Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy as a ........

So one of the vocal instructors at our institution of higher education was given the boot. It was not necessarily a nice thing, and left the remaining instructor high and dry. I was sorry to see her go, because she has been a major fixture in this particular place for quite some time (longer than I've been here, for sure).

The head of the department called me up and asked if I would take up some of the slack. He has hired a new instructor, but wants to ease her into the rigors of college life slowly. I have been wondering how to make all the ends around here meet like I wish they could , so I agreed. Now, I have ten students, with the possibility that I could get one or two more by next week. I love this, but it scares me a bit. First, i have never had that many individual voice students at one time before. Second, I will not be home from 7:30 a.m. until after 8:00 p.m. four days a week. The pay is good, the job is good, the people are fantastic, and the experience will do great things for me. Unless I die from a massive coronary first, or end up in a completely different type of institution trying to lick the flowers in the wallpaper.

Wish me luck!

Master the Tempest is Raging, by Choral Responses 2009

Acceptance (H), by Choral Responses 2009

Pain
glides over her skin
like sea-birds on the breeze.
Sorrow
falls from her eyes
like drops of cleansing rain.
Love
eludes her searching grasp
like fading light of a setting sun.
She
draws me to her
like a bird to the budding blossom.
Pain
touches my inner being
as I realize I cannot save her.

Acceptance

I just saw a former student today. I was taken by the fact that now that this student is no longer in my class, I may never be able to "save " them.

I have always tried to be fair and impartial, but I find myself drawn to students who are having a hard life, and are losing the battle to keep their heads above the water, due to the circumstances of their upbringing. I am reminded of the saying that if children (esp. girls) do not get love at home they will find it wherever they can. I am also cognizant of the fact that for many youth today, love and sex are basically the same thing. It is sad to see how many girls, in a small town like ours, are buying pregnancy tests, and how many boys are spreading the disease (and not just pregnancy).

I've talked with graduating seniors who admit to having sex as 8th grade students! (Not to mention those being WITH 8th graders!) I have one former student who is (I think) a single mother dealing with addiction while trying to raise her child.

I know these things go on. I know they exist in the world, and I know that my actual influence in overcoming some of this stuff doesn't extend much beyond my own children, but this knowledge does not stop me from wanting to try. and it doesn't ease the sense of failure when I see those who are still in need.

I guess the most important thing is that I still feel the need to reach out to those who need it most, and I feel that I must try to save them while I have the opportunity. The one thing I've learned is that you can give away all your love without ever running out.

MY SUN, by Choral Responses, 1986

I used to think I owned the sun,
For every morning, at break of dawn,
It rose above its eastern shore
And shed its light upon my door.
Then every night at time of dusk
It set for me--I guest it must
Become dark enough for me to sleep.
I could think of no other reason but me.
Now I know better, now I am sure
That I don't own the sun (just the Earth).

LIFE SONGS, by Choral Responses, 2007

I may not sing your song
But I love the song you sing.
My voice may not be in tune with yours,
But I love the harmony you bring.

Your song and mine may never be sung
By anyone but you and me.
But when you don't sing out of sadness or fear,
It darkens the world I see.

So I'll sing my song with all my voice,
And I'll sing it loud and clear,
But above it all, strong and sure,
Yours is the song I'll hear.

Paging Dr. Allred....

I just returned from a trip to the University. We spent the night singing a John Rutter piece, which was quite nice, and a TON of fun. The only problem is--now I want to go back to school to work on a doctorate degree, but we can't afford that right now.

I know there are always issues, but I am still very tempted to start looking into what I would need to do before applying, and what requirements for that particular degree are. I already have more initials than I know what to to with, no matter how appropriate some of them may be: A.S., B.S., M.M.

It also bugs me that public education wants teachers to get their Masters degrees, but almost blatantly discourages Doctorates! They are too afraid teachers will complete that degree and go teach at a university somewhere. I don't necessarily want to go to a college, but I still want the degree, and an open option would still be a bit of a plus.

Just as a passing note, the director at the University has the same last name as yours truly. Great director, and a heckuva guy, too!