Me, lately
I bemoan that nobody posts in LJ anymore, but I am the worst of sinners.
Yesterday was a crazy day for me. I passed the first stage in submitting a course to teach, the hardest stage, getting the music faculty to approve it. They are actually very supportive, which is nice. Even after these few years I still feel a little intimidated by some of them. It would go a lot further if I had even a masters in music, but I just don't see that happening with my current options in the area. But the class is in music bibliography and music research, which they are happy to consider my specialty.
Next the course proposal heads to the curriculum committee, hopefully in enough time to make it on the agenda of the campus-wide faculty meeting April 14, where it will be voted on. Originally I was going to try to develop a course for May Experience, but in going through the workshop for that, I was overwhelmed. It really seemed more appropriate for professors who had a lot of teaching experience under their belts and wanted to do something different, but would have no problem organizing and planning. I felt too far behind the curve. But then I've been doing an independent study course with a student on music research this semester, and decided to try to use my preparation time with her to develop assignments that could be used in an actual course setting. I met with the Library Director about it, and then the head of the music department. They need upper level music elective courses, so it was pretty much a no-brainer. Plus I'm super organized. That always helps when proposing ideas.
I also had to play for two recital juries yesterday. I ended up accompanying two string bass players for their junior recitals. It was a bit nerve-wracking. I still feel out of practice as an accompanist, and the string faculty are among the most intimidating. I think it went okay, and it felt good. I second guess myself a lot in this particular arena, but that is one of the reasons it is so good to push myself into doing it. I had thought piano was over for me. I'm glad that it isn't, but I don't feel like I'm as good of a player as I used to be. I think that's okay, but I need to figure out how not to let that particular sentiment interfere with my focus during performance. Hopefully if I can rehearse more with these bassists, their recitals should just be enjoyable, two musicians playing together for others. That is the point I used to like to get to when I accompanied all the time, and I am hopeful I can return there.
Now it is time to do advising for fall registration - talk about another area where I'm such a newb. One of my students was in my office yesterday asking all these questions I had no answer for. Ha. I also inherited a new advisee who wasn't working out with his last advisor. He is my only undecided student, and seems to always have a new idea every week of something else he'd like to try. I'm not sure how much I can (or should) tether him, but hopefully I can help him succeed.
In home life, we finally have a few things on the walls in the kitchen and sun room. We have been looking at paint colors for the living room and bedroom, picking out better outside furniture, and contemplating a fence. We didn't plant any bulbs or trees in the fall like we had hoped, just ran out of time, but a fenced in yard would be such a cozy addition. Our palmetto seems to have survived the winter and the green part is actually growing. A rose I planted has popped up, as have my chives and parsley. The lemon grass, cilantro, dill, and basil were all killed by the random first frost we had. I'm new to this home thing but we're adding to it little by little. We can take as much time as we need, no hurry.
Today I really need to finish a display I've been working on. I just hit inspiration which will entail tearing down what I already put up, but that is okay.
Yesterday was a crazy day for me. I passed the first stage in submitting a course to teach, the hardest stage, getting the music faculty to approve it. They are actually very supportive, which is nice. Even after these few years I still feel a little intimidated by some of them. It would go a lot further if I had even a masters in music, but I just don't see that happening with my current options in the area. But the class is in music bibliography and music research, which they are happy to consider my specialty.
Next the course proposal heads to the curriculum committee, hopefully in enough time to make it on the agenda of the campus-wide faculty meeting April 14, where it will be voted on. Originally I was going to try to develop a course for May Experience, but in going through the workshop for that, I was overwhelmed. It really seemed more appropriate for professors who had a lot of teaching experience under their belts and wanted to do something different, but would have no problem organizing and planning. I felt too far behind the curve. But then I've been doing an independent study course with a student on music research this semester, and decided to try to use my preparation time with her to develop assignments that could be used in an actual course setting. I met with the Library Director about it, and then the head of the music department. They need upper level music elective courses, so it was pretty much a no-brainer. Plus I'm super organized. That always helps when proposing ideas.
I also had to play for two recital juries yesterday. I ended up accompanying two string bass players for their junior recitals. It was a bit nerve-wracking. I still feel out of practice as an accompanist, and the string faculty are among the most intimidating. I think it went okay, and it felt good. I second guess myself a lot in this particular arena, but that is one of the reasons it is so good to push myself into doing it. I had thought piano was over for me. I'm glad that it isn't, but I don't feel like I'm as good of a player as I used to be. I think that's okay, but I need to figure out how not to let that particular sentiment interfere with my focus during performance. Hopefully if I can rehearse more with these bassists, their recitals should just be enjoyable, two musicians playing together for others. That is the point I used to like to get to when I accompanied all the time, and I am hopeful I can return there.
Now it is time to do advising for fall registration - talk about another area where I'm such a newb. One of my students was in my office yesterday asking all these questions I had no answer for. Ha. I also inherited a new advisee who wasn't working out with his last advisor. He is my only undecided student, and seems to always have a new idea every week of something else he'd like to try. I'm not sure how much I can (or should) tether him, but hopefully I can help him succeed.
In home life, we finally have a few things on the walls in the kitchen and sun room. We have been looking at paint colors for the living room and bedroom, picking out better outside furniture, and contemplating a fence. We didn't plant any bulbs or trees in the fall like we had hoped, just ran out of time, but a fenced in yard would be such a cozy addition. Our palmetto seems to have survived the winter and the green part is actually growing. A rose I planted has popped up, as have my chives and parsley. The lemon grass, cilantro, dill, and basil were all killed by the random first frost we had. I'm new to this home thing but we're adding to it little by little. We can take as much time as we need, no hurry.
Today I really need to finish a display I've been working on. I just hit inspiration which will entail tearing down what I already put up, but that is okay.