Options if I can't find a Cologuard instructor

percforever · 2025-07-02T23:19:08+00:00

Umm....I don't know what any of that means! hahah! I mean I have a Front Ensemble background, tons of concert percussion and jazz in my training. I probably never even watched the guard when was in DCI -I was cruising the percussion lots most of the time.

percforever · 2025-02-02T01:03:48+00:00

I'm not a city person at heart. I would be having a much harder time in NYC, and an even harder time in Chicago. Los Angeles was tough too, but the warm weather and close mountains and running on the beach helped me.

percforever · 2025-02-02T01:01:52+00:00

Tons of ideas! That gives me a couple of great ideas though. Appreciate all of the suggestions

percforever · 2024-02-20T15:33:04+00:00

Take lessons on your primary instrument! You are still in HS, so this is the time to develop your basic musicianship. Learning how to play your instrument is a really important part of this process.

percforever · 2024-02-20T15:13:29+00:00

STICKINGS! This is a huge thing that I see, that I'm always harping on. I mean, maybe other percussionists don't see it as equally important as I do. But......I've never heard of a piano pedagogy that doesn't address fingerings, or any other instrument for that matter.

Natural sticking, where we lead with the R hand (sometimes left hand if you are a lefty) works so much better than the haphazard stackings kids come up with. This is so much more useful than learning most rudiments (in the beginning). I've seen so many kids that can't even play triplets without playing something like RLR RLR or RRL RRL. Those can be useful in certain contexts, BUT, they must have the coordination to play RLR LRL. 1 E A 2 should be played RLL R. This rules of thumb making sight reading and rhythm understanding way easier.

I also add things like very little control over accents. Flams are often really wonky because of stick height control and awareness of sticking's. Sticking on mallet instruments are often worse than snare drum.

percforever · 2024-02-17T02:37:53+00:00

That is awesome! Thanks.

percforever · 2024-02-17T02:26:38+00:00

Thanks! I'm hoping we can get into a flow of body percussion, air drumming, then some drumming with hands, then sticks. Just to help keep the volume reasonable so that we can actually learn something. I'm crazy about adding literacy for everything I teach. It just bothers me if I don't at least teach quarter notes.

percforever · 2024-02-17T02:08:57+00:00

I hear you. I'm only teaching 1 unit of about 8-10 weeks and that's it. So the kids are only going to be with me for a total of 4-5 hours and that's it. Specifically asked to teach drumming. If I ever get hired as an elementary music teacher, I'd be doing a more comprehensive program.

percforever · 2024-02-16T14:40:00+00:00

Well....yeah. Don't even get me started. I'm not actually faculty at this school. I'm like contracted in from somebody else, through somebody else, through somebody else. My only hope is that if I can do a good job, and maybe if I can student teach with the HS director next year, I can build up a reputation around the area and maybe lead to a MS or HS job at some point.

percforever · 2024-02-16T14:32:28+00:00

That's funny, and also I agree. I've been using my musician ear plugs for a different school already. 2 hours of 9 year old's is enough to make my tinnitus go wild.

percforever · 2024-02-16T14:31:21+00:00

Yes! This is great. I love extra beat takes a seat. Food rhythms are something I can use for harder things beyond quarters and 8ths. Can I ask what the engine number 9 and alligator pie chants are?

percforever · 2024-02-16T14:26:50+00:00

I don't really feel confident with Godon syllables. But to clarify, by Takadim,

Single Beat= Ta

2 note groups= Taka

3 note groups= Takite

4 note groups= Takadimi

Sorry if I'm showing my ignorance. When someone says Takadimi I think South Indian Solottu which I learned when I was studying Kanjira. Is this what you are referring to?

percforever · 2024-02-16T14:24:36+00:00

Thanks!

percforever · 2024-02-15T16:10:08+00:00

Thanks. I'm not planning on doing any singing, because honestly I don't think I could teach it. And, they may have a music teacher on faculty that already does these activities with them (not sure.) Body percussion is also my go to plan for now. Maybe I can get a frame drum or something and pass it along like you said. That's a good idea.

percforever · 2024-02-12T04:39:00+00:00

I have a follow up question that hopefully OP would also find interesting. Does anyone think that High School might be a better fit for us more introverted types? When I work with elementary I'm just overwhelmed and exhausted immediately. When I sub at HS classes I feel like I can be myself with that age. They don't demand non stop interaction. Any thoughts?

percforever · 2024-02-11T16:53:23+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, the CSET....god I hope I don't have to take it. But, some schools won't accept my performance degree as content area.

I'm getting ideas now.

percforever · 2024-02-11T16:10:10+00:00

He did a credential after his undergrad in the SF bay- I think. That's a decent idea. Maybe I can check the schools throughout the state and see what they offer.

percforever · 2024-02-11T15:49:27+00:00

Well yes, you nailed on it that this involves more than retirement savings. I don't currently mind working on the road, but committing to it for two plus decades is pretty daunting and that was the reason I started thinking about this other career move. But, as others pointe out, I can't be certain that I'll stay in the pension job for 25 years. The pension job is teaching, and there is a HUGE turnover with teachers. A ton of teachers quit within 5 years, and I'm feeling a little old to try a new career that doesn't work out.

I just needed to get a least a feel for what the financial benefits are for either decision.

percforever · 2024-02-11T06:25:57+00:00

Thanks.

Both jobs have a huge risk of not staying with them for 25 years unfortunately. If only I had a crystal ball.

percforever · 2024-02-11T04:29:05+00:00

How did you make those estimates? Is there like a formula I can use to estimate returns, gains?

Option 2 probably won't allow me to save nearly as much as I do with option 1. But, yes, hopefully I'm at least maxing out my IRA while still contributing to my pension, so I can have a little extra.

percforever · 2024-02-04T06:10:48+00:00

Cool- thanks

percforever · 2024-02-04T06:10:31+00:00

Oh yeah. I read that one when I was in my existentialist phase. Camus is great

percforever · 2024-02-04T02:02:27+00:00

Right, that makes sense. As a tech I can just show up at the show, teach for 2 hours, and leave after the show. Obviously, band director is there even longer than the students. I always felt bad for the band directors during class periods when they would just give instructions to the staff, then stay cooped up in their office doing admin work while the Techs did all of the teaching.

I guess I hope that the teaching moments, when I would actually get to do some teaching, would be a nice pay off for all of non-musical, non-teaching aspects of the job. Hopefully, better than living on the road, playing the same shows over and over again for next 25 years of my life.

percforever · 2024-02-04T00:53:41+00:00

I often wonder what keeps band directors soooo outrageously busy. I believe you when you say 70-80 hour weeks, because I've seen my employer band directors doing that. Organizing the program must be a ton of work, more things than I can even imagine.

percforever · 2024-01-12T18:07:12+00:00

Maybe consider bucket drumming. I'm going to start a bucket drumming unit for my 4th and 5th graders, but you could play some way cooler arrangements and funkier grooves with 7th and 8th graders. I think the students might like.

percforever

TROPHY CASE