As of this evening it's official. Well, official enough that I can let the cat out of the bag, so to speak.
I will be teaching Introduction to Humanities at two military bases this fall here. It is through one of the
community colleges. They are both evening courses, so there goes singing in the church choir for a
while. Teach, church choir, teach, church choir. Yeah, I like the idea of teaching...and making some
money.
I am to contact the department chair tomorrow morning about the particulars and to get paperwork signed
and the like.
I have a meeting with a friend tomorrow afternoon about teaching private lessons at some of the schools in
his school district. He's the fine arts coordinator. Knowing him as I do, I will end up having to turn students
away I'm sure.
Looks like I'll be scrambling to read enough of the text for the college class this week to write a syllabus, and
design the course. That should be interesting.
But I'm pleased and very happy! Teaching college is what I want to do and love to do. And now being able to
get back into private teaching will also be wonderful. There's nothing quite like seeing the lightbulbs come on
in a student's mind that is studying their instrument with you. It is a blast to work with the kids!
I am excited for you that you found something so quickly! I know singing in choirs is fun, but you are one in a bunch. In this case, you are the world to one!
I'm not a teacher, but I do know many people find it extremely rewarding and yes, money does seem to be a minor motivator! I heard it asked of people who says "I just looove my job!", "How much do you loooove your job if they quit paying you?"
I'm now looking into other "opportunities". I have some people interested in getting some sign work done, but if they are anything like any other sign jobs, we may find ourselves once again, fighting the "price is right" crowd where they look at "price only". Well, I can turn that $450 job into a $45 job real quick. Poster paper and paint, staple to the sign board, and done.
Oh...you want it to last and look good? Back to the $450 sign.
So, I'm looking into other ideas that may work for a while, like setting up a kiosk business in a mall.
But I find it interesting that you are teaching Introduction to Humanities instead of music/instrumental. Is that a "teach to eat" project or something that is a part of your overall goal in teaching? Maybe I'm missing the connection with that and music.
It's not that big of a leap. An Introduction to Humanities course encompasses not only music, but art and literature of the times.
My doctorate will eventually be in Fine Arts (emphasis in music history). With the degree, I've had courses in art and know the literature pretty well. I've always taught music appreciation courses and music history courses by discussing the art and literature of the time as well. So, this isn't a huge leap for me. Will they get a slant on music? Probably. But that's o.k. too. I enjoy discussing everything that happened in a particular time period to really see where the music evolved from and why it's the way it is.
Basically, I'm becoming a "jack-of-all-trades" music instructor.
I've taught theory, horn, band, music history, music appreciation,
song writing, and interdisciplinary course in society and music
last summer, humanities, music business and piano.
But my prinicipal instrument is horn and my doctorate will be in
music history.
You know each major has it's own "catch phrase", right? For the engineers it's "How can we do it?"; for the mechanical trades it's "How does it work?"; for the philosophies it's "Why...?"; and for the Fine Arts, it's... "Would you like fries with that...?"
I have never, and will hopefully never, work in a fast food or any other kind of restaurant.
I guess I've done something right with horn performance degrees and now working on a
Ph.D. in Fine Arts with an emphasis in music history.
This joke was better than your previous attempt a few weeks ago.
We'll be talking about art and of course nudes will come up.
I know how much you like nude paintings, Kevin. Would you
like to come be guest lecturer that night?
Nancy
