Category Archives: Etcetera

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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

the interconnected circles

Posted on April 3, 2013 by mllama4

R – As a follow up to my initial discussion around spot on teaching, I want to elaborate on my thoughts around that true balance between the three domains (circles) of 1) developing in students an interest and love for … Continue reading →

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process vs. product

Posted on March 16, 2013 by mllama4

R – “We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started.” – Henry Ward Beecher. There isn’t a music teacher alive who doesn’t already understand the … Continue reading →

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nothing to learn from beginning teachers

Posted on March 2, 2013 by mllama4

R – Okay, I’ll let you in on a pet peeve of mine. Ready? When you say “first or second year teacher”, many people automatically speak in their “oh, isn’t that cute” voice.  As they begin to have a conversation … Continue reading →

Posted in Etcetera | 6 Comments