Tuesday, July 22, 2008

I'll teach you something

Today I taught my very first clarinet lesson. It was delightful. I taught Jodilyn's daughter a few things. She learned very quickly and should be ready for a recital by week's end. I don't know how much credit I should give myself, because I think most of the credit goes to her. She's ridiculously smart and was very excited to learn. Teaching someone something is really easy when they're as excited as she was. I'll be showing her a few more things tomorrow.
Speaking of lessons, I will be starting guitar lessons on Friday. I took a beginning guitar class years ago and absolutely loved it. I've been wanting to improve my skills ever since, but I kind of got stuck and then my playing decreased until it stopped. My short term goal for my guitar skills is to learn well enough to use the guitar frequently in my classroom. I graduate in the spring and want to spend part of my summer making up silly songs to teach my class curriculum. I also plan to use songwriting frequently for class assignments. I will teach my students about meter and have them write lyrics for a pre-written melody based on this meter. I will use songwriting for review or to introduce a new topic. The guitar will be much more practical than a piano. Although, I've already invested in a keyboard for similar reasons.
My long term goal will be to learn the guitar well enough to create more complex/creative music so that I can live my dream of being a singer/songwriter. I have a great desire to write music and to perform. I don't want to perform for sell-out crowds, but I'd love to be able to sing a song mid-lesson at church, during a visiting teaching lesson, or to perform for family or friends whenever. I'd play/sing for anyone who would listen. (This is all part of my plan to continue to become less and less shy.)

4 comments:

Unknown said...

It's a great plan. You are a great teacher. And will be amazing as a classroom teacher just from what I have seen of you in the classroom and with my own kids.

WE missed you today. No kidding Nick went outside and looked down the road to see if your car was coming before he would let the missionaries start teaching. :0)

Becca Summerhays said...

Good for you Katie! You are ambitious! I once had a dream of learning to play the piano, but then I went to school, got married, continued going to school, had a baby, continued going to school some more and am currently doing all of the above still!! Maybe one day when life is less hectic I will reach my dream. So good for you!

Music will help out so much in the classroom. Maybe you can come sing and play in my classroom someday. We can call it "Katie-balooza" and it will be singing and dancing all day long with you as the star!! =D Maybe one day....

Nathan and Brooke LeBaron said...

So Katie what about our dream to be back-up singers with our sequin outfits...that still fits in somewhere right?

Nathan and Brooke LeBaron said...

Katie...I made my blog private but I don't have your e-mail address to invite you on...I need to get it from you.

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