An Opus

I’ve always been troubled by the ending of the film, Mr. Holland’s Opus. (Warning: Spoilers ahead.) The story is about a would-be composer who became a high school band director. Mr. Holland’s time and energy were so consumed by his calling as a teacher that he put his dreams on hold. Early on, his school … Continue reading An Opus →

Musings on Pogo

“We have met the enemy, and he is us.” This line, from the comic strip, Pogo, by Walt Kelly, signaled the stark realization that we are responsible for the condition of the Earth. While it may be tempting to blame multinational corporations or "big government" for any damage, we accept it as the price we … Continue reading Musings on Pogo →

Do Not Harm

I’m grateful to Domenic Spera for being a good mentor to me. My first year in grad school was also his first year as a faculty member at Indiana University. I was privileged to be assigned to his Jazz Ensemble, and I benefitted from his teaching more than I realized at the time. I’ve written … Continue reading Do Not Harm →

Tests

“Will this be on the test?” As you might imagine, in four decades of teaching I heard this question numerous times. Of course, I tested students and provided little quizzes to help prepare them for tests. In my recording techniques class, I administered one-on-one tests, so my students could show me they knew their way … Continue reading Tests →

Making the Grade

I required listening quizzes as part of my jazz history course. These consisted of 10 excerpts selected from the assigned listening. Students would choose from titles and artists on numbered and lettered lists. So, if I played, “West End Blues,” by Louis Armstrong, a student could answer the letter of the title and the number … Continue reading Making the Grade →