Lately, I have been felling that I'm just tired of the same stuff. Of course, I'm speaking musically. The same tunes..the same type of gigs, it starts to get old after a while. I'm not saying that the music is boring. I think I just want to focus on other things musically. Some of the groups that I have subbed/played with are in the same place that they were 2 years ago and I'm just tired of it. I believe that this comes from getting ready to record my own material and get that going. This also does not mean that I'm about to stop playing with other groups. I just going to start focusing on the things I want to do, lie the method books, teaching, composing/arranging and recording.
Dealing with the personalities of other band members is just irritating. The things is that I will ALWAYS have to deal with people. I have to learn to be patient with them and myself. I will spend my entire life dealing with my issues and other people. I just can't let anything bother me so much. It's easy to be an emotional wreck. I don't have to be one.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Interesting weekend
It's been real busy. I found out that I will still be working in the elementary level, but in general music. I have spent the last two days cleaning out my classroom and getting my stuff out.
I had a gig this Saturday (I won't say who I played with.) where one of the band members walked out on a gig. For those of you who don't know, that's a no-no. That's like walking out on your job. You just don't do that, no matter how much of a jerk the leader is being. In this case, the leader was in the right. We were told to be ready to play at 6:00. This musician was a couple minutes late. The leader told him his pay was docked. The musician got mad and left. Luckily, there was someone nearby who could do the gig last minute.
The leader made it very clear to everyone about the call time. The only thing the leader may have done wrong was say this to the musician in front of the entire band. That should have been a private conversation. Based on the reactions of other musicians, no one was surprised when it happen. Both have hot tempers. However, the musician should have been ready and just played the gig. One thing to learn from this: Don't let your frustrations cause you to screw up. It's best to stay calm.
I had a gig this Saturday (I won't say who I played with.) where one of the band members walked out on a gig. For those of you who don't know, that's a no-no. That's like walking out on your job. You just don't do that, no matter how much of a jerk the leader is being. In this case, the leader was in the right. We were told to be ready to play at 6:00. This musician was a couple minutes late. The leader told him his pay was docked. The musician got mad and left. Luckily, there was someone nearby who could do the gig last minute.
The leader made it very clear to everyone about the call time. The only thing the leader may have done wrong was say this to the musician in front of the entire band. That should have been a private conversation. Based on the reactions of other musicians, no one was surprised when it happen. Both have hot tempers. However, the musician should have been ready and just played the gig. One thing to learn from this: Don't let your frustrations cause you to screw up. It's best to stay calm.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Job update part 2
I found out today that my position was eliminated. Mine was due to the allotment for the string program being reduced by one position. I hope to know where I land by next week. I really don't want a HS band gig.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Other stuff...
Some of the other things I plan to get done this summer include the following:
1. Completion of a scale studies method book..I know they're a ton of them out there.
2. implementation of a online lesson structure via skype and other materials. I also want to do some asynchronous teaching as well.
3. completion of saxknowledge.com This will replace the sax-lessons.com website. I will probably forward the sax-lesosns.com url.
4. As always..I will be recruiting as many students as possible.
5. Starting in July..I will finishing my Masters in Science in Ed. Technology. I had to take some time off for a job, baby and other stuff. TTYL..
1. Completion of a scale studies method book..I know they're a ton of them out there.
2. implementation of a online lesson structure via skype and other materials. I also want to do some asynchronous teaching as well.
3. completion of saxknowledge.com This will replace the sax-lessons.com website. I will probably forward the sax-lesosns.com url.
4. As always..I will be recruiting as many students as possible.
5. Starting in July..I will finishing my Masters in Science in Ed. Technology. I had to take some time off for a job, baby and other stuff. TTYL..
Upcoming projects
Now that school is winding down and summer is approaching, I can get some projects finished.
1. Recording for the Acoustic Jazz CD will start in June. I'm not doing any overdubs..at least that is the goal. I want to emulate the recording of the 1950s; everything to 2 track, mistakes and all. IMHO, there is no such thing as a perfect solo and I don't want to create one using technology.
2. The saxophone recording will start in June also...Basically, I'm going to use electronics and overdubs and create a whole bunch of material.
3. I will continue my practice for DMA auditions next year. I will be getting all of my teaching materials together for a possibility of a major in Music Education.
4. The Odyssey Music Project CD will be finished by the end of June. Most of the material has been recorded. Now I'm on the editing and mastering phase of the project.
5. My goal for the rest of the year is to write an arrangement once a month.
With all of that and teaching/gigging opportunities, my summer should be very busy..hopefully I can get the opportunity for a vacation this late summer or fall. TTYL..
1. Recording for the Acoustic Jazz CD will start in June. I'm not doing any overdubs..at least that is the goal. I want to emulate the recording of the 1950s; everything to 2 track, mistakes and all. IMHO, there is no such thing as a perfect solo and I don't want to create one using technology.
2. The saxophone recording will start in June also...Basically, I'm going to use electronics and overdubs and create a whole bunch of material.
3. I will continue my practice for DMA auditions next year. I will be getting all of my teaching materials together for a possibility of a major in Music Education.
4. The Odyssey Music Project CD will be finished by the end of June. Most of the material has been recorded. Now I'm on the editing and mastering phase of the project.
5. My goal for the rest of the year is to write an arrangement once a month.
With all of that and teaching/gigging opportunities, my summer should be very busy..hopefully I can get the opportunity for a vacation this late summer or fall. TTYL..
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Job Update
Good news... I got my contract and immediately signed it and gave it back to the secretary. I will have a job in Cobb County next year, but it does not guarantee I will be at the same school. It's more than likely, but until I see the paperwork, I won't be sure. Now I can start preparing for next year.
I'm not sure how long I will stay, because of my desire to continue to DMA studies. We'll let that play out as well. It looks like my schedule will be super hectic next term as well. That's OK...I'm still employed. TTYL..
I'm not sure how long I will stay, because of my desire to continue to DMA studies. We'll let that play out as well. It looks like my schedule will be super hectic next term as well. That's OK...I'm still employed. TTYL..
Monday, May 10, 2010
Update MAY 2010
I have a real bad habit of not posting...Lately I've been so busy that I haven't had time to keep up my blog. Here I go:
1. I find out this week if I will teach in Cobb County Schools next year. The school system is laying off almost 600 teachers and ALL of the part-time staff members. Our cuts are based on our performance evaluations and seniority. While all of this is going on, I've sent out my resume and interviewed with a school. Don't know the results yet, but the interview went well.
2. A bit of good news, I will be teaching at GPC this summer and in the fall 2010 semester. What I will be teaching I don't know.
3. Recording is going very slow.. that's because Ive been gigging a good bit with various groups, and a couple of solo things.
4. I have decided that regardless if I'm in Cobb schools or not, I will do EVERYTHING I can to build a studio of students and gig/compose as much as possible. I have to be proactive in my life and not wait for someone to do something for me. If I do that, I will not get anywhere fast.
5. We have 8 days of school left...for my college gig, were in finals. It will be good to be done. I'm done for the summer for Cobb on May 25Th. I'm done with GPC this week and start Summer 2010 semester on May 24. The summer semester runs until July 19, the day I report for an extra week of planning at my school (If I'm still at the school). I don't mind the tight schedule...we need the money in the Passmore household. So technically, I'll have 3 days of vacation. Even those days are covered with gigs. Oh well...
That's it for now...Later!
1. I find out this week if I will teach in Cobb County Schools next year. The school system is laying off almost 600 teachers and ALL of the part-time staff members. Our cuts are based on our performance evaluations and seniority. While all of this is going on, I've sent out my resume and interviewed with a school. Don't know the results yet, but the interview went well.
2. A bit of good news, I will be teaching at GPC this summer and in the fall 2010 semester. What I will be teaching I don't know.
3. Recording is going very slow.. that's because Ive been gigging a good bit with various groups, and a couple of solo things.
4. I have decided that regardless if I'm in Cobb schools or not, I will do EVERYTHING I can to build a studio of students and gig/compose as much as possible. I have to be proactive in my life and not wait for someone to do something for me. If I do that, I will not get anywhere fast.
5. We have 8 days of school left...for my college gig, were in finals. It will be good to be done. I'm done for the summer for Cobb on May 25Th. I'm done with GPC this week and start Summer 2010 semester on May 24. The summer semester runs until July 19, the day I report for an extra week of planning at my school (If I'm still at the school). I don't mind the tight schedule...we need the money in the Passmore household. So technically, I'll have 3 days of vacation. Even those days are covered with gigs. Oh well...
That's it for now...Later!
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