There is absolutely zero glamour in teaching. Even less in teaching high school. We’re talking -14 at least.
Teenagers are by nature a thankless, self-centered, confused and usually a rather frustrated group of folks. They want to be adults and aren’t. They want to make decisions for themselves but they physically are not able to comprehend long-term consequences of those decisions.
If they could, “sex-ting” would slowly ride off into the sunset for most of them.
So instead, parents and teachers attempt to gently guide them.
And that’s what my husband has chosen to do with his life. Guide these crazy people. I don’t understand that desire but I love him for having it. He often says one of the perks of the job (sorry, I’ll wait for you to finish laughing)…
… is having the opportunity to create. For that one moment, that particular group is working together to produce a sound that will never happen again.
Now for me, as an untrained audience member, sometimes, that’s not an all bad thing. I’ve sat through many a Christmas concert feeling very sorry for Jingle Bells and the torture it endures every season as beginning bands make a mockery of its simple tune. But to Chris, even those moments of musical failure offer the chance for improvement.
Chris’ last concert of the year was this week. I took a few short videos thinking maybe at least his parents might want to hear the band. And see their son wave his baton a little (stop Fanny). As the wife who’s watched him grow as a musician, performer and as a teacher, there’s not much I’d rather do than sit in the audience and beam.
Forgive the quality. This is what you get with the video camera on my blackberry. And I was sitting in the back. Behind a lady flossing her teach during the concert. Seriously. I tried to get a snippet from each piece (not every movement though) and just put them together in one video. Enjoy!
Thank you Lord for giving us teachers to guide, music to learn and enjoy and the patience to combine those into one passion in life as a high school band director.
Teenagers are by nature a thankless, self-centered, confused and usually a rather frustrated group of folks. They want to be adults and aren’t. They want to make decisions for themselves but they physically are not able to comprehend long-term consequences of those decisions.
If they could, “sex-ting” would slowly ride off into the sunset for most of them.
So instead, parents and teachers attempt to gently guide them.
And that’s what my husband has chosen to do with his life. Guide these crazy people. I don’t understand that desire but I love him for having it. He often says one of the perks of the job (sorry, I’ll wait for you to finish laughing)…
… is having the opportunity to create. For that one moment, that particular group is working together to produce a sound that will never happen again.
Now for me, as an untrained audience member, sometimes, that’s not an all bad thing. I’ve sat through many a Christmas concert feeling very sorry for Jingle Bells and the torture it endures every season as beginning bands make a mockery of its simple tune. But to Chris, even those moments of musical failure offer the chance for improvement.
Chris’ last concert of the year was this week. I took a few short videos thinking maybe at least his parents might want to hear the band. And see their son wave his baton a little (stop Fanny). As the wife who’s watched him grow as a musician, performer and as a teacher, there’s not much I’d rather do than sit in the audience and beam.
Forgive the quality. This is what you get with the video camera on my blackberry. And I was sitting in the back. Behind a lady flossing her teach during the concert. Seriously. I tried to get a snippet from each piece (not every movement though) and just put them together in one video. Enjoy!
Thank you Lord for giving us teachers to guide, music to learn and enjoy and the patience to combine those into one passion in life as a high school band director.
Awe!! That video is so sweet! He's so lucky to have such a supportive wife!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even laugh at baton until you said it. Now I can't stop laughing.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! I'm glad he finds joy in the little things - we need more good teachers!!
ReplyDeleteHey - sorry to hear that your neighbor is still up to his antics. I mailed you some earplugs - the kind that Kyle uses when he flies. They are pretty good - hopefully they will help!
ReplyDelete