Bright spot
On the first day of HS Music Appreciation, I was discussing with the class what they thought music was made of and the different styles it came in. I gave them a writing assignment: "How do you describe music?" I was expecting answers like fast and slow, loud and soft, rhythms, etc. A lot of kids explained what music was to them, which I accepted in my lack of specificity. But then I read this:
How do I describe music...?
I describe music as being a sorce[sic] of power to people all over the world. Music has the power to do many things. It can open someone's heart, or it could demonstrate someone's pain. Music can make you cheerful -- even on the worse[sic] of days. Music can make someone get up and move -- even when their souls are broken.
In general, music is a sorce[sic] of energy that has the power to influence the human mind.
This is from a 9th grader. He plays trumpet in the band, too. Quiet kid. But still waters run deep, man.
I am uplifted by his statement, and am inspired to do better by this class than I did last semester. I feel in my gut that it's unfair to want to do better because I have a good kid in here- all kids deserve a good and well taught class, but that's just how I feel. I'll ride it, though.
I'm also going to have posters of this statement made and posted in my room, maybe also the band room. I'm going to distribute this to other teachers in the district and to Dr. Ozeas at CMU (possible next president of the MENC, too).
How do I describe music...?
I describe music as being a sorce[sic] of power to people all over the world. Music has the power to do many things. It can open someone's heart, or it could demonstrate someone's pain. Music can make you cheerful -- even on the worse[sic] of days. Music can make someone get up and move -- even when their souls are broken.
In general, music is a sorce[sic] of energy that has the power to influence the human mind.
This is from a 9th grader. He plays trumpet in the band, too. Quiet kid. But still waters run deep, man.
I am uplifted by his statement, and am inspired to do better by this class than I did last semester. I feel in my gut that it's unfair to want to do better because I have a good kid in here- all kids deserve a good and well taught class, but that's just how I feel. I'll ride it, though.
I'm also going to have posters of this statement made and posted in my room, maybe also the band room. I'm going to distribute this to other teachers in the district and to Dr. Ozeas at CMU (possible next president of the MENC, too).