Tangent: Random Stuff at UA

1. It's crazy taking 2 history classes and a theory class in one semester. All that on top of a doctoral recital. I just can't keep track of what's due when.
2. Teaching the same two MUS 121 music appreciation sections. Poor kiddos had to deal with faculty changes three times in a matter of 7 days.
3. I didn't know I give killer tests until one test came back with blood on it! Dr. H at WSU would be proud and amused. Less than 10% flunked :)
4. Trying also to get the contra dance group to get off the ground and I will probably invest in dance shoes pretty soon.
5. Learning to sell football tickets and my precious junk by posting flyers. I don't think I've given out my cellphone no so randomly before.
6. There's one more piece of paperwork for me as a teacher this semester. Hopefully this increase is only one a semester.. so I'll look forward to 3 more pieces. What's the redtape all about?
7. Health insurance is paid for starting this year, so that means a pay raise of about $1000.
8. Facebook is like the official unofficial notice board. I hate it!
9. Moving is no fun but a good way to trim junk.
10. I now actually do sleep with my computer and my piano library. They're all in the bedroom... nightmarish huh?

Teaching MUS 121 Intro to Listening .. Things I learned

1. I miss and REALLY miss teaching piano.
2. I'm glad I'm not a musicology major.
3. How come I have not heard these pieces before?
4. Why do I own so few CDs?
5. Why does the UA library have such a small video collection?
6. I am teaching study and test-taking skills more than music itself.
7. Open book tests: give at your own risk! Students don't know how to take them.
8. Attendance: I'm not their mom and I'd rather not have to take note.
9. I want to be out of class just as badly at times ... I'd rather be at home practicing or shopping!
10. What would happen if I overslept the day I'm supposed to give the final? Students would be really happy, that's for sure!
11. So many composers had syphillis, tuberculosis ... it's crazy!
12. I'm really interested in the history of jazz and popular music.
13. I don't know as much about Chinese music as I should and want to.
14. I can handle the media cart. I'm not technologically challenged.
15. Power Point can be your friend.
16. SAVE! backup. SAVE! print! and never lose your USB drive!!

Setting More Tests & Grade Inflation

I have given the third test in my music appreciation classes. I have in fact tested myself on whether I can prepare a test and expect the outcome.

The first test I gave was a multiple choice "killer" in which 10% would earn A, 10% would fail. Indeed the test results came back as I expected. The second test was alright, I wanted to make it easy enough that the majority would fall into the A & B category. I again succeeded. I remembered one of my undergraduate professor that allowed us to bring a 3X5" notecard with anything our handwriting would fit in. I allowed my class to do the same and found many of them do not know how to measure. Have they heard of rulers and that you can cut a 4X6" notecard to a 3X5"?

The third test was planned as a closed book but before I began the test review I chnaged my mind. As I expected, nobody had really read the assigned texts. I gracefully set it as an open book test. On the day of the test, to my horror, some of my students have no test-taking strategies. I had warned them there would not be enough time to look up the answers to every question . Of course, some tried to find them in the order they were presented and ran out of time. They did not scan the whole test paper and answer those that they knew.

Conclusion: they don't know what they are asking for! Perhaps teacher knows best right? I haven't decided what to allow for the final. I wish I wasn't buried in paper and not contributing towards grade inflation. That's for another blog another time. Beethoven class....

Setting My First Test (after taking so many)

Boy, it is hard work setting tests! I spent more time preparing the test questions than the time I usually spend studying for tests. I think deciding which questions to include took sometime and then of course typing them. Since my classroom is really small for the no of students I have, there needs to be multiple versions of the test. So we have the printing and the whole nine yards to finish up tomorrow. Hopefully no one will attempt any academic misconduct, but I know about that all too well. Maybe they will remember that a pencil will be needed.

;) Let's see how things go!

Teaching Music Appreciation

I am now teaching instead of accompanying at the University of Alabama. The news was somewhat expected but I was relieved and overjoyed when it was confirmed. I have two sections of MUS 121 Introduction to Listening with around 130 students in each class. Many of my friends think I'll be less stressed about teaching, but my straightforward answer is no. This is a different kind of stress but it is positive.

I guess I again make the transition to be faculty-in-training from being an accompanist. I have to learn the registration system because of student requests and also I hope to learn to use the web/technology resources available to me. It is definitely going to be a learning experience in handling a lecture-style class and also with so many students.

I am glad I am a somewhat organized person and managed to get my syllabus to the copy center in time. My set of textbook and CDs did not get to me until the day before classes started. My pack rat nature landed me a previous edition of the textbook a few years ago so I am familiar with the material. I look forward to sharing music history, pieces and other tidbits to my students. I'm sure some of them are not as enthusiastic as I am about this course, but I guess they are the ones on the losing end.

Settling into a schedule will be great! I already have to cancel one class because my classroom (the recital hall) will be used for the AMEA conference. I will later have to cancel another class because I have to get to the UK. We will have to see how the first actual day of teaching goes tomorrow. :) I'm excited!