Resonant Ramblings: Music Education
My first time…
This is aptly titled because, yes, this is my first blog entry! Let me give you a little background on me and my music education journey. I hope you stick around and come back for more in future entries. I felt that writing all that I have experienced over the years might help me have closure on what ended rather abruptly. (I’ll share more about that later.)
I am fortunate to have had a supportive family. I naturally gravitated toward education from an early age. It was a logical choice, given that I am the youngest child in a large family with many nieces and nephews. Church and school activities provided substantial support from mentors and teachers throughout my journey. My career has essentially spanned two distinct phases. In Alabama, I began my public school teaching career right after college and continued for 18 years—spending 17 of those years in the same district and school. During my first year, I worked alongside my college methods instructor who taught K-2nd grades while I handled 3rd-5th grades at an enormous school. We were both waiting for the new school to finish its construction, which would allow me to start the program there from scratch! It was an incredible opportunity for me! I thrived! I attended all the professional development I could manage as my husband and I grew our family of 5. I served in many leadership positions, one of which I am most proud of: President of the Alabama Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. I learned so much about myself through that experience.
My sweet mom always said “never say never,” and I truly realized how profound those words were when I turned 40. I swore that I would never leave Alabama. It was my home. Then, that same year, our family moved to the Midwest, and I was terrified! My primary concern was how my own children would handle the transition—certainly not myself. I mean, I was a grown woman who could handle change, or so I thought! Fortunately, my children adjusted beautifully while I floundered for the better part of a year! I felt as if a part of me had died when I wasn’t teaching. Luckily, a job literally fell into my lap; initially as a long-term substitute that evolved into full-time employment the following year! That experience transformed my perspective—I learned that saying you will neer do something is a proclamation that it WILL happen and that change IS good!
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