Press Play

I get in total music phases where I will listen to the same chunk of songs over and over. While in Dallas, my sister and brother-in-law introduced me to Lindsey Stirling. I'm hooked. Shes got this amazing blend of violin and heavy beats. I think I listened to her album like 5 times yesterday while free motion quilting. They're up beat feel good songs. (I do skip one, Moon Trance, because it sounds a bit like it could be playing during the suspenseful part of a movie and it gives me a twinge of anxiety. Music moves me, I'm uber sensitive to it.) Here are a couple of her videos of songs from the album. All  of the videos on her YouTube channel are pretty interesting. For those of you who have gamers in your life, check out some of her game music covers on iTunes!

True Confession Tuesday

I listened to the song "Call Me Maybe" twice on my way to school.

Testing stinks. Whether its my pre credential tests or testing for my students. It stinks.


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Calmer Waters

Literally. No rain today. Whew.

Woke up early, got a LOT of good work done in mom's Jr. High classroom. She starts on Monday! Eeek! Lots to do! I've got her bulletin boards mostly done, pencils sharpened, red pens flower-fied to deter thievery. We were there on Friday where the original teacher was supposed to be for his last day but he skipped out, and left a sub with not enough on her lesson plans.

Me being me and unable to leave students idle and prone to mischief (you know 8th graders give em an inch and they go for the marathon) I stepped in by the second class out of 5. I had students helping to take apart and clean up the classroom so I could start fresh. I also realised that even that wasn't enough to keep them busy for the whole day. So I told em to get out a piece of paper (something to keep em busy while I racked my brain for an assignment.) I told them to write their name, date etc. (still scrambling). Then I decide to give them a random question personal quiz that will allow me to get to know them while assessing writing skills. It was fun! I'm sitting here in an empty house, my music playing, tummy full, body exercised (that's right I went to the gym), sitting on the couch responding. I got some really good responses and am learning that these kids have potential to be really fun this year. Exhausting, but fun. Should you wish to participate here's the quiz:

1.) Using correct punctuation and capitalization, who was the last person to speak to you before school and what did they say?
2.)Answer the following question as if you are an expert from PBS. What three songs do you need to complete your music library.
3.)What has the potential to be your most embarrassing moment?
4.)What is the best thing your teacher could do for you?
5.)What would be the one thing that would ruin a persons reputation?
6.) What, in your opinion, is the best shoe in the world?
7.) What would be the best cafeteria food?
8.) Create a short dialogue between you and me.
9.)If you were working at your dream job, what would be something you would say to your boss?
10.) In a solid paragraph (Introduction, Filling, Closing 5 sentence min.) tell me something. Anything.

Some interesting things:

One student says his golf handicap is 3.2.

90% of another class said "The best shoes are Vans because they are AWESOME." Seriously...to the capital letters in awesome. I liked this answer:

"The best shoes in the world are....(drum-role please) VANS! I lah lah lah love Vans because they come in all colors and all shapes and they're very ADORABLE!"

Huh, they come in all color. Guess I better get me some Vans. I think we might hear more from this one. She also put Eye of the Tiger as one of her top songs. Yesss!

Lastly, I have yet to have one song repeated more than twice. Music is much more diverse than when I was in Jr. High.

Another Great New Discovery

Whisperings:Solo Piano Radio Its been especially nice before finals week. The lack of lyrics makes it good for focusing! I came across it through iTune radio, under the classical section.