Reasons why I love my job:

- My students crack me up all the time (like today, when one of my senior band percussionists had timpani mallets in her hand and then was caught off-guard when I said "Back to the beginning" - where she needs to play a roll on the triangle.  Not wanting to disappoint, she quickly grabbed the triangle in her hand, and picked up the triangle beater in the same hand that was already holding the timpani mallets, and proceeded to do the most awkward roll I've ever seen... while laughing uncontrollably the whole time).

- I feel comfortable asking any teacher or administrator for advice at any time, and they're always willing to provide it.  They ask me for ideas as well, which makes me feel like a competent and creative teacher.

- I get to choose music that I love, for EVERY one of my 4 bands and 2 choirs.

- The thought of how many amazing new scores I'll get to learn, rehearse, direct, and perform over the course of the next 30 years is incredibly exciting.

- Having a Grade 7 homeroom class feels like being a camp counsellor every day - I get to be a role model for young students, and while I have to keep them in line at times, we always have a lot of fun.

- I have the freedom to plan fun lessons that will entertain the students while also teaching them important concepts (like the scavenger hunt we did this morning in my Grade 7 Science class, where I had hidden 18 exam review questions around the room and teams had to find them and answer them).

- My students tell me when I've made a difference, and it gives me warm fuzzies every single time.

- My school has a beautiful auditorium with gorgeous marble steps leading up to a stage where I get to rehearse 4 bands full of girls in green kilts who work hard, play expressively, make me laugh, drive me insane, frustrate me to no end, make me smile, inspire me, and remind me why I love my job..... sometimes all in one day.

- Hearing the difference in sound, technical ability, etc. of my bands from September to now makes me feel like I really AM making a difference.  Whew.

- On Monday a group of senior students arrived from Japan and are now visiting our school for 3 weeks.  Yesterday 4 of the girls joined my jazz choir rehearsal.  We had a ton of fun, and our sound was awesome.  Today I had the same 4 girls in my senior band (3 on trumpet and 1 on flute), and I was SO blown away by how well the group played, the Japanese students and my own students alike, that I sent my trombone player to the office to get our principal to the auditorium to listen.  She came back with the principal and another teacher who sat and listened to the group play Sousa's "Nobles of the Mystic Shrine" (love love LOVE that piece).  The trumpet section knocked everyone's socks off, and the principal insisted that we perform at the school assembly on Monday.  Rehearsing with these girls was such an amazing experience for me as a music teacher, and it was awesome for my girls to hear what a balanced band sounds like, not to mention what technical and musical proficiency can be achieved with regular practice.  Everyone was in a fantastic mood after that rehearsal, and our Japanese students will be back again for another rehearsal tomorrow... I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

- Sigh.  I love my job.  Period.

:oD