Maryland!
The gang…
Chris’ cameo appearances… yes, this is someone who will be teaching the future generation! ;-) You pose for the best pictures, Christopher.
Deanna!
Squeakers! (a friendship that started over a project about Thailand!)
Flying the kite I just happened to have in my car… actually, TRYING to fly it.
Although everyone else’s break is ending, mine is just beginning. HOORAY!!
Maryland was amazing. I’ll post pictures once I put them up on flickr.
Today was cleaning the apartment, practicing, baking a bit, and, oh yeah, driving back from Maryland.
This time tomorrow, I WILL BE HOME!! I cannot wait. It has been over 2 months and I miss family so much. But there was good news from home today, Lauren and Justin bought a house (my sister and her husband). Hooray! I can’t wait to see it.
Tomorrow will be a little of an early morning. I’m playing at the church with Deanna’s chorus, running through some of Ang’s recital music, and then off to Amanda’s for Easter dinner. My parents are both in the medical field and both working this year, so she was sweet enough to offer for me to stop at her house on my way home. I have the best friends here.
And thank you to the faculty, if any of you glance at this. I just received my letter telling me about the medallion. Thank you. 
I’ll give a more detailed entry in a few days but I did want to do a quick catch-up one before I head off. And where if “off” to? MARYLAND!!
Rowan is on spring break this week while all the student teachers started their second placements (on Monday). I am now down at Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, NJ (by the beach) and although that requires me to get up at 5:00 am to get there on time, it’s a great program, great kids, and a great experience… so I’ll suffer from turning myself from a night owl into an early bird.
Monday we had seminar since most of us have spring break this week coming up. But since campus is dead (everyone is gone) we decided to have it at Nick’s Pizza instead. The lovely Dammers’ bought us all pizza as we recounted our first days and the culture shock of going from the little kids to big kids (as I had) or vice versa.
After school today, Ketih took myself and Tom out for lunch (we had a half day) and it was nice to sit and chat with them both. Now I’m packing, cleaning a little, and heading to Maryland! Why Maryland? Well, my friend Jon’s (Squeak) family owns a site right on the Chesapeake and him, his girlfriend (Deanna- the one whose birthday it was), and Chris are already down there camping, relaxing, grilling, etc. They’ve been harassessing me all week to drive down too as soon as I got out of work today or as the threat was “they’d put out a hit on me.” So, I’m going to head down and join them for a few days of relaxing.
Then I have a gig and rehearsal on Easter, stopping at the beautiful Amanda’s for Easter dinner (my parents are both working this weekend so no Easter when it’s supposed to be), and then heading home for a few days.
More later! Merry Easter to all.
I will get in a better schedule of updating, I definitely need to work on it a bit more! So Sorry.
Anyway, this it the last week of my elementary placement and I cannot believe how quick the time went. Today was my last day at one of the schools and it was quite cute- a whole bunch of the kids gave me cards. That definitely made my day. This week is a slow one in school because the students are taking their ASK tests so a lot of our lessons and band classes are canceled. Tomorrow, though, I’m making use of that and heading up to the high school to do some observations since I will be making the BIG age jump to high school next Monday.
Besides teaching, I am always finding a way to keep myself busy! Last Tuesday I helped Sammy get ready for the Orchestra Soloist Competition Concert and then I went off to see all of the guys perform. It was such a strange feeling to be sitting in the audience and watch an ensemble that I was in for so long perform… I definitely missed it that night. But everyone did a really nice job and especially the soloists and Gio (yay composition major!). Plus they ended with ‘The Firebird.’ Way cool and made me jealous.
My co-op and some of the teachers that I know, took me to the original Chickie and Pete’s in Philly on Wednesday night since I had never been before. I really enjoyed that and the fries there are to die for! Yummy.
Thursday was ’super-secret’ SAI stuff and then Friday night a few came over to my apartment for Girl’s Night. It was nice to just kick back and relax.
Saturday consisted of lots of shopping for the concert band festival which is happening today and tomorrow and then Danielle’s Trumpet recital. The wind during that whole thing was intense and I’m just glad the building didn’t fall down (and there was even a mini-tornado in Turnersville area. How crazy is that!?!)
Sunday was a lot and a lot of work and practicing. At night, SAI meeting. I really love those girls. They make the whole week even better.
That’s enough for me, I pinkie swear I will be better at updating!
Bye for now.
Off to New Brunswick!!!
Today was a short week at school, just 3 days because tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday I am heading off to the NJMEA (NJ music educators convention). This is my fourth year at Rowan attending and sixth overall so I’m looking forward to meeting old friends, teachers, and co-workers that I haven’t seen in a long time.
Sorry for the short entry, time to go!
Unlike my un-student teaching peers, this weekend was a loooong weekend. The district that I student teach in had a four-day weekend and since I follow their schedule, that meant so did I. (a fact that made some friends so jealous they ‘unfriended’ me- until tomorrow that is when I’m back to school; thanks Alley P!)
On Friday, Lindsay, Sam, and I went on a random journey shopping that turned into an epic- hours and hours of shopping. One visit to one store turned into many visits to many stores but it was really a blast. Sometimes it’s nice to just have a little bit of spontaneity in life.
Saturday was a cleaning/laundry/chores day and at night, we celebrated Deanna’s 21st birthday with dinner at Chili’s and then ending back at Squeak’s house! Happy Birthday, my dear!
Sunday I helped out with auditions and then had ’super-secret’ SAI stuff for the majority of the rest of the night. It’s always strange to help at auditions because it makes me wonder what students will be here next year; rather, what students will be taking my place here. But I wish them all only the best; like anything in life the best advice I can give is that you get out of things what you put into them.
Today was a catch-up day. It was spent mostly at Wilson- practicing, working in the computer lab writing papers that are due this week and the such.
This week is another short one, since on Thursday myself and maybe 20ish other music education majors will be heading up to New Brunswick for the NJMEA (New Jersey music educators association) convention. To add to that excitement, I’ll be able to see my beautiful sister, Lauren! who is also a music teacher but up in north jersey.
I’m sitting in my apartment listening to the snow/rain/ice mix fall outside. It’s a slushy mess out there! and I have no hot water which is quite sad. I live in an off-campus apartment complex and there is emergency maintence but it’s so horrible out I don’t want to make them come over. It can wait until tomorrow.
Although I love school, I am terrified to drive in this weather so I hope that either a. it all melts by tomorrow morning or b. we get a delayed opening so that I don’t have to worry too, too much about it.
This week has been a busy one with a bit of problems, but everything is going to work out. Besides, what doesn’t kill us just makes us stronger!!! right!? I have to say a special thanks to my friends out there- Deanna and Amanda- who knew it was a rough day yesterday, invited themselves to the apartment, brought a pizza (and we were also joined by the wonderful Sammy), and sat and laughed for hours… it was a needed break and release. Thank you girls. I’m so lucky to have you as sisters.
Student teaching has continued to go well and today I taught completely- every class, every grade. I am really having a blast and learning so much.
Besides student teaching, I also had a lesson today and asked if I could sit in at concert band; although I’m busy, I really miss playing especially since up to this semester I’ve always been in 3-ish ensembles a semester…. it was nice to sit in and play again- and especially see many of the music major kiddies. The orchestra kids also got a kick out of watching me playing 3rd in concert band- while they were walking by they started heckling me from outside the room… all in jest, of course… But I love playing- any part, any thing- I just wanted to play.
My lesson went decently well. I have to work on getting my whole-tone scales faster as well as the first of my two pieces of the semester done and orchestral excerpts. Right now, I’m working on two unaccompanied pieces- Stravinsky and Rozsa- and after those two, there are plans for 3 or 4 more pieces… we’ll see if I can get it all done with teaching, learning music for a recital I’ll be playing in soon, and all the other activities!
But I love being here, I love doing what I’m doing, and I’ll keep working as hard as I can- now off to do my student teaching journal entry for the day.
Night all.
So, hello readers! I have successfully made it to week three of student teaching. My co-op and placements are fantastic and I’ve been taking over one class at a time. Now, I’ve just about taken everything over and will be working as ‘teacher’ for the next couple of weeks until placement #2 begins.
School has been going really well. Although I am student teaching, I still have three classes I have to take- my lessons, seminar, and teaching students of linguistic and cultural diversity (whew!). So, basically, I don’t have too much time to spare! But I enjoy it all a lot and in addition to this a lot of cool things have been going on.
Last weekend, myself and 13 of the SAI girls traveled to my home in North Jersey on Friday and then into NYC on Saturday for our ‘province day.’ Basically, alumnae and collegiate chapters from U. del up to Boston meet once a year to get together, bond, and chat. It was a lot of fun and besides some issues with NJTransit (honestly, what bus picks people up at a terminal OTHER than it’s own number), it was a successful trip.
This past weekend a junior put on a show entitled ‘Light the Stage for a Cure.’ It was a Broadway review and many of my friends were either in the pit or the singers. They all did a wonderful job and all the donations went towards finding the cure for cancer.
Last week and this one is also Rush week for SAI. It’s a lot of work that goes into planning and getting ready, but let’s just say it’s ABSOLUTELY worth it… so many girls are coming out. Last week we did an Ice cream night, ’speed rush’ (like speed dating), and tonight is game night. We’ll have two more events this week and then the fun of training begins!
Jazz Festival is also going on this week in the department- it’s a 3 day event where high school jazz bands come in and get critiqued and help from our faculty. It feels so strange not to be involved this year, since I’ve ran the MENC part the past 3 years… but all good things must come to an end and it is other people’s turn now.
That’s it for now, either tonight or tomorrow I’m going to be adding pictures to this from the past two weeks.
Adios!
Yesterday was the very first day of my 8th semester, here at Rowan. It still amazes me how quickly the time has flown by. Sometimes it seems like just yesterday that I was auditioning for the first time, packing for the first time, moving away for the first time, etc. I had been so excited, so nervous, and so full of wonder about everything that was yet to come… now, I am experiencing many of those same feelings all over again, however, this time I am at the complete opposite end. My last semester at Rowan has now begun.
But, I’m going to save the good-byes and all of that for a time known as commencement. For now, I will continue enjoying all of the wonderful things that every day offers.
I began my student teaching experience yesterday and I am thrilled about it. Four years of education and many more than that of wishing to be a teacher and now here I am! ‘Miss Heber.’
The way that the music student teaching works is that you spend half of your time (about 7 weeks) at an elementary placement and then the other half at either a middle school or high school. Since we are certified to teach K-12, having experience at all the different levels are crucial.
For me, I am starting with my elementary placement and have three schools that I travel between with my co-op. I have already been to two of them and on Monday will finally go to the third. My co-op is wonderful and I’ve actually already began teaching! Most of the time observations are the only thing at the beginning, but I’ve been fortunate enough to try my hands at teaching a few lesson groups… and I will continue to add more to my day until I completely take over. Exciting, right? (and a little, teeny bit scary too!)
On top of student teaching, I do still have lessons, a class, and a seminar. Also, SAI (Sigma Alpha Iota- women’s music fraternity that is FANTASTIC!) begins our Rush week (recruitment) next week, so plans have been in the works for all of that.
Just as exciting is a trip that I am taking this weekend! Myself and 15 of the girls in SAI are heading up to my house in the mountains on Friday night and then into NYC for all of Saturday, to network, meet, and just have a lot of fun with other SAI women from all over the east coast. I am really looking forward to it (and I’m sure many pictures will be posted after all of that). (curious? www.geocities.com/sigma_alpha_iota_ka)
(yes, I know that was just a shameless plug… sorry!!)
But that’s it for now. Time for this teacher to head to bed.
Welcome to my blog!
My name is Megan and I am a senior (4th year) music education major, here at Rowan. I’m originally from”the other state” of North Jersey and am an instrumentalist (clarinet player). This is really just an experimental entry so that I can get used to how to work all the things on this site.
(yep, there I am!)
As I said, this is my fourth and final year at Rowan and when I head back to school in late January I will be starting my student teaching experience; 7 weeks at an elementary school and then 7 weeks at a high school. I finished all my general education courses this semester and only have that left to do. I’m very excited about all of that (although nervous too) and still can’t believe how quickly four years have gone.
This was actually finals week at Rowan and was, by far, the easiest one that I have ever had. Usually, I end up having multiple finals every day (for all five days) but this semester I ended up only having two on the second day; public speaking and astronomy. So, I was all finished by 2:30 on Tuesday. I also didn’t have to worry about having a jury this semester since I had my senior recital in late October and Dr. Suzuki thought that that was enough to handle.
In case you’re not sure, a senior recital is basically the culmination of your playing/performing skills in college. You present a recital that is entirely focused on you and friends, family, faculty, or people who need their recital cards signed (more on those later) come. On mine I played Debussy’s ‘Premiere Rhapsody,’ Kovacs’ ‘Hommage to Bach,’ Gould’s ‘Benny’s Gig,’ and finished with Copland’s ‘Clarinet Concerto.’ It was a nerve-intense, crazy time but I am happy with how it went (and if you’re a music lover look up the Copland- it’s a really, really cool/fun piece).
As I was saying, this was an easy finals week and I am now back at home; relaxing and recharging for next semester.
I’m actually going to leave this for now since I have Christmas cards and presents to finish.
Until next time…