Author Archives: mllama4

letter grades: the big farce

Posted on October 26, 2013 by mllama4

R – warning, lunatic ahead. If you don’t want to read a rant by someone certifiably crazy, please close this window of your internet browser now before you read any more and get sucked in. Or at least read it … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Standards | 2 Comments

think different show different be different

Posted on October 5, 2013 by mllama4

“Part of the art of teaching is the ability to rearrange the world for students – to force them to see things in a new way. I’ve known too many stupid intellectuals to believe that education and wisdom come as … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera | 2 Comments

professional development

Posted on September 28, 2013 by mllama4

R – The older I get, the more I find myself asking this question: am I a better teacher this year than I was last year? Was I a better teacher last year than the year before? Why or why … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera | Leave a comment

performing ensembles

Posted on September 21, 2013 by mllama4

R – My friend and colleague Jen Etter drove 600 miles with me the last couple of days, to and from Presque Isle to work with some of the region’s arts teachers up there. A delightful time. And as our … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera | Leave a comment

goal setting

Posted on September 14, 2013 by mllama4

R – I am reaaaaallllly tempted to hate goal setting. Not in a “I gotta sit down and do this and I don’t wanna” kind of way, but it just seems like every Fall that’s what we all get in … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera, Rehearsal | Leave a comment

aesthetics and academia – part 2

Posted on August 29, 2013 by mllama4

R – I’ve heard on many occasions over the years that, “not all that is important can be assessed”. I know, I’ve often been the one who has said it. I still do, and I still mean it when I … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Etcetera | Leave a comment

aesthetics and academia – part 1

Posted on August 20, 2013 by mllama4

R – The title of this post: oil and water? Democrat and Republican? Ke$ha and Beethoven? Yankees and Red Sox? Okay maybe not that far apart… Well, here’s the scoop: aesthetics is not the deemphasis of academic instruction, it’s an … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Etcetera | 1 Comment

moving on

Posted on June 15, 2013 by mllama4

R – My Spring concerts were held last week and I must confess that as happy as I am with how they went and what the kids did, I am profoundly grateful that they are over. I feel somewhat the … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera | 1 Comment

flipping the music classroom

Posted on June 1, 2013 by mllama4

R – Jennifer Etter is my friend and colleague at York Middle School as Choral Director and General Music teacher grades 6 through 8. She has not only been an extraordinary partner as we continue to develop our K-12 music … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Etcetera | 1 Comment

difficult intervals

Posted on May 13, 2013 by mllama4

R – A couple of weeks ago I was getting ready for school thinking about how singers, at the heart of it, only struggle with singing specific melodic intervals. In other words, harmonic considerations completely aside for a moment, there’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Rehearsal, Warmups | Leave a comment