Things are getting busy....

In my "day job", I teach music, specifically orchestra. March is traditionally an active month for music educators in general - it is Music in Our Schools Month, and most school performance groups do some sort of, well, performing now. I've already had short evening programs with my elementary students, and now it's time to take the older ones to Large Ensemble Festival, which means....it's field trip time!

Some people think that field trips were created so that teachers don't have to do any work - wrong.....

I've filled out all the paperwork, notified the rest of the teachers, sent out and collected the permission slips, ordered the bus, labeled and numbered the scores, checked to be certain I have enough music for all of the performers, written up lessons plans for my sub for one class...what's left? Oh - rehearsal - yep. They're ready - I think. At least today's run-throughs were staying together. We'll see what stage nerves do tomorrow morning.

Actually, I think the kids are less nervous than I am - these students have been playing for at least two years, performed in a minimum of three concerts per year, and have really worked hard on this music. And, besides, it's a field trip; a day away from normal classroom activities, and a chance to eat lunch at the food court in the mall. What's not to like?