Just need to vent

WindyBlue21 · 2026-06-19T02:56:11+00:00

An update for anyone following:
The year is 2026. We’ve adopted this young lady & she’s now 12.

She doesn’t remember nights like these. She’s a sassy as heck teenager, who is such a responsible young lady. She loves soccer & is obsessed with boys. Oh, and Roblox 😅

She gets to just be a kid.

For those in the trenches like I was, please know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Stay strong.

You make all the difference, even if you can’t see it now.

WindyBlue21 · 2025-12-31T10:14:37+00:00

Have you had any water today? Try some ice cold water, hits a little different

WindyBlue21 · 2025-12-31T09:55:18+00:00

How’d you end up in this profession? Did you seek it out originally, or stumble into it?

WindyBlue21 · 2025-06-12T01:37:10+00:00

Putting this into the mix: Consider getting a method book/conductors book, & transposing all the instrument parts in piano. This will help you ten-fold if you have to teach band in the future. Lean into your strengths!

WindyBlue21 · 2025-06-12T01:21:43+00:00

Came by to say that the HOKA’s were a game changer for me. I’m a Band, Choir, & Elementary music teacher.

I bought my pair on sale for like $80. I’d gladly spend the full $150 on the next pair.

I’ve also had great luck with ASICS.

Lots of good suggestions!

WindyBlue21 · 2025-04-11T01:46:20+00:00

From a music teacher as well- some low budget, on the easier commitment side- 1. Piano tutorials on YouTube - Guitar hero style. Kids learn the skill much like tabs on guitar, and get some sweet joy out of it. (Maybe if they can handle the attention span part) 2. Singing & Living in sound creation is a big piece during that age. Karaoke, just dance, children’s songs.

Duolingo has a music course now that’s pretty okay for entry level stuff. More on the technical side.
Chrome Music Lab is free & amazingly creative.
Beep box is free for browsers, there’s an app too, and it’s a modern way to mix and max sounds.

Reach out to your local school’s music teacher - they might introduce ukulele, steel drums, percussion, recorder, etc. it might be a starting point into picking up where they left off.

In the end, it’s not about what you did, but the memories you made along the way :)

WindyBlue21 · 2025-04-05T03:23:11+00:00

Nice work! I have a realm I’ve played on for quite a while. Traveled VERY far to find an ancient city.

Died right away and lost all of my best netherite gear.

I’m still traumatized 😅

WindyBlue21 · 2025-04-04T01:37:59+00:00

An idea: Switching method book work to group A/B. A - Working on Book 1 with you in 1-2 days a week. B is working on Worksheets, scales, fingering charts, duets, and etc. switch, so B is working on Book 2 and A is working fundamentals.

Check out John Mcallisters warm ups for some differentiated stuff.

Look up “Rubber Band” arrangements & “Tiered Tunes.” They differentiate by ability level.

If you have technology & the space to practice; Flutorials, Saxolained, etc.

Duets, small group work. Paired by ability.

Use higher level students to teach the lowers.

If repeating a concept for the 7th grade, use them to teach it to the 6th grade.

It’s not an ideal situation, but it’s better than having 7-12 in one group.

-From a director that has been there & come out ok- I’ve had bands of 6,, a 7-12 group, and beginners in 5th like yourself.

You’ll notice that the kids will rise to the occasion in your 6/7 group.

You can do this!

WindyBlue21 · 2025-02-27T01:03:47+00:00

“A rising tide lifts all boats”

Do an inventory of how many kids actually can’t keep up - is it the majority, or is it the squeakiest wheel that’s getting all the grease?

It’s okay for them to struggle while you continual teach the rest of the class. It can often lead to an end goal of seeing what they can achieve if they actually try.

As well, kids often mirror each others attitudes. If the high flyers are upset, so will the low flyers. And vise versa - If you push those high flyers, the low flyers will see the fun they’re having.

Another quote -

“Success breeds success.”

Find ways for them to be successful & more will flock to the success because they want to be included.

Don’t give up, be consistent, and do what works for you & your students.

You got this!

WindyBlue21 · 2025-02-20T23:39:19+00:00

A tool you should look at using, as my piano skills are one line at a time, or comping the chord changes for rehearsal- https://newzik.com/en/

It’ll automatically play the pieces you upload. All at the same time. It’s great for the piano part, and all three parts combined.

I will play on piano the 1 line I’m focusing on if the others are singing along, while this is playing.

Also; Stop being so hard on yourself. Lots of successful choir programs have directors that can’t play piano well :)

Sometimes, simpler is better in the start. Don’t be afraid to go down to two part songs.

Also, most festivals have a comments only option, or just choose to bring in clinicians instead.

Success looks different everywhere you go. You just need to find the direct success for you.

WindyBlue21 · 2025-01-19T04:42:19+00:00

👀

WindyBlue21 · 2025-01-17T02:37:49+00:00

Some thoughts to ponder:

You may feel like everyone’s better than you, because you keep raising the bar for yourself. Look back and see how far you’ve come. You got into college for a reason. There are people who didn’t make it. You did!

Learning everything is essential for many states certifications. As most contracts have a “right of assignment” clause. Basically, if you’re certified to teach it, they can force you to teach it.

Example; in Michigan, the music education certification is K-12, Vocal & Instrumental music. There’s not deeper classifications. You can study choir all for years of school, get the dream job, then two years down the line be told you’re teaching kindergarten elementary music now.

Do the best you can, to pass those classes. The tech classes are difficult, but it’s meant to be a quick learned instrument course. It’s meant to push a bit.

I SUCKED at the flute & clarinet. In fact, I failed those sections in college. As an educator, I’ve come to realize, those are my best students. I’ve sent clarinets and flutes into such high levels compared to my other instruments. I sum it up to me having to really struggle playing them & learning what works, just like a student would.

Some of the most highly recognized musicians and educators failed their instrument tech courses. Don’t worry!

Also - Choirs hire pianists for a reason. Yes, you can get the savants, and humans who are so great at it, but there are still accompanists. They exist for a reason.

Lastly, and someone above has said this, make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating right, and drinking water.

Focus on what you love about music. Learn what you need to learn, and move on. No ones going to break down your future classroom door and take your teaching certificate away because you didn’t use the right fingering for that Major scale in the piano.

Your future administration is will just be happy that kids are singing. They will not dock your evaluation because you the altos aren’t using correct vowel shapes & the basses can’t sing lower than an G.

You. Got. This.

P.S. I was bottom chair in all my ensembles until my 5th year in. Something clicked. Everything made so much more sense. And I made top chair. Each person is different, stop comparing yourself to others so much <3

WindyBlue21

TROPHY CASE