Life has been busy, so it’s been awhile.
Teaching was going well. Then we had a COVID case in one of my pre-k classes. I was deemed a close contact on 11/3, so I’ve been home since. Went and got a COVID test on 11/4, it was negative. I haven’t had any symptoms and my family hasn’t either (thank goodness!) I’ve just been home, trying to get some work up on my Bitmoji classroom and helping Freddie with his remote class. He was ok to go to school since he was a contact of a contact, but I wasn’t allowed to drop him off or pick him up. My husband couldn’t do it and we have no one else, so had to switch him to remote until we can go back, which will be his birthday! Can’t believe that boy is about to be 5 years old next week. Crazy how time flies.
I gave a virtual violin lesson and cello lesson today, and a piano lesson (which was supposed to be a viola lesson, but he popped a string and didn’t get the new string yet) on Tuesday. It felt so nice to see a few of my orchestra kids and play music with them. It’s not the same virtually, but it was nice that they still want to make music even though we’re not together. My cellist is starting her 2nd year with me and it’s like we never stopped. She’s so wonderful :) My violist also plays keyboard in my rock band, so he was showing me a little song he wrote. I’m excited to help him with it and expand it. Not sure what he wants to do with it, but we’ll make it into something.
I’ve been playing a lot of music lately. Freddie has been watching On Ward a lot again, so I’m learning “Carried Me With You”. We recorded a little video and put it up on IG @musicteachermana if you want to check it out. Freddie is jumping all over the place and I’m trying to figure out chords from the sheet music I printed out, but it was fun. I want to record myself on my phone and put it together on iMovie. Guitar, keyboard, vocals, and maybe a string arrangement underneath (I have all of my string instruments here at home so I could totally write and record something). I just practiced the piano part for about a half an hour, then pulled out Tiny Dancer just to play through it. I am rusty, but it feels good to create. It’s all I really want to do lately, just play music. I really want to write a song. I’ve never written an original song before, other than the piece I wrote for my composition class for grad school. I don’t really know where to start, but I want to write something. I need some inspiration for a topic and then I think I can go from there.
Still seeking out new music to listen to as well. Listening to Brandi Carlile a lot lately, checking back in on favorites from college, some jazz…I’ve been missing this piece of my life for awhile now. I’m happy it’s being ignited again. There’s something about marriage and kids that makes you loose yourself for a bit, at least for women…at least for me anyway. I tend to put on the Disney playlist a lot because I enjoy that music and I know it’s good for the kids. But when I do that, I don’t get to always listen to what I want. I was on a Hamilton kick for a bit (like a month lol), but before that it’s been a long time since I listened to things I really wanted to, music that really touched my soul. Being an elementary music teacher, you get caught up a lot in songs for the students. Songs for concerts. Songs to teach a concept. Sometimes I’m burnt out of listening, especially to new music, because I’m always focusing on work. I haven’t been able to listen to music for me. I remember a teacher in high school mentioning this and saying that you don’t want to be a music teacher because you end up not listening to what you want anymore. I didn’t understand then. I do now! I also used to put on head phones to clean or wash dishes or whatever. With kids, I can’t do that. And I don’t always want them listening to some of the music I would otherwise listen to because it’s too adult for them. So I tend to put on Disney and move on. I need to look around more for some other kid friendly playlists. I do have a kids rock playlist that is really awesome…anyway
Super happy we’ll be getting a new president. I’m not super happy it’s Biden. I don’t think he’s going to really change our world drastically the way it needs to, but at least it’s a step in the right direction. Hopefully 45 won’t run for a second term after Biden’s first term (they’re both so fucking old I hope neither of them run again) and I really hope that other parties are able to get involved. I don’t think it’s right that there were other candidates on the ballot that did not get air time during the debates. I will admit that I don’t understand everything that goes into a political campaign, but I believe that anyone who will be on the ballot officially should be given equal time to state their case to the nation. There are more than 2 political parties in our country and everyone should have a say. I also think there needs to be an easy way to get information to people about all the candidates on all of the issues. I remember taking a survey once to see who I would most agree with politically and it was very helpful and informative. It was like a grid, listing the candidates on the top and the issues on the left side. Whatever, it was easy to read and understand and simple. People like simple.
I heard NYC might be shutting down the schools again. Infection rates are on the rise. I fucking hope not. I hate remote teaching and remote learning does not work for my child. He needs to be in the classroom with his teacher and friends. He is happier and learns more. 3 more days of remote school. I am hoping that tomorrow, 11/13/2020, does not result in the system shutting down. I for one will be fucked because I don’t have all of my books I need to record or other materials. I won’t be able to get back into the school for them. I just want to get back to actual teaching. I cannot wait until I can have orchestra rehearsals again. I miss hearing those scratchy instruments. I miss seeing the lightbulbs go off when they figure out how to make a sound or when it clicks to read music. I miss it so much. I hate remote teaching. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it! I’ll have to check out other things, like Pear Deck and Flip Grid, to make music classes more interactive. Also, the online platform we’re using, iLearnNYC, sucks. It looks beautiful and has a lot of nice features, but you have to take so many extra steps to connect everything its annoying. Plus the parents always have difficulty using it, especially getting onto Zoom calls. These platforms weren’t made to host so many students and other classes like mine. We need to be in school, but its risky being in school. Even taking all the precautions, we had a case. It’s still a loose/loose situation. (side note: lose or loose?)
Also, remote teaching makes me super lazy and I don’t go to bed. I need my routine where I’m up before the sun in order to get myself ready for the day. And you’d think “Amanda, just get up and maybe do a workout, and get ready for the day in quiet” and I’d say that’s a wonderful idea, but I stay up too late, so I’m tired, and my bed is amazingly comfy and warm in the morning. I don’t want to get up if I don’t have to. But I really have to…I don’t want to lol. Anyone with me?
We were going to go upstate for Thanksgiving, but we’re not now. With cases on the rise and Dann and I both essential workers, we don’t want to risk possibly bringing anything upstate to my family, especially my grandparents. Even if we got tested and it was negative, we just don’t feel safe going. So we’re staying put. People are upset with Gov. Cuomo for asking people to keep gatherings under 10 people, but he’s right. Spikes keep happening because of smaller family gatherings. If we went, there would be 15 people at my parents house (kids included). It’s too many people. We don’t feel safe, even if we wore our masks. It’s not worth the risk. Hopefully other people will get with the picture and keep their gatherings small. If my FIL is still here in Queens, we’re going to have him over, but that’s it. I’m sad about it, but I know I’m doing the right thing. We’re also staying home for Christmas no matter what (I absolutely love being Santa and spending time alone with my family. We don’t get enough of that). We’ll head back upstate once this whole thing clears up and/or we’re able to get vaccinated.
Wow it’s late. Finally winding down. Better head to bed before I get another rush of energy.
Later
~mana~
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