(no subject)
My mind is in a dither. My mind is in a maze.
Here's the deal: I want to get my certification to teach music. That is the next goal for the immediate future.
Right now: I am enrolled in 2 education classes at Arcadia University, which is about 5 minutes from my current place, and will be about 20-25 min (depending on traffic, natch) from my new place. I am taking the courses to see if education suits me at all, and I hope to apply them towards my certification curriculum. I like the professors I have met so far, and the education department seems small, but very warm and supportive. I will be meeting with someone in the department next week, to discuss the possibility of getting my entire certification there. The only stip might be that they don't seem to offer a full music ed certification there, but I might be able to just take a few courses at another university to fill that out.
My original plan was to get my certification through West Chester University, which is about 45 minutes from both my current and new homes. I have had difficulties getting in touch with people at West Chester, which obviously frustrates me greatly. However, West Chester has a far superior music department, and offers the advantage of being much less expensive, even with figuring in travel expenses; it's literally half the price of Arcadia. I will have to work harder at West Chester - most notably on my piano skills, which are CRAP, and I will probably take more music-related courses, going through them. But I will also be in a very densely musical environment, which I do like. West Chester will also probably prepare me better to be a music teacher, and it has an excellent reputation in the area.
I guess I'm answering my own questions here. I should definitely try to get into the certification at West Chester. It's just so frustrating sometimes, when you're shuffled around from person to person, and are not able to actually talk to someone at length about the programs, or set up an in-person interview.
Anyway - another dilemma. I have enrolled at Arcadia this semester, and am pretty much set on that front. But today, my father mentioned the idea of taking those same (or similar) beginning education courses at the local community college (Montco, for those in the know.) Montco has the advantage of costing about 1/4 the price (per credit) of Arcadia, which obviously is a huge advantage. But I'm already settled in Arcadia, and I like the classes and the profs. BUT if I'm not even 100% sure that I'll be able to apply those courses towards the certification, and I'm taking them more to find out about education and whether it's right for me, and to become a better teacher, wouldn't it just make more sense to take courses at Montco and save something like $2,000???
NOTE: This next section may make me sound like a huge snob, and it is not meant to insult anyone or any school. It probably will
I was trying to think if the academic environment might be any more fertile at Arcadia as opposed to Montco. When I was on hold at Montco, I made some remark to my father - "From Mount Holyoke to Montco". It reminds me of the jokes that Jess and I used to make about Montco - and then we both ended up taking classes there. I think I just need to get over myself. More places aren't like MHC than are like it. And here I thought I had lost all snobbery when I worked on construction sites for 3 years. Odd.
Anyway, otherwise life is good. General update: I quit my job, and am looking for an awesome part-time one while taking classes. I'm currently on Weight Watchers, and have lost about 20 lbs. since this winter. I hope to lose about 30 more by next summer. I'm ending my lease at the Colonade, and am moving into an awesome house in Manayunk with a girl that I met through Craigslist. I like her a lot - she's energetic and fun, and she has lots of ideas and stuff to make our house really beautiful and cozy. Plus, she's also a performer AND a teacher, so we'll have a creative household and she can help me with my ed courses. All applications for assistance for moving will be accepted.
Oh and by the way, Lauren and I had an amazing rock-star road trip. As you might have guessed. You also might have correctly guessed that the most rock star part of the trip occured when we were staying with Kate.
Change is good. Lots of change at once is slightly overwhelming, but stuff is starting to pan out, which is great. Once I stop biting my nails, I'll just be perfect!
Here's the deal: I want to get my certification to teach music. That is the next goal for the immediate future.
Right now: I am enrolled in 2 education classes at Arcadia University, which is about 5 minutes from my current place, and will be about 20-25 min (depending on traffic, natch) from my new place. I am taking the courses to see if education suits me at all, and I hope to apply them towards my certification curriculum. I like the professors I have met so far, and the education department seems small, but very warm and supportive. I will be meeting with someone in the department next week, to discuss the possibility of getting my entire certification there. The only stip might be that they don't seem to offer a full music ed certification there, but I might be able to just take a few courses at another university to fill that out.
My original plan was to get my certification through West Chester University, which is about 45 minutes from both my current and new homes. I have had difficulties getting in touch with people at West Chester, which obviously frustrates me greatly. However, West Chester has a far superior music department, and offers the advantage of being much less expensive, even with figuring in travel expenses; it's literally half the price of Arcadia. I will have to work harder at West Chester - most notably on my piano skills, which are CRAP, and I will probably take more music-related courses, going through them. But I will also be in a very densely musical environment, which I do like. West Chester will also probably prepare me better to be a music teacher, and it has an excellent reputation in the area.
I guess I'm answering my own questions here. I should definitely try to get into the certification at West Chester. It's just so frustrating sometimes, when you're shuffled around from person to person, and are not able to actually talk to someone at length about the programs, or set up an in-person interview.
Anyway - another dilemma. I have enrolled at Arcadia this semester, and am pretty much set on that front. But today, my father mentioned the idea of taking those same (or similar) beginning education courses at the local community college (Montco, for those in the know.) Montco has the advantage of costing about 1/4 the price (per credit) of Arcadia, which obviously is a huge advantage. But I'm already settled in Arcadia, and I like the classes and the profs. BUT if I'm not even 100% sure that I'll be able to apply those courses towards the certification, and I'm taking them more to find out about education and whether it's right for me, and to become a better teacher, wouldn't it just make more sense to take courses at Montco and save something like $2,000???
NOTE: This next section may make me sound like a huge snob, and it is not meant to insult anyone or any school. It probably will
I was trying to think if the academic environment might be any more fertile at Arcadia as opposed to Montco. When I was on hold at Montco, I made some remark to my father - "From Mount Holyoke to Montco". It reminds me of the jokes that Jess and I used to make about Montco - and then we both ended up taking classes there. I think I just need to get over myself. More places aren't like MHC than are like it. And here I thought I had lost all snobbery when I worked on construction sites for 3 years. Odd.
Anyway, otherwise life is good. General update: I quit my job, and am looking for an awesome part-time one while taking classes. I'm currently on Weight Watchers, and have lost about 20 lbs. since this winter. I hope to lose about 30 more by next summer. I'm ending my lease at the Colonade, and am moving into an awesome house in Manayunk with a girl that I met through Craigslist. I like her a lot - she's energetic and fun, and she has lots of ideas and stuff to make our house really beautiful and cozy. Plus, she's also a performer AND a teacher, so we'll have a creative household and she can help me with my ed courses. All applications for assistance for moving will be accepted.
Oh and by the way, Lauren and I had an amazing rock-star road trip. As you might have guessed. You also might have correctly guessed that the most rock star part of the trip occured when we were staying with Kate.
Change is good. Lots of change at once is slightly overwhelming, but stuff is starting to pan out, which is great. Once I stop biting my nails, I'll just be perfect!