Picture this...

Picture this.

A classroom. 25 yellow chairs. 15 music stands. 35 guitars lining the back wall. The bell rings. Here they come. The infamous 6th period class. They trickle in a few at a time, put their book bags down, and head for the guitars. You hear 13 year old chatter of cheating boyfriends, crazy teachers, and whose team is "going down" at P.E. They begin tuning their guitars and playing songs they learned over the weekend. All of them. Each student. All 20 students playing a different song. You feel your hair turning gray as they warm up. You know if you can get through the next 50 minutes without losing your mind, your day will have been successful. 

The timer sounds. You gave up on trying to begin class with a discussion on the second week of school so you announce the warm up song. You count off with the obnoxious steady beat of a metronome, and they begin playing. It's rough at first. You tell them to repeat. They finish the warm up and move onto barre chords. They gripe and complain with every barre chord because "it's too hard" or "it hurts" or "it's dumb". You require them to muscle through barre chords for 15 minutes claiming it will make them better musicians and that eventually barre chords will make playing the guitar easier...secretly knowing you thought the same things when you attempted barre chords yesterday. 

You move on to Christmas music. You require each of the 4 parts to practice individually. You have to constantly remind the other 3 parts to stay quiet while the remaining part rehearses. This lasts for 20 minutes. You play from measure 21 to end with each part and then together. You turn the metronome off. You step up like you are the conductor of an orchestra. You finally get all the 13 year old nervous/excited energy channeled to a goal: playing "Carol of the Bells". You count them off quietly. Part one plays for a measure. Part 2 joins on measure 2. Part 3 joins on measure 3. Measure 4 brings part 4 in. All the students are focused. All the students are engaged. All the students are playing. You are singing the song in your head. It actually sounds...delightful. 

The gray hair is worth it. 

Welcome to my world of music education. 

P.S. I'll be coloring my hair soon.

Why I like being a teacher...

So while I am excited about teaching the leaders of tomorrow how to think critically, make good decisions, and have good character, right now there is a different reason why I like being a teacher...

Last week, I had my picture taken for my school ID.

This means I get discounts at NY and Company, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor Loft, and The Limited...

I LOVE BEING A TEACHER  :)

Needless to say, I just invested in my teaching wardrobe. Fear not, though. I am getting rid of some of my beloved faithful pieces in my closet for some new, more mature clothing choices. Out with the OLD (Navy) and in with the NEW (York and Company)...ha...I just cracked myself up.

I didn't let myself venture past the clearance rack, so not only did I get a discount. I got a discount on the 70% off items. Yes, I racked up.

Until next time,
Mrs. Wells...the teacher that enjoys using her discount :)

The answer to the popular question...

As you may know, I recently graduated with a degree in Music Education. A question that I've heard over and over...

"What are you going to do with that degree?"

Some other things I've heard include:

"So, you want to be, like, a band director or something?"

"You know, music is the first thing to go in schools these days."

"Mmm...good luck finding a teaching job, much less a music teaching job, out there in this economy."

While all of the above are reasonable and somewhat truthful questions or statements, you can imagine my mood upon entering this job market. I was not terribly optimistic about finding a teaching job "out there in this economy" (thus, the wedding is planned 6 weeks into the academic school year). As I prepared for student teaching at the beginning of this year, I didn't know what the future held. I didn't know where Wesley and I would live, what kind of jobs we would have, or if we would be able to eat once we got married. 

However, I am pleased to announce that I now know all those answers! Yes, there are still uncertainties, but after seeing God's faithfulness again and again, I know that He has complete control and He will provide in his perfect timing. 

So without further adieu, I present to you my story of my journey to my first career...yes, everything has a story...

Once upon a time, I went to the University of Mobile to audition for a music scholarship. My plan upon entering college was to major in piano so I could eventually build up a studio and teach lessons. However, I was encouraged to major in Music Ed so that I would have a professional degree to fall back on. I did as I was encouraged to do, and I began my journey as a Music Education major with a concentration in piano. 

Over my 4 years of studying music education, my focus shifted from teaching in a private studio setting to teaching in a public school. We had to observe teachers, write extremely detailed lesson plans about quiet and loud animals to teach piano and forte, learn how to teach every instrument group (or enough to be dangerous), learn how to teach reading in music (even though it didn't apply at all...can I get a witness?), and visit school board meetings. The program ends with student teaching in both elementary and secondary. I wanted to teach at home so that I could save some moolah, so I began to search for teachers I could intern with. 

I found a wonderful elementary music teacher to be with at a great school, and then I began my search for secondary. I had to have a teacher with a Master's degree, and that proved to more difficult than I expected. I tried to avoid band, not because I don't enjoy band, but because it's just not my thing. I saw online that a school in Dothan had a music teacher that taught guitar and piano. "Piano?! That's my concentration!" I thought. I emailed her and got more information about her class, and found out she didn't have her Master's...bummer. However, the band director at that school did, so I got permission to intern with him, and observe her as well. 

Student teaching began, and I loved elementary school. It was fun, but exhausting because I basically danced around in front of kids all day. As my time at the elementary school came to an end, I began to get nervous about middle school. I knew that middle school would be MUCH different than elementary school, and I wasn't sure if I had it in me.

However, as I went through my middle school experience, I became more and more comfortable and actually LIKED it...weird, I know. I ended my time there on a happy note, finished all my requirements for school, and graduated on May 14th, not sure of what I would do in the fall. 

Since graduation, things have fallen into place. I interviewed for an elementary job, but didn't get it. However, only a couple days later I found out that the position for piano and guitar at the middle school where I did my internship had opened up. I applied, prayed, and waited. 

DRUM ROLL.....As of Monday, July 18th, I am officially a piano and guitar teacher at the middle school! Yes, you read correctly... I have a job! I will be teaching 6 periods of piano and guitar classes to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. I am very excited to begin this new chapter in my life, and so humbled by the opportunities that God has given me. I can look back and clearly see His hand at work over the past 4 years to get me where I am now. 

As for the other uncertainties that I had previously concerning shelter and food, I now know what the future holds...at least the near future. Wesley and I will be staying in our hometown area and renting a house, and as for food, we will be able to eat! Not only will we be able to afford food, but we might be decent cooks after all...only time will tell.

So the next time someone asks what I majored in, proceeded by the "What are you going to do with that degree?" question, I have the answer. I will teach middle school guitar and piano. 

Until next time, 

the Music Teacher,
Mrs. Wells (Oh, did I mention they're going to start me as Mrs. Wells? because they are...:))