I'm feeling a little better today than I did yesterday and a little more back to "normal" -- whatever that word means these days.
Late yesterday I talked with another band director at a high school and went out this morning to talk with him and the students.
I'll be doing two masterclasses (two different classes, once a week) and teaching seven students. I'll end up there twice during
the week.

The high school I went to on Wednesday wants me to do a masterclass once a week before school and teach four students during the
first two classes of the day.

A middle school director called yesterday and asked if I could do two masterclasses, back-to-back, once a week. I can probably get
a few students out of that too.

And another middle school director has asked that I come out after Labor day, talk with him and the students. I don't know what we might
set up.

I did forget how lucrative private lessons and masterclasses can be if set up right. The first three schools add up to only 10 1/2 hours of teaching each week and about $300.00. Depending on what happens at the fourth school, I might actually do pretty well this fall, save some money up, still have my "Good Fridays" (thanks, Boyd), and have time to travel to Dallas as needed.

I am working on my application for this Baptist university. It would be nice to be able to teach there in the spring. We'll see. If the other college calls me to teach starting in October - December, I'll just have to see how my schedule works. As far as I'm concerned they screwed up and I had to do something else. Technically I can make almost as much in a month of teaching lessons than I can teaching a course there for a semester, or even for an eight week course.

I am pleased that I've been able to step back into the role of horn instructor pretty well around here. I have found that the music world is even smaller. A director on Wednesday told me he knows people I do in West Texas. One of the directors this morning, as we discovered, played in the same wind ensemble I did, but we sat across the room from each other and never made a connection, yet we know all the same people. Thank goodness, even though there have been times I wanted to, I've never burned any bridges.

I'll check in later.
Nancy

It's good to see you back swinging that horn around! You show them what that shiny thing can do!

I didn't know music lessons can be lucrative either! hmmmm

Live Nude and Prosper!

Boyd

Boyd wrote: "It's good to see you back swinging that horn around! You show them what that shiny thing can do!"

I'm swinging it but not playing it yet. My finger's still in a splint on the right hand and will be for another two weeks. But soon enough I'll be back to playing. The kids I've met and the directors I've met are so enthusiastic about my working with them. This particular school district covers the far northside of San Antonio and also part of what is really considered more of the westside. I chose to talk with the schools that are more on the westside. The students are not from "rich" families in terms of money. Their enthusiasm about playing and succeeding is still there. I'm so excited about working with them! One high school is brand new and a beautiful school! The other high school is now also a science and math academy so any high school student from the district can attend to get a more concentrated study of math and science.

The students I met yesterday, not only in the band, but the students I talked to when I went in and asked where the office was located, the student who took me to the band hall, the student that also thought the art display was great, the students that I passed in the hall, were polite, wonderful young men and women.

I can't wait to start teaching!

"I didn't know music lessons can be lucrative either! hmmmm"

Yeah, they are! I'm getting $30.00/hour for most everything. I've scaled back a little depending on the time we've got, or knowing the situation of the students, but nothing is less that $25.00/hour.

I was asked one time when I was still an undergraduate here when I was going to "get a real job." First of all, I had a full scholarship that paid for tuition, books, and had a cost of living built in. Second, I taught private lessons and at one time had as many as 35 students while I was still in school Fifteen of those students were at a school that had worked out a deal with the band boosters to pay instructors $10.00/half hour lesson. That was 7 1/2 hours worth of work for $150.00. The rest were paying $12.50/half hour lesson. That came out to $250.00 each week for 10 hours worth of work. So for 17 1/2 hours each week I earned $400.00. I had friends working at fast food places earning minimum wage of around $5.00/hour, working 25 or 30 hours AND going to school earning what, $125.00 - $150.00 each week. But I didn't have a "real job." I LOVE the idea of making more money for less hours! It gives me the chance to practice, work on other projects and play gigs.

I will always have private students when I can thoughout my career. It's a great way to earn extra income and it will come in handy to help pay off my student loans.

Nancy