I wake up happy. Yesterday on twitter, an acquaintance from an educational course encouraged me to share my experience with writing a first book – I have just finished the first complete draft – and that was the most lovely extended hand of an invitation. Haven’t blogged for a while, as there has been just …
(1 min read) It’s sort of that time of year- lots going on, lots of activity, lots of lots. We went away. Not away from the people, in fact we’ve been a sea of people, but away from the routine, away from the habit, away from mountain of lots to do, and I learned to …
Photo CC licensed: http://bit.ly/1Gkg5CT (1 min read) Today I had spent the afternoon assessing: 20 music students performed contrasting songs to show their work and progress this term and I tippity-tapped away on the laptop while sitting behind a desk with another examiner. We make it as fun an experience as it can be, but it …
I love teaching spaces that make me smile even before anything happens. When I walked into the Disruptive Media Learning Laboratory teaching space at Coventry University, WAIT. I didn’t walk into it. I carried (with help from two fantastic gentlemen) an orchestra of string instruments from the van to the third floor of the building, and we …
(1 min read) Yesterday I welcomed a guest for the day. We had both studied at Northwestern University a lifetime ago and we passed many times in the hallways of the practice building, went to each other’s recitals, and even had classes with each other’s teachers. Jonathan is a professional tuba player. He took the …
Yesterday I found myself running. running from a lecture to the train running from the train to the tube running to another meeting running to reply to the emails running and running and running and then I stopped. I have a weekly meeting that, at the moment, keeps me grounded in hope, friendship, and a …
Tomorrow’s the day. In the MUS654 session there are two interviews not to be missed. The first is with high school orchestra director, Frank Lestina, who has educated literally thousands of students across his 35 year career, followed by an interview with Hans Jensen, who is one of the most sought after cello teachers in …
Today in class we did something different: we drew. That wasn’t all we did, but it was a fantastic catalyst for the session and the students and I thought you might join us… The students came prepared to play something on their instruments and they knew that we were following up the MUS654 lesson on …
Thinking about the topic for #ccourses and for me language gets in the way. People say… if we do this for them… and language is so loaded and sets so many implied divisions, even when they are certainly not intended. For me when I divisions are unfurrled, that is when I have learned respect and understanding. Words and Listening …
(1 min read) My first thoughts today were: every moment is now. We can. I am. Happy Friday! I am one of those people who wake up feeling like that, and today was no exception. (that’s my morning view. my photo cc licensed here) Bursting with exuberance hits the spot nicely, so it’s a good …