It's Really February?

Well the post below is the February Blog Carnival so I guess it must be true. I can't tell you how quickly January came and went. I really enjoyed the challenges of January after the LONG break. Wright State takes a break from Thanksgiving to New Years, so other than the basketball games I didn't have a whole lot going on. Then these three events hit!

Conducting the Fight Song after the Win over Butler

First the biggest weekend(so far) of college basketball where we played Valpo and Butler on our home court. Have I mentioned that I love being the Athletic Band Director for a Div I basketball team? How many grad students get that wonderful opportunity? Anyway we split the weekend losing to Valpo and beating Butler. The win against conference rivals, Butler was something I'll remember. We combined both bands and had almost 70 members all in uniform, playing and cheering all night. There were just 9,000 fans in attendance. The feeling of raising my hands for the Star Spangled Banner and having all those people come to their feet was amazing. The whole game was electric really, all the way down to the Vaughn Duggins buzzer beater and the crowd rushing the court. I hope an NCAA or NIT bid is on the way...I would love to take my band on that adventure. I have such a vision for where I can take this group in my two year appointment.

Dr. Booth, Myself, and Professor Ponto 

Then we had Tri-State Honor Band. I had been putting the details of the honor band in place since October, but this weekend it all came together. Professor Robert Ponto was in From Oregon to work with kids from Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio on our campus. I loved hanging with the guest conductor and organizing the event as well as playing for the HS kids in the Wind Symphony. Dr. Booth may call me a nerd, but I'm glad I'm detailed, the whole thing seemed to go off without a hitch. I'm working on making a handbook to TSHB to pass down after next year.

After TSHB 2011 was capped off by a 5AM drive with Ponto to the airport, I focused on IMEA. The return to Illinois to present a clinic with Keith Ozsvath was great. We spoke to a room of fellow music educators about how to use Twitter and Facebook to have your own 24/7 Professional Development. Not everyone got into it, remember that "acquaintance" lady? Overall, the reception was great and I need to start looking into what I am going to propose for next year. It's like an addiction, I just can't get enough time to praise the use of technology to make us better teachers. Of course the other side is I got to go to all kinds of clinics and learn for myself. I really loved two of the clinics that had demonstration bands, one about new approaches to ensemble tuning, and the other about teaching musicality and expression. Inspiring! Seeing friends with Jes was a lot fun and it makes me wonder where will land after these couple of years in Ohio. What should I propose for the session next year? Ideas?

In personal news. The wedding train is chugging along thanks to my diligent future wife. She cuts through her to do list like none other. We've done engagement photos, bought her band, ordered invitations in the last month. I'm sure there's more, but that's what comes to mind. Oh and I've got the website up and running.

It's all great and I've enjoyed taking a bit of time this evening to put it together. Next week is a conducting workshop with Dr. Stephen Davis from UMKC at Ball State with Dr. Thomas Caneva. Better get back to studying my Holst and Dello Joio scores! Have a great night and make sure to share your blogs with me. I'd love to read what's going on out there.

The New Year Begins!

What a beginning it's been! Jes and I have now been in Ohio for about 6 months. I'm a 6th of the way through my Master's program and it's getting a little more challenging(read I had my first music history course). So here's the plan for the year in a short list form.

- Keep working hard with WSU Pep Band. Enrollment is up to 62 from 19 when I get here. Next school year Im hoping to have an auditioned group.

- Keep looking for ways to move myself out of the score. I can't believe how much the band sees the top of my head...embarrassing. That's what video tape is for I guess.

- I hope my new doc can figure out this stomach pain issue I have. I'm actually kind of scared since no one has solved it and it's been a year. It feels weird to type it, but maybe it's good to just get it out there.

- GET MARRIED! Of course this is the biggest one for 2011. I'm so glad I've found such a wonderful women, who doesn't care that I'm a huge band dork. I hope the wedding is as awesome as it can be!

- Write more posts about the experiences of school, including more book reviews. I think it's a valuable resource for me and maybe it'll help some of you out there too.

- Get into a little better shape, which I plan on doing by playing soccer with some of the Centerville Staff.

- Study with the Legend, Wayne Markworth, while teching for the Centerville Jazz Band again. I hope that all pans out. I watched "From the 50 Yard Line" again last night and it leaves me with many questions about what just I will eventually want.

- Try more restaurants, events, sights, etc...around the area. This is the biggest place we've lived to date and I think we need to take more advantage of it.

- Attend at least one conducting workshop. I'm in for Ball State's, but I might to try to squeeze in one more.

- Present at IMEA with Keith O. We're talking about PLN's and hopefully it will be a big success. I think I'm going to try to do a similar presentation for a different state next year so we'll see how it goes.

- Lastly I'm doing the "365" photo a day thing. I think it will be some of the most interesting stuff I have. Why not document a year in one picture a day?

Now it's time drop the standard New Year's post and get to work. Book reviews are coming up as well as doing some history note organization!

What are you going to do with 2011?