Mr. Mac: the Anacrusis

It has been over a year since I graduated from Mansfield, and a year since I was hired as a first year teacher on the tenure track. For confidentiality's sake I will not name the school (this is the era of internet scandal and liability) but will refer to it as Oldforest. It was an eventful year, full of surprise, music, frustration, joy, and wonder. I am going to stay away from education speak and hit some of what I believe are some of the best moments of my first year of teaching.

[Bonus points for defining anacrusis and explaining its significance in the title of this blog.]

Fighting Unemployment

It would be completely remiss of me to ignore the dreaded job search, so I will start with it.  I applied at six schools- two in Pennsylvania and four in New York. Of those,  I had three rejections, one with no response. I had first round interviews at two upstate NY schools, each within a half hour of my home.  I loved one of these schools much more than the other; the interview was enjoyable, with carefully thought-out questions intermixed with the occasional laugh. I was granted final round interviews at both districts, within a week of each other. Fortunately for me, my top pick  was scheduled first.  I prepared an audition and had a lovely conversation with the Superintendent of Schools, a former music educator.  This was the job I wanted. I got a phone call two hours later.
"Hello, this is [the principal of the school]."
I swallowed, hard, and answered in my cheeriest voice.
"Hello!"
"Well," said the principal, "how do you think your interview went this morning?"
Dear God, open ended questions like this just terrify me.
"I think it went well. I enjoyed it."
"There you go. I think you're right."
She then proceeded to offer me the 6-12 Vocal Music Instructor position- the job I had been dreaming about since I was in eighth grade.

Professional Stunt Driver. Do not try at home.

Look Mom, no wheels (on the road)!

My first adventure barely involves Oldforest. I was driving home from work my second week of school. Out, into the road leaped a deer. I avoided the deer and in the process skidded and rolled my car over... one and a half times with enough force to tear my engine block off of its mounts. 

Moral of the story: drive a Subaru and wear your seat belt. I walked away and was in school the next day (with a plate of cookies-  many thanks to the MS counselor and HS art teacher). 74 people (yes I counted) told me I should have "just hit the deer." I preferred the cookies.

No-Shave January-March

I finally broke down and stopped shaving for three months. Oldforest put on a production of Oklahoma! I was vocal music director and rehearsal accompanist. As part of the fun and spirit of the production I started growing a beard, with the promise that I wouldn't shave until the show was over. Teachers take note:  growing a beard provides endless wonder and amusement to students. In the days leading up to the show, a countdown to "beard-ageddon" appeared on my board. I shaved it off as part of the cast party festivities (along with other men in the cast).  Next year we're doing Shrek... maybe I'll grow ogre ears and shave them off.

The Week of Doom

The first week of November had the following events.

Monday- My classroom flooded.
Tuesday- Throw up in my classroom; go home early (the only time I missed all year).
Wednesday- First Pre-observation meeting.
Thursday- Ear infection (ringing/deafness in the left ear).
Friday - First Observation.

New Teacher Syndrome

Call the CDC, there is a disease circulating. New Teacher Syndrome, or NTS, is a highly contagious, dangerous, and uncomfortable ailment that seems to strike when a teacher moves to a new area. This tends to result in colds, the flu, and other random "bugs" that come from the respiratory systems of students. Voice teachers who suffer from NTS will very quickly learn how to sing through a cold safely and to expedite the healing process through water, vitamin C, and sleep... minus the sleep. But really, build up that immune system new teachers!

Statistics

To those of you who have read this far:  congratulations! To those of you who are involved in the teaching world:  fear not, for this has nothing to do with "data-driven [insert academic words]."  I have kept track of random numbers this year--

Number of:

It's raining. Inside.

Colds:  11

Concerts:  3

Oklahoma! performances:  4

Keys on a piano:  88

Musicals performed in:  1

Miles put on my new car: 2,200

Car accidents: 1

Deer hit: 0. (please see above)

Festivals:  3

Birds in a shoe box:  1
Choral pieces learned: 20
Ties I own:  35
Last minute accompaniments for talent shows: 10
Exploded boilers above my room:  1.
Letters in the alphabet:  26
Letters in the musical alphabet: 7, unless you are German.


Although it was tough, my first year at Oldforest was extremely fulfilling. I will say that I could not have made it without my colleagues at school and my family at home. They were a source of knowledge, advice, enthusiasm, and support. Naturally, my wonderful professors in college and student teaching co-ops were instrumental in achieving this goal (I sound like I'm receiving an Oscar...).  Most of all I must mention Mr. Kinney, my music teacher, mentor, and, now, colleague. He is the reason I found my passion in life. He inspired me to be a music educator. His words to me in ninth grade say it all:

[Music Education] is a real challenge, but also rewarding in many ways. It is both mentally and physically taxing because you pour your heart into your work everyday.  You become extremely comfortable with who you are because you share your inner soul with fellow musicians every day as you teach them to express through music.