Levity

( Before I begin, I wonder if the time these things are written is known to the universe here. It might give some insight on how driven I am to use my planning periods this week.) But I don't think healthy contemplation at any time is a bad thing for a teacher  (or anyone really). The lack of it, now that's a concern.

So with all these "deep" thoughts posts lately ( to be read with slightly sarcastic undertone as that's how I thought it) I felt I needed some levity today. I often wonder if others think about this stuff, because in the daily grind no one really talks about this stuff. Who really wants to? Maybe over coffee now and then with your closest friends, but most daily exchanges are light hearted, trivial, or just helping one another get to another weekend. There are times that I wonder if I think about inconsequential - fru-fru stuff a little too often. Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows. Sometimes it's good - helps me think or see something I didn't before. Sometimes its revealing. And sometimes, it's highly aggravating even to me.    :-)

But today, happily, I ran into some coworkers that reminded me of some funny stories. Forgive me if I have shared these before, but they are too funny not to share again and they brought a smile to my face.

In music classes, the most innocuous comments can be perverted in the most inappropriate ways and sometimes, they just come out that way in translations.

#1 - jazz band guitarist - We hear this "TWANG" in rehearsal and I look over and the highly aggravated guitarist says "Darn it !!! My G-string just broke" So if you're out and public and hear "TWANG".... think twice. :-)

#2 - elementary teacher had taught 3rd grade class the concept of intervals - the distance between 2 notes. The following day she asks the class, "Does anyone remember the word that means the distance between 2 notes?" and a student answers, " Yes. Intercourse. Oh wait... that's not it. What was it?"

#3 - Second grade class listens to a Mozart's horn concerto and is asked to describe what they heard. The responses are; " Dancing" "Fun" "Bouncy" " Horny".........

#4 - And the standard high school line ....( oh wait, and New Years tag) In talking about articulating accents ( putting emphasis on a note using air and the tongue) the female teacher says, "Come on, use your tongue like you mean it" and 'that' student tags, " That what she said".

#5 -  Lastly, one from this week that makes me laugh and shudder. We were talking about a passage slowing down when it shouldn't be. I say " We have a problem brewing here. Let's break this apart and pull that tea bag before it steeps too long" I guess one cannot say "tea-bag" in a high school classroom any longer. About 4 of my high schoolers go into that girly giggle ( not all girls mind you) and all I could say was " Ugh. I'm going to beat some of you" and exit that early remark as quickly as possible. They know the nasty reference for tea bag but don't know what the word steep means. Scary.....

The music room is a very precarious place to be sometimes. But amusing nonetheless.

Back to work.....