tpter1

To my seniors...

Last night was a tough graduation for me. I watched as some of my best players and people I've come to know well walked across the stage to collect that which they so rightfully deserve and earned.

This was one of the best senior classes I've had and it was difficult to see them go.

We get kids to the point where they are just beginning to blossom, then, they leave us to go flower elsewhere.

A very emotional night. Some are going to John's Hopkins, some into elementary ed., one to radiology, and one to the Army in hopes of becoming a Green Beret. (I worry about him the most).

They always come back to visit, but saying farewell is never easy.

__________________
-Glenn
"Roses have thorns; shining waters mud. Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun; and history reeks of the wrongs we have done. After today, after today, consider me gone."- Sting

RG111

I understand, Glenn. One of my former "rugrats" called me just before he shipped out to a war zone with a Army Ranger detachment. Thanks be to God he came home safely, but I wasn't worth a cent for the rest of the day after his call! Its amazing how attached we get to "our kids"!

Roy

trumpet blower88

Oh boy... what am I getting myself into going into Music Ed....

__________________
-David Jacques

davidjohnson

yep. i go thru that every year. this year was very sad because i had several that had been with me from k-12.

i was their school music experience. big responsibility. they seem to have succeeded anyway!! two of them received letters of commendation from the governor and senate for music/humanitarian services they had performed and another received the governor's award for musical excellence.
yet another one from a few years ago started in church music, got degreed, went on to seminary and now is a ranger combat chaplain!

hard not to miss some of them.

dj

trpt2345

Friday was a day for former student contacts. One twenty year old former student called with news his wife just had a baby (talk about feeling old!) and his brother who is a year older has one due in August. Another former student then told me she got a full time band director job in a Chicago middle school, another one dropped by to pick up some music for a gig we're doing next week, and yet another came by to say hello after a noon gig he had done at the Sears Tower which is a couple blocks away. I am happy when my kids graduate because they get out of high school and get to go to college where things are way more fun. And then they graduate from college and come back all growed up. In the meantime there are other fresh-faced eager youngsters to take their places, and it all goes around and around.
A funny thing, I taught theory for many years and it was always the kids' least fun class, they'd complain and whine. But later nearly all of them when they come home to visit from college say that they were really glad they had it because it helped them a lot with freshman theory or allowed them to test out of it altogether.
One of my graduating students is a baritone saxophonist who is going to NYU to be a jazz major. He was consulting with another former student who had gone to NYU; the bari player said he wanted to study with Ralph LaLama but hesitated because he heard that Ralph was difficult and cranky. The older student said, you studied with Mr. McLaughlin, didn't you? Then you won't have any problem, no worries.

I love teaching.

Michael McLaughlin

"I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened."
Mark Twain

__________________
Chicago MM

NickD

What gets really fun is when you hear from them years later. It can be quite amazing!

Congrats on being a teacher, Glenn!

Nick

__________________

NickD
"Live Webcam Lessons Now Available with NickD"
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Eclipsehornplayer

It's funny...

I see it from the other side...

I visited my teachers up to just a few years ago. They are all retired now!

Guess I'm getting old..

I really want to say to all teachers you are the mold that shapes the future. I so deeply respect you all.

I have many fond memories of my teachers; well most of them anyway...

__________________
Eclipse MHY Bb Trumpet with interchangable leadpipes
Bach 229 25A C Trumpet
Getzen Capri Bb Cornet
GR & Monette mouthpieces

silverstar

From the other side of someone who just graduated...there are a lot of teachers that I'm going to miss so much.

My 9th grade LA teacher is who I will miss the most. She was like my mentor, my friend, my ally in some cases, and just one of those people that really cares about the people she teaches. I had a lot of good conversations with her, and she gave me some of the best advice.

A close second is my AP Bio teacher. He always seemed to make your day brighter by just being in his class. So many fun memories of AP Bio...whether it be the talks about butterflies or the Loess hills or the trip to the bog. He's a great guy and loves music and arts too...so much fun to talk to.

I'm going to miss my jazz band director too. Even if I was intimidated by him and didn't ever really talk to him, the way he runs a jazz band can't be beaten. I had so much fun in that class, and I think I learned something too. He even sent me a card saying congrats and keep music in your life when I graduated. I thought that was pretty cool. None of my other teachers did that.

I'm going to miss my Principal too. Dr. Plagman is teh bomb...he is probably the best pricipal ever...I mean...the entire student body at my high school LOVES him. It's hard to do that when you're principal, but he's the best.

Lara

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email: Lara.Shema@gmail.com
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*insert witty comment here*

Robert Rowe

I am impressed by the fine and wonderful comments.

I shall finally enroll in a school, myself!

Robt

__________________
" ... Ya cain't polish a turd ...!" (old Southern expression)

~~ Love animals ... don't eat them. ~~