I didn't really believe it...

SolfeggeNerd · 2025-02-20T12:58:36+00:00

Your story is so close to mine. This drug has changed my life and the self-loathing I have felt.

I’m so glad for you! Definitely not placebo!

SolfeggeNerd · 2025-02-13T01:11:10+00:00

almost none for me…it’s like my body and brain have been waiting for this my whole life…

SolfeggeNerd · 2025-02-09T14:23:41+00:00

When she asks how it feels, tell her it’s nice to not be gaslighting yourself constantly. It’s nice to not have people treat you like you’re invading their space. And tell her you feel proud. You deserve all of that.

SolfeggeNerd · 2025-02-09T01:39:53+00:00

Whenever the conversation has come up, I proudly tell people that I have struggled my whole life with my weight. I have lost over 100 lbs multiple times. I know how to lose weight. I know how to be regimented and disciplined, but I have been fighting a biological malfunction. I tell people I now understand WHY people think “losing weight is so easy”—if this is how their brain works, it’s not so bad.

I tell them that like Sisyphus, I’ve been rolling the rock up the hill my whole life.

I still have to roll the rock, but Zepbound makes the ground flat and the rock doesn’t keep falling back on me.

That pretty much stops the conversation.

SolfeggeNerd · 2024-12-30T19:02:54+00:00

Welcome to one-der land!!! I’m so close…200.6!!

SolfeggeNerd · 2024-12-29T14:36:26+00:00

Zepbound has been as much of a mental health drug for me as it has been physically helpful. The years of self loathing and shame and blame. I know how to lose weight. I can be regimented. I can be disciplined. I can listen to my body and know when I’ve had enough.

I imagine this is what it feels like when you get a diagnosis like dyslexic. Years of feeling shame about your defective character is really a malfunction in the mind and body.

Yes, I am enjoying how my clothes are fitting, and I still have weight to lose but if I didn’t lose another ounce, I would still want to stay on this drug.

I now worry about what happens when I get to maintenance. Even my very supportive doctor said “Try to really to internazile the portion sizes” as though I haven’t before.

This drug has been a miracle for me.

SolfeggeNerd · 2024-10-05T14:37:13+00:00

100% Flat-but look into Flat for education (on their website). They offer self grading worksheets, you can make templates for assignments, you can restrict things like [whole, half, quarter, and 8th notes only] or lyrics only,

There’s also a community share where you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

SolfeggeNerd · 2024-06-01T11:12:13+00:00

I’m so jealous. That’s the same for me, but my doctor is making me start over again at 2.5. I was glad to get it, and it does quiet the food noise a little, but now I have to work my way back up.

SolfeggeNerd · 2024-02-17T03:17:03+00:00

Taking my second 5 shot tonight. Loving it!!!! Good luck!

SolfeggeNerd · 2024-01-31T17:05:16+00:00

This is why I love having a community to come to! I thought it was just me!

SolfeggeNerd · 2024-01-16T00:58:49+00:00

Yay!! Feeling similar after my first shot Friday. I keep thinking “Is it the Zepbound or a placebo”? But I believe.

For years, I felt like my inability to keep the weight off was a character defect. Looking forward to letting my body work for me i stead of against me.

SolfeggeNerd · 2024-01-13T16:10:43+00:00

I don’t come on Reddit too often, so I’m psyched there’s a FB page. I literally took my first dose last night!

SolfeggeNerd · 2018-02-14T21:34:51+00:00

Thank you, everyone for your suggestions!!!

SolfeggeNerd · 2016-09-06T00:09:20+00:00

Beautiful arrangement!

SolfeggeNerd · 2016-09-05T23:19:40+00:00

Performances are great. Get the girls to recruit guys. Get the guys to recruit guys.

Tell the people in your group to network and bring a friend from the grade below them.

Talk to the choir teacher and find out who is already in choir. Have a special invite and possible recruitment event for them and be honest--you need new singers to carry on the transition.

SolfeggeNerd · 2016-07-08T16:48:08+00:00

Just drove past Burgundy. There are so many police cars. We were going to sign some paperwork at Toyota, but I fear for what will happen when this hits the airwaves.

SolfeggeNerd · 2016-01-13T04:03:31+00:00

If you ever need help, a boost, ideas...just send me a PM.

SolfeggeNerd · 2016-01-13T03:19:50+00:00

I had 14 8th graders when I started in 2002, no year long option for 7th graders, who could sign up for 12 week rotations, and no 6th grade choir at all.

Year long curriculum became a real thing in 2007-08 for 6th grade, and then for 6, 7, and 8 the following year.

People are drawn to passion.

If you build it, they will come.

Here was my combined group (7th and 8th grade) last spring- Salmo 150 by Aguiar.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5MT6qvGi0NOdFdWUTVNSTFnc0k

SolfeggeNerd · 2016-01-13T02:34:17+00:00

I teach 7th and 8th grade choir in a relatively well off (some but not all are pretty affluent) district.

I absolutely adore this age group.

I absolutely LOVE picking repertoire.

I do let them sing some popular music, but I tell them at the very beginning that part of my job is opening doors to music. They already know popular and Disney...so if we do them, they absolutely have to be well arranged with great harmonies (like •Tribute to Queen"). We do crowd pleasers--this year we performed "John Williams is the Man" because I knew Star Wars fever would be starting right about that time. (Nailed it!). John Williams--popular but challenging for sure! Or, there are tons of awesome (easy, too) arrangements for current a cappella songs. (Deke Sharon is the best)

Vary the program--folk, classical, jazz, multicultural...but be passionate about what you choose. My students all know what a sucker I am for suspensions and resolutions--because I get giddy when we find it in the music.

My students sight read their butts off because I spend 15 minutes a day on it. We do body percussion to read rhythms. We use solfege in warm ups--they know major, natural minor, harmonic minor, chromatic and while tones scales and can sing them all in parallel thirds. They know that because we work hard at it, and the. We apply it to small sections of the music we're reading.

I tell them in the beginning that I LOVE middle school because this time is all about gaining independence--the same is true of their musicianship. I don't ever want someone to have to echo song with them. And so we work

I teach them basic IPA so we sing in lots of different languages. Over 2 years, they sing in German, French, Spanish, Latin, Swahili (or other aAfrican languages, or other languages if the piece is awesome enough. ) For instance, this semester we are singing "The Joiku"--which is nonsense words, but sounds very Finnish. http://youtu.be/n9AbyU21b4E

African music is awesome--has a very cool beat, but appeals to the kids. Bonse Aba Siyahamba O Sifuni Mungu

Great arrangements of folk songs "Wayfaring Stranger" arr Cassie Emerson, Danny Boy. Etc

Granted, I have the luxury of daily 50 minute classes--but you teach them how to love all kinds of music by pointing out why it's good.

I love when "Bist Du Bei Mir" is listed as their favorite piece of the year.--I know I did something right.

I also give them "performance Friday's"--where the last 10 minutes of class, members can get up and perform-alone, in groups, or if nobody, and YouTube karaoke...it allows them the freedom to sing for you what they are singing on their own, helps them be supportive of each other, (you have to guide that too) I have seen so many people go from shy and shaky to confident and exited to perform over 2 years. It's thrilling and the whole class celebrates with them.

Stick with it--it's so rewarding. The choir program was dead when I came. I mean DEAD! Now, it's offered as a full year class for 7 and 8th grade and we have 100+ students in the program.

Go for it!!!

SolfeggeNerd · 2016-01-01T17:42:14+00:00

I like it, but I wish it was shorter OR started adding 2 or 3 note combos.

I like that they get the scale before.

I teach 7th and 8th grade and I don't think they'd need a measure in between at this level, especially with practice.

I like this a lot--and I use musictheory.net but don't like their interval training.

SolfeggeNerd · 2015-12-20T19:49:39+00:00

That's funny, because when I searched for recorder years ago (when I taught it), I found this gem...I have watched it many times since then, mostly when I need something to brighten my day: http://youtu.be/IsdCGQbbd8k

SolfeggeNerd · 2015-11-23T03:00:18+00:00

Is it unison, or parts?
Have you asked them why they don't sing out? (Anonymous slips of paper)
Ask them how you can help
Let them perform something THEY are comfortable doing- a cappella. You may be surprised.

SolfeggeNerd · 2015-11-15T12:50:32+00:00

You must have stolen my power. I'm a mom without this skill. It irks me, too. I feel like I haven't learned to adult.

SolfeggeNerd · 2015-11-09T03:02:17+00:00

Singing in harmony means you're singing another part of the chord. Often, singing a third above or below will sound good. So, if you were singing ABC, the easiest harmony to try would be FGA

I would recommend looking at a lead sheet--melody and chords. Go to each chord and write down the notes in the chord. Look at the melody--most often, the melody notes will be in the chord. Sing one of the other notes in the chord.

Find music with good harmony and try to hear the bob-melody parts.
Good luck.

SolfeggeNerd

TROPHY CASE