...or beautiful clouds in the sky...or a rainbow...And I love watching it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At least until 2021, and maybe longer, music continued to awaken Tony Bennett's brain, and it is/was magical to see and hear. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What we do by teaching music and singing is so important. Treasure it...and know that you are making a huge difference.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-50436775255491423432023-05-07T13:15:00.005-07:002023-05-08T09:00:51.609-07:00Why is this concert so LONG? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxcUkTojJK4TEq1WrtFq1K_vbJWo208_R4x1Cn3HvdfhrT4YUBCES3cTGVaxNFqCia_TnKEgCSqOW843-g4-sTnE32OYD6iY-EnCfPtJLFUlq5PgpgKhENpHzL8yvs_Ny8lPiovRMZN8V1B3ehYp9K6iEba1t69LVPeH8oczDDQR1I0HPC0yVNEr8vQ/s2000/Why%20is%20this%20concert%20so%20LONG%3F.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxcUkTojJK4TEq1WrtFq1K_vbJWo208_R4x1Cn3HvdfhrT4YUBCES3cTGVaxNFqCia_TnKEgCSqOW843-g4-sTnE32OYD6iY-EnCfPtJLFUlq5PgpgKhENpHzL8yvs_Ny8lPiovRMZN8V1B3ehYp9K6iEba1t69LVPeH8oczDDQR1I0HPC0yVNEr8vQ/s320/Why%20is%20this%20concert%20so%20LONG%3F.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time is our most valuable asset.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can't buy it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's not infinite for us mortal humans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We all waste it on the occasion, for sure...and sometimes we just need to stop and not think about how we are wasting it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How we use our time and the time of others says a lot about our priorities. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For choir directors, it means respecting the time of the children and their parents during concerts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Concert length is the topic...and how concert length impacts growth...or deters from it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And my question is...Why do some choir directors feel the need to make concerts so long?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And why do some choir directors talk so much during the concert? And often, they say the same thing over and over when audience members mostly just want to see and hear their children sing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's not about us. It's about the children and their parents...most of whom are working full-time and are just trying to be there for their children. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If we set a standard of respect for time, the word spreads.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How can we economize the use of time when doing our concerts? How important is the performance experience? How long does a concert need to be? How long should it be?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's what we are addressing here: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#1- Start precisely on time. People will soon learn that you do that, and they will get there on time...including time for parking and walking. Make sure you tell your students that is what you do. 7 PM is not 7:10 PM. "If your parents are always late, tell them the concert starts at 6:30"....They will giggle, and you will proceed with protecting their time and yours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#2- To start on time requires excellent planning on your part. Dot the i's....cross the t's. Plan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#3- How can you set up the situation using the circumstances you face (I had a gym) to minimize the amount of time used to move between the performances of your various choirs if you have more than one? Do you have to file on and off? Can you figure out a set up that doesn't require filing onto and off of the same risers? So much time is wasted with filing onto and off of a stage or set of risers. Can you break up the concerts? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#4- How can you keep the audience for the entire time? If the 6th graders sing first, and they don't have anything else to do, then a lot of the people who came to see 6th graders will leave after the sixth graders are done, and that always feels disappointing to the students who are still yet to sing. Should they leave? No...but some will if you don't set it up carefully. How about a joint number at the end? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#5- Talk less. I've been to so many concerts when a teacher pats themselves on the back at the 50 minute mark. They haven't talked the whole time...and then they do...and for too long. "We just got that done in under an hour, and we have one more song." Then, they talk for 10 minutes and say the same thing over and over. Then, they sing what was supposed to be in the final song followed by another final song. Less is more. Leave people wanted more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#6- The impact of the performance experience for the children and for the community is huge. So, why can't we just do a short one? We can. We should when it is appropriate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"People forget what you say. They forget what you do. They don't forget how you make them feel." Maya Angelou. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That quote drove me through my career.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When you decide to do a short performance because you understand the impact the performance will have on the children, your program and their parents, just tell them ahead of time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Market it that way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"This is a mini-concert". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, they will know. They will decide whether to come if they can. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But the students will have a "live" audience. They will hear the applause. They will feel the experience. And that is what changes everything. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Do we need to wait until December to do a concert? Should we?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Do a small one in late September or early October. Market it that way to your students and parents so that you can give a performance experience to those children. Two or three songs. It doesn't matter. Just say to everyone that is what you are doing and give those students that experience...which will change them...and there outlook on chorus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Do a bigger one in December...but definitely not over an hour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Focus on adjudication in the spring, but look ahead and start teaching the music for your final concert so neither you or the kids get bored. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then, don't make that spring event too long. Make it fun. Give people the feels doing the stuff you love because that will sustain you as you work to survive spring fever. Then, they can revel in that all summer and think about how they can't wait to come back to chorus next year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just a few more weeks of school. Hang in there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-88746116974011573042023-05-04T08:26:00.000-07:002023-05-04T08:26:06.098-07:00Tony Awards 2023- New Class to talk about what we see on June 11, 2023!<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Discount Coupon is at the bottom! </p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Tony Award Nominations were just announced this week, and I decided to create a discussion class on Outschool the week after the show airs so children who are as crazy as I am about Broadway and Musical Theater can talk about the latest, greatest, most talented, most creative, most innovative musical theater artists in the world. What did you like from the show? What do you want to see? What was the best performance?</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The class is 45 minutes long and will occur the week after the Tony Awards air on June 11, 2023 at 8 PM on CBS and Paramount+.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If you know any child who is absolutely insanely obsessed with musical theater, this will be super fun!</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Get $10 off my class "Tony Award Discussion Group-Broadway Musical Theater" with coupon code DUNCANTONYAWARDS10 until Jun 4, 2023. Get started at <a href="https://outschool.com/classes/tony-award-discussion-group-broadway-musical-theater-N8kN275Z"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">https://outschool.com/classes/tony-award-discussion-group-broadway-musical-theater-N8kN275Z</span></a> and enter the coupon code at checkout.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDVdESmDGMIppsbwt7nEARBnuRn-hj59VkEsqBZ3D5x9W7lfvn34hEnC4YSUF6_hpF65-V0mfDwPyUQ2Bhlq8sagT0r0Y1J53JfG7NF_g48pSL8NzB3vhvqGoby2isHaqSY12Vwodr8dPuaU_WdgakwhI0T-DMFd79YTGhuyCbvC46J8WsyJSti17eg/s940/Tony%20Awards%20Discussion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDVdESmDGMIppsbwt7nEARBnuRn-hj59VkEsqBZ3D5x9W7lfvn34hEnC4YSUF6_hpF65-V0mfDwPyUQ2Bhlq8sagT0r0Y1J53JfG7NF_g48pSL8NzB3vhvqGoby2isHaqSY12Vwodr8dPuaU_WdgakwhI0T-DMFd79YTGhuyCbvC46J8WsyJSti17eg/s320/Tony%20Awards%20Discussion.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-19616318495756044452023-05-01T17:33:00.004-07:002023-05-02T04:26:45.781-07:00Do you know this about my secret past?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippKKh5p5Bh3dcw1DLJp1YcoKPg4RgAile5fv6zpclCvY_04CydQMJY66FK4MyqXi5xdkl2CDXaRDybi9_RDTYiY4JwWpUYxUHOtqOJ890g15Nm-5LQsnMtUX9s09_-ex9EwVIzqkSRzgGiVfhmDL_eADDNz1mFs5fiJqCdmIOd7wMT0HReOSXq7Chtw/s2000/Mental%20Preparation.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippKKh5p5Bh3dcw1DLJp1YcoKPg4RgAile5fv6zpclCvY_04CydQMJY66FK4MyqXi5xdkl2CDXaRDybi9_RDTYiY4JwWpUYxUHOtqOJ890g15Nm-5LQsnMtUX9s09_-ex9EwVIzqkSRzgGiVfhmDL_eADDNz1mFs5fiJqCdmIOd7wMT0HReOSXq7Chtw/s320/Mental%20Preparation.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I haven’t shared much about this piece of my life with my choral music colleagues. <div><br /></div><div>It was a really important piece of my journey.</div><div><br /></div><div>I spent about 30 years of my life working with the sport.</div><div><br /></div><div>I started pursuing my dream of winning a gold medal after I started my teaching career because when I was a child, I wanted to be an Olympic gymnast. </div><div><br /></div><div>My parents could not afford the lessons. </div><div><br /></div><div>I found the sport of <a href="https://www.fig-aerobic.com/">Aerobic Gymnastics</a> while I was getting my Master of Music Degree at UNCG. I saw it on ESPN, and I knew I'd love to do it. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was based on the Jane Fonda era of fitness in this country.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was a singer/dancer/performer first and foremost. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aerobics checked all the boxes. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was making $18,000 a year.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had no real means to hire coaches and choreographers who were helping people to win. </div><div><br /></div><div>But I really wanted a gold medal...childhood dream. </div><div><br /></div><div>So I worked day to day to figure it out. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I woke up in the morning, it was what I thought about.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I went to bed at night, it was what I thought about. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had to overcome a lot of self doubt. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had to overcome people who said I was too small… Who said I wasn’t strong enough… Who said I needed a better body...but I stayed focused on my goal and after 3 years, we won. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://youtu.be/dlflWOhV2IE">Go to 44:34 to see the moment. </a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After that incredible moment in my life, and after enormous sacrifice, I helped many other athletes achieve their goals of National and World Titles in the sport as it transitioned from fitness to gymnastics when I choreographed and coached them as they worked to achieve their dreams at the World Aerobic Gymnastics championships. </div><div><br /></div><div>I became an FIG judge (Federation of International Gymnastics) in the sport and traveled all over the world watching athletes and coaches who were giving everything to achieve in the sport. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's all on Youtube. Type Dale Duncan Aerobics. </div><div><br /></div><div>I created a class on Outschool specifically for athletes aged 11-18 who are focused on their goals.</div><div><br /></div><div>I want to find children who are self-motivated....internally...Not by Mom. Not by Dad.</div><div><br /></div><div>The sport doesn't matter.</div><div><br /></div><div>If the child wants it. I'm here for it, and I will help the child figure it out. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://outschool.com/classes/mental-preparation-for-competitive-gymnasts-and-high-level-athletes-vCHBws3t">Here is the link. </a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""Ginto Normal", Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #262626; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: none;">Get $</span><span face=""Ginto Normal", Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #262626; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: none;">10</span><span face=""Ginto Normal", Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #262626; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: none;"> off my class "</span><span face=""Ginto Normal", Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #262626; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: none;">Mental Preparation for Competitive Gymnasts and High Level Athletes</span><span face=""Ginto Normal", Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #262626; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: none;">" with coupon code </span><span face=""Ginto Normal", Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #262626; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: none;">DUNCAHIGHLEVELGYMNASTS10</span><span face=""Ginto Normal", Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #262626; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: none;"> until </span><span face=""Ginto Normal", Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #262626; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: none;">Jun 1, 2023</span><span face=""Ginto Normal", Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #262626; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: none;">. Get started at </span><a href="https://outschool.com/classes/mental-preparation-for-competitive-gymnasts-and-high-level-athletes-vCHBws3t" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #4b01d4; cursor: pointer; font-family: "Ginto Normal", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: none; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.05s ease-in-out;">https://outschool.com/classes/mental-preparation-for-competitive-gymnasts-and-high-level-athletes-vCHBws3t</a><span face=""Ginto Normal", Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #262626; font-size: 18px; font-variant-ligatures: none;"> and enter the coupon code at checkout.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" /></div>inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-52642567995084870962023-04-30T05:43:00.002-07:002023-04-30T05:43:48.145-07:00Latest Review with the New Google Slides Release of the Mega Bundle of S-Cubed Sight Singing Program- April 30, 2023I've been keeping track of all of the emails, social media posts and some of the TpT reviews of S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners for the last ten years <a href="https://inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com/p/reviews-of-s-cubed.html">here</a> on my blog. Today (April 30, 2023), the program received this review on <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Music-In-The-Middle-With-Mr-D?query2#tab_ratings_feedback">TpT</a> from a long-time, experienced user who purchased the new Google Slides Version of S-Cubed.<div><br /></div><div>I am super grateful for the time she took to write a thorough review, and I hope it helps more teachers gain confidence to embark on the S-Cubed journey with their students.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here it is-</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="EvaluationDisplay__link" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 18px auto; padding: 18px 0px 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><a class="Anchor Anchor--green" data-testid="EvaluationDisplay--link" href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/S-Cubed-MEGA-Bundle-Google-Slides-Version-9420401" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #67753b; cursor: pointer; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;">S-Cubed MEGA Bundle- Google Slides Version</a></div><div class="EvaluationAvatarByline" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; display: flex; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px 0px 18px;"><span class="Avatar" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="MS BRAVO'S Music Classroom" class="Avatar__img Avatar__img--mobile" data-pin-nopin="true" loading="lazy" src="https://ecdn.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbuserhome/Ms-Bravos-Music-Classroom-1651621699/1210136.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-radius: 50%; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; height: 40px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 40px;" /></span><div class="EvaluationAvatarByline__byline" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="EvaluationAvatarByline__displayName" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="Anchor Anchor--black" href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ms-Bravos-Music-Classroom" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #67753b; cursor: pointer; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;"><span class="" data-testid="displayName" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">MS BRAVO'S Music Classroom</span></a> (TPT Seller)</span><p class="EvaluationAvatarByline__date" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #777777; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">April 30, 2023</span></p></div></div><div class="EvaluationStarRating" data-testid="EvaluationStarRating" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="EvaluationStarRating__wrapper" style="align-items: center; 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border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><svg height="18px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 460 550" width="18px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><svg height="100%" width="100%"><polygon fill-opacity="0.15" fill="#000" points="229,0 300,134 459,167 344,279 371,437 229,363 87,437 114,279 0,167 158,144"></polygon></svg><svg class="star__visible" height="100%" width="100%"><polygon fill="#2885BF" points="229,0 300,134 459,167 344,279 371,437 229,363 87,437 114,279 0,167 158,144"></polygon></svg></svg></div><div class="Rating__star" data-testid="rating-star" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><svg height="18px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 460 550" width="18px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><svg height="100%" width="100%"><polygon fill-opacity="0.15" fill="#000" points="229,0 300,134 459,167 344,279 371,437 229,363 87,437 114,279 0,167 158,144"></polygon></svg><svg class="star__visible" height="100%" width="100%"><polygon fill="#2885BF" points="229,0 300,134 459,167 344,279 371,437 229,363 87,437 114,279 0,167 158,144"></polygon></svg></svg></div></span><div class="EvaluationStarRating__wrapper__categoryWrap" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline; font-family: var(--ds-font-family); font-size: 1rem; font-weight: var(--ds-font-weight-strong); line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="Text Text--body Text--colorTextPrimary Text--strong" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: var(--ds-font-weight-strong); line-height: 1.375; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Extremely satisfied</div></div></div></div><div class="EvaluationDisplay__content" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: Graphik, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 16px 0px;"><div class="CollapsibleContent" data-testid="CollapsibleContent" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div data-testid="childrenWrapper" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">S-Cubed is exactly what every Middle School Music Educator needs in their toolbox! I was so excited when Mr. D offered the entire Mega Bundle for Google Drive. I attended one of Mr. D's on line trainings. (He offers those for free.) They are wonderful. I began with the Elementary Bundle . If you teach Elementary Music, you need this program too! I was new to my Middle School this year. They had no experience with sight reading and I was not sure where to begin. S-Cubed takes you and your students step by step through the process.
My students LOVE this program. I use it with ALL of my classes. My Choral students have found that sight reading can be fun and that they CAN do it! I also use it with my keyboarding students. We do have a wonderfully intense but friendly competition among my classes. This program teaches so much more than sight reading. I witnessed this program help to transform even my most challenging classrooms into a Family!
If you are looking for a GREAT resource, this is it! If you aren't sure it will work, it WILL work! If you are feeling a bit afraid of teaching sight reading, do it anyway! I have grown as a musician right along with my students! If you aren't sure you want to purchase it, DO IT! It will transform your classroom!</div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpZEYiWQrjFMedwdNx9aZRtlw_OLQmpHoVzP3oHAhyrXRKII_MzJwTgpj23Lo161ZHeASXCcNpatssb7DQu_MnAR-Qf_LCF1sN9U-C48oYH12Lxl1dD0KnCXmf8U5HKnpLSADUErjC8G4PxKIKtVA8VV3GYb9u_kve9_vu_nO6WUh880jZ8-3MhTUwA/s241/MEGA%20Bundle-%20Google%20Slides%20Version.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="241" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpZEYiWQrjFMedwdNx9aZRtlw_OLQmpHoVzP3oHAhyrXRKII_MzJwTgpj23Lo161ZHeASXCcNpatssb7DQu_MnAR-Qf_LCF1sN9U-C48oYH12Lxl1dD0KnCXmf8U5HKnpLSADUErjC8G4PxKIKtVA8VV3GYb9u_kve9_vu_nO6WUh880jZ8-3MhTUwA/s1600/MEGA%20Bundle-%20Google%20Slides%20Version.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" /></div>inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-8460802629238399102023-04-25T17:43:00.002-07:002023-04-25T17:43:40.835-07:00Hamilton the Musical- Let's Geek Out! <p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Do you know a musical theater kid who loves the musical Hamilton?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Well, let’s geek out together in this one-time 50 minute Outschool class where we find out quickly who REALLY knows the most about the show with a quick quiz, and then we watch video clips of Hamilton, chat about Hamilton, sing a long to Hamilton, and we end with with a group lip sync of one of the most popular songs from Hamilton!</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I just created 3 sections of this brand new class offering.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Get $5 off my class "Musical Theater Club- Hamilton" with coupon code DUNCADCZ905 until May 9, 2023. Get started at <a href="https://outschool.com/classes/musical-theater-club-hamilton-aYFEu6BD"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">https://outschool.com/classes/musical-theater-club-hamilton-aYFEu6BD</span></a> and enter the coupon code at checkout.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If you’ve never signed up for Outschool, use this QR code to sign up and get $20 toward your first class.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IopEXd1_9Z0OLvzYwyCwr5vsq1EZVcL105WhUNeCBHLLxYKMXq-RBRhiyzHOPbaIcrqyQCqW6DxGuzEIaCRNn6o3_oOLdMieGt6Ywz5tY9sSciWI7Gk8pV4YXrdllIbjVQL_6aheOKqWUJ_tPZLFvpsmKurK4ilBXNBg15nQpPssvyH7tAM9ouQCOg/s208/QR%20Code%20for%20$20%20first%20time%20sign%20up.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="208" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IopEXd1_9Z0OLvzYwyCwr5vsq1EZVcL105WhUNeCBHLLxYKMXq-RBRhiyzHOPbaIcrqyQCqW6DxGuzEIaCRNn6o3_oOLdMieGt6Ywz5tY9sSciWI7Gk8pV4YXrdllIbjVQL_6aheOKqWUJ_tPZLFvpsmKurK4ilBXNBg15nQpPssvyH7tAM9ouQCOg/s1600/QR%20Code%20for%20$20%20first%20time%20sign%20up.png" width="208" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QQ1ZAoqMguh1Zp3o-oO53Lm_S30EiwPWW3p2yIPCXrZAa4HJHEYrWkYjTUpRDdFCTZwDDZ3akR0BDgwfpBvTNlrCi043dzneGCCbbYhgxu4izdA_09kBlxUuv6aKF7E3UnkBOqBM6KPbX02z76hKwjcEwK4ZBOU1R80MYlY8q_Fl8jbiVfW4p7eopg/s940/Broadway%20Musical%20Theater%20Club.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QQ1ZAoqMguh1Zp3o-oO53Lm_S30EiwPWW3p2yIPCXrZAa4HJHEYrWkYjTUpRDdFCTZwDDZ3akR0BDgwfpBvTNlrCi043dzneGCCbbYhgxu4izdA_09kBlxUuv6aKF7E3UnkBOqBM6KPbX02z76hKwjcEwK4ZBOU1R80MYlY8q_Fl8jbiVfW4p7eopg/s320/Broadway%20Musical%20Theater%20Club.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-73764127113623164002023-04-17T14:54:00.004-07:002023-04-17T17:03:57.096-07:00Announcing-The Official Google Slides Version of S-Cubed MEGA Bundle- with a GIVEAWAY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0j2q7DX-YcJdC5lj181BNGEcPZsagTNAvzp3T_tNLO4zj7hP6w0EqVUGAmRWh2I49x7trM5BUlqNbBTeEi2HwglHt3WDQAtStcf88j6J3u6HNwK5qtMBFq1I4cEsNOgj2fKOIldb-xr9JzD2hBQrYW0DwdUfDpLVa_rO9IUQ974VOmsyBjVol31RLYQ/s241/MEGA%20Bundle-%20Google%20Slides%20Version.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="241" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0j2q7DX-YcJdC5lj181BNGEcPZsagTNAvzp3T_tNLO4zj7hP6w0EqVUGAmRWh2I49x7trM5BUlqNbBTeEi2HwglHt3WDQAtStcf88j6J3u6HNwK5qtMBFq1I4cEsNOgj2fKOIldb-xr9JzD2hBQrYW0DwdUfDpLVa_rO9IUQ974VOmsyBjVol31RLYQ/s1600/MEGA%20Bundle-%20Google%20Slides%20Version.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I've gotten lots of emails from teachers over the last 18 months with requests for a Google Slides version of S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners.</div><div><br /></div><div>David Kahl, a long-time S-Cubed user, supplied his own personal version graciously while I worked on transferring the files with the same look and feel of the original program, and I am so grateful that he did that.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com/p/about-s-cubed-successful-sight-singing.html">This version</a> is exactly the same as the original with all of the improvements I've made over the years.</div><div><br /></div><div>I want to give it away to someone on April 28th, and I want to offer it to everyone who enters the giveaway for 50% off until April 30th.</div><div><br /></div><div>Please enter the giveaway, and if you know someone who needs the program...maybe someone who has never heard of the program, please send the info to them so they can enter too!</div><div><br /></div><div>I will announce the winner on the morning of April 29th. I will email every person who enters the morning of April 29th with the special offer to get the new Google Slides version of S-Cubed at 50% off until midnight of April 30th EST. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am also offering discounts to parents who'd like their students to learn directly with me on the virtual platform of Outschool. I'm offering a variety of classes, and I'd love to have the opportunity to help your children learn sight singing, Broadway and current events!</div><div><a href="https://outschool.com/teachers/Mr-D-202209?usid=MFmxTKwy&utm_campaign=share_leader_link">Here is the link to my Outschool classroom. </a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Click here to enter the <a class="rcptr" data-raflid="cd9447e088" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cd9447e088/" id="rcwidget_ee3bqr4t" rel="nofollow">Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script separator="" src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch. </div><div><br /></div><div class=" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClmDmPMvWNFrPbMLKTkMwd6WWAP0KuqFGXPGBj2NegAmv_uhHGlTUcdVKeenL8NLp6BQi4OlK2g_WvwPhxlP7Y-tgcu0ICyLeZNQo2GDO-mIaP0cL52rrdH7iOnnFSKB9s1MkOSy8D8jPo8nyWZOUn7Ojh-ONRx1DJQtkidQc6KnYxWD6c8E8cMISRQ/s241/MEGA%20Bundle-%20Google%20Slides%20Version.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="241" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClmDmPMvWNFrPbMLKTkMwd6WWAP0KuqFGXPGBj2NegAmv_uhHGlTUcdVKeenL8NLp6BQi4OlK2g_WvwPhxlP7Y-tgcu0ICyLeZNQo2GDO-mIaP0cL52rrdH7iOnnFSKB9s1MkOSy8D8jPo8nyWZOUn7Ojh-ONRx1DJQtkidQc6KnYxWD6c8E8cMISRQ/s1600/MEGA%20Bundle-%20Google%20Slides%20Version.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" /></script></div>inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1047614252446672605.post-44630186406937165262023-04-06T20:12:00.001-07:002023-04-06T20:12:11.951-07:00Living the Dream- Tonight I met Emily Crocker on Zoom. <div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I met Emily Crocker tonight!</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">She was epically real...and all of the things you'd expect from this amazing human who has dedicated her life to arranging choral music for middle school choral music educators.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Um...I'm seriously living the dream.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>Think of it as a podcast...the video isn't there, but the information is. It's always been the way I've shared...perfection is lovely, but it shouldn't stand in the way of the heart of what you are working to do. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you Emily Holt Crocker.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069293040285&__cft__[0]=AZWDwNX0eqFPXdOchWcmWgb44d77EMYgE2HHOc3-lef7eFAq0Uv0A5CThe7dxEBYiMpCZC1HXIHzkoAi05wCCmkFf3PZVLE_bYlXkKgj3T7lXsXpbOOMTKiIwfpoAbeD0O0&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="xt0psk2" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">Roger Emerson Page</span></a></span> for connecting us.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Put on your headphones, and give it a listen. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://youtu.be/FJ8XD8UsFJA?fbclid=IwAR32gzcVdWAmvgOp6sY4FEb3kzRpR2SB6quQVa0DuUCa14IsmKncQBwdF7I" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/FJ8XD8UsFJA</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFkag9gP1R0n2l-5VKPYXZABpl4UlMAMutk13rcDaDF7T0x9MBsDIsxuSChmdCbNfHjL55ygVIdS4-GzCvi-sn97XGjLmJBalc5WflJAhIg6Bh_tV45L-4J7BrPZHKLd-ThrthKyeFj4/s1600/PostSignature-1a.png" />inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989577681539862681noreply@blogger.com0