Post-concert week

This week is post-concert week. We had our fall concert on Friday evening, and it was a success. It seems concerts are the most difficult thing for me. I feel anxious and troubled about how it is going to go. Then, there is the euphoria of the event and the happiness at the appreciation from parents and audience.

And, THEN, there is the next week. Concert reflections, turn in old music, hand out new music, and begin all over again... only now our routines seem stale, the struggle with the new music is not nearly as exciting now, students are antsy and frustrated with each other, and I'm shocked at how unaccomplished they seem all of a sudden.

This year, it does seem that the flow of things is a little better. They did have most of the Christmas music ahead of the fall concert and we have been working on it. Not everything is disastrous! But, oh, the joy of actually making the music! And, therein lies my challenge. We need to MAKE MUSIC every day. We can't wait until the "polishing" weeks. We need to make music every, single day.

So, tomorrow... back to high standards! Back to insistence on the small things. They have let down because I have let down. No more will my weariness pull them down! I vow to try to Teach Like a Champion!