Each Monday evening at 8PM EST, music teachers get together and share ideas about important topics within music education. It’s a great chance to interact directly with educators from all over the world and to get new tips and tricks to help you succeed in the classroom. The entire #musedchat discussion is organized and moderated by Joe Guarr.
It's #musedchat time! Our topic tonight: What inspires you as an educator and a musician? Be sure to introduce yourself! #musiced
And...using a GIF, describe your weekend.
Hoping very much that my eyelids cooperate and I can stay awake for all of tonight's chat (instead of waking up on the couch with a dog as a pillow in 90 min). #musedchat
Auditioning and not making an honors ensemble. Taught me about being humble and always getting better as a musician. There is always room to grow! #musedchat
A1: I remember when my marching band played at the non-competitive Grand Ledge Invitational. Tiny band+Standing-O was really inspiring. I was hooked. #musedchat
A PMEA Regional Choir Festival performance of “Water Night” by @EricWhitacre just hit me like nothing else ever had. It is what inspired me to be where I am today! #musedchat
A1: Playing flute in an All-County Orchestra in middle school. It was amazing to play with strings and to play some harder music. Playing in an orchestral wind section is still my preference! #musedchat
Q1: Musically, I’d say studying abroad in Vienna at 18. The entire culture embraces music and it was amazing to be constantly surrounded by such amazing musicians and art 24/7. Access to incredible music was simple and cheap- totally life changing. #musedchat
A1: 9th grade field trip to Chicago to see the CSO play Verdi's requiem. Was literally surrounded by antiphonal brass. Still go back to that when I need motivation. #musedchat
A1: Hearing Augustin Hadelich with the St. Louis Symphony play Paganini Concerto no. 1, a performance that still inspires me to bring the best out of myself as a musician and in my Ss. #musedchat
A1: Participating in a Region Choir festival in high school put the idea of teaching choir in my head (before, it was band or nothing). The director was profoundly inspiring. #musedchat
A1: “Brick walls are flawless, but they aren't very pretty to look at. If you spend your life and every concert just trying not to make mistakes, you'll never enjoy a concert. Most people just sing, they don't make music.” - Dr. Ethan Sperry, Portland State U. #musedchat
A1: Close runner up - the college audition circuit. There were some spectacular failures on my part. Learned a lot about handling failure that spring. #musedchat
Playing in any honors ensemble is a great experience for students when they are surrounded by those who are equally passionate about what they do, which is why I still remember my honor band experiences!! #musedchat
A1: All State Symphonic Band in NY when I was a junior- h. Robert Reynolds conducting, Maslanka consulting on his piece... inspiring to see so many kids serious like me. Then, didn’t make it the next year- humbling. #musedchat
My middle school band director...opened me up to various opportunities and taught me along the way. If it weren't for him and the experiences, I would not have even stayed with my instrument #musedchat
A2: if it weren’t for my music program, I truly don’t know what I would have done with my life. I was inspired by my directors and teachers (and continue to be) and I want to give back to others what they gave to me! My music family is truly an amazing community! #musedchat
A1 I went to a HUGE competitive HS. Is it bad I can’t think of anything? Maybe it was all the let downs that made me more diligent to be successful in music? #musedchat
A2: My music teachers. I was blessed with many great ones, but I also learned from the ones who had teaching methods I didn’t agree with or like. #musedchat
I was very lucky to have great in and out-of-school music experiences that inspired me to want to give those opportunities to younger generations #musedchat
#musedchat A2 looks like I jumped the question from my A1 answer. I was in gr 7 and I got the solo in Autumn Leaves and I performed in front of the entire school.
A2: I always knew that I wanted to work in schools and help positively influence kids. Music was always a passion and I knew I could connect with students on that level and build from there. #musedchat
A2: My HS band director would let me run class when he was absent (in the presence of a substitute). That, and being a drum major for two years, affirmed that I wanted to go into the right field. #musedchat#musiced
A2.1: Also, band was like a family to me and that bond was very important to me. I wanted to foster an environment like that for Ss who needed it. #musedchat
A2.1: Also, band was like a family to me and that bond was very important to me. I wanted to foster an environment like that for Ss who needed it. #musedchat
A2 I was supposed to be an Elem Ed major but my freshman advisor was the head of the music dept “you want to minor in music? I have a better idea!” #musedchat
A3: @boskm inspires me. She's without question the best educator I know, and just trying to lag less behind her has made me a better teacher #musedchat
A3: I play in a teacher wind end and our director is a HS conductor- he loves music and loves band and I’ve been very inspired by his reh technique and his demeanor. It is so fun to play in the group! #musedchat
A2: I had unbelievably supportive music teachers/band directors that still to this day support me. I hope to be half as influential to my Ss as they were to me. #musedchat
Lucky to be continuing my education, able to attend conferences and work with fabulous teachers BUT my kids are what inspire me the most! Their thirst for knowledge and love of music drives me to do my best!! #musedchat
A3: One of my professors at WCU still has a grand impact on my life as a person and educator. I aspire to have the impact on students that he has had on me. #musedchat
Current inspiration comes from colleagues, near and far who continue to push the boundaries of the music teaching profession. Makes me want to push and try new things with my students! #musedchat
A3.1 my district has brought in my private teacher from HS to mentor and observe and it has been wonderful. He has a wealth of knowledge and it’s so fun to trade ideas. #musedchat
A3: One of my colleagues, a math teacher, just turned 70. He approaches each day with the energy of a 25-year old, and is still trying to learn more about the field. I want to be like him when I grow up. #musedchat
A3: However, my students inspire me most. Their dedication and determination — whether on a sports field, at a musical rehearsal, or in the classroom — keep me going on my worst days. They inspire me to be my best self, for they deserve no less. #musedchat
A3(b) I've also been inspired, lately, by digging back into some of the varied listening I did in college; minimalism in particular. Also Snarky Puppy #musedchat
A3: My husband @MrMac128 is a fantastic music educator who inspires me every day to pull not only the best from myself, but the best from my Ss #musedchat
A3. My students inspire me. When I see them engaged and enjoying music it makes me want to work harder to continue to challenge them. We can learn so much from listening to our students. #musedchat
A2. A great high school music with a great teacher inspired me. To be honest it was not my first choice, like many I wanted to perform, but looking back now teaching music seemed like a natural evolution for me all along #musedchat
A3: Good conference sessions and time spent with other passionate music educators is a big source of inspiration as well. Looking forward to #MMC2018 in January! #musedchat
A1. I remember a festival adjudicator telling a 16 year old me that I was really good and should consider a career. I often think of that and am reminded that what we as music educators say could dramatically change a student’s life. Choose our words wisely #musedchat
A4: I find invigorated whenever I meet with my colleagues for a PLC. We can share struggles, triumphs, and new ideas. I leave feeling amped up every time! #musedchat
A4: Sometimes, I need to step away and see a performance just for me. Theatre productions & concerts (non-school) inspire me — as well as listening to audience reactions. It makes me happy to know my Ss can have the same profound impact on an audience w/ hard work. #MusEdChat
A4: Listen to some of my favorite band pieces. Maslanka Symphony No. 4, Only Light by @aaron_perrine, Ecstatic Waters by @SBryantComposer just to name a few. #musedchat
A4: I try to play as much as I can and if I can’t - I Love commissioning new pieces for young band. I think I am up to 8 so far with more in the works #MusEdChat
A4: It depends on what I need. I'm going down YouTube holes on a regular basis, sometimes watching conductors, sometimes band performances, sometimes looking up drummers. All of which gives me something I need #musedchat
A4: At the time in my career where burnout is most prevelant and I am unsure where to look for what I call “unbiased support”, I have found great inspiration in the #musedchat PLN
