Final Thoughts

Katherine Johns -

Vice President

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"It's May! It's May! That lovely month of May!" TAKS is over. The month of May here. It's time to start thinking about wrapping up things up for the year. Clean and organize and store instruments and materials for summer.

So, what are your plans for the summer. Rest, rest, and more rest? Spend time with family? Read a book you put off during the school year? Clean out closets?

What about furthering your education? Is there a training you are interested in? We have many on the KET executive board attending different trainings. You may have read that Vivian Ferchill, past KET President, is going to study a week this summer with John Feierabend. Our North Texas Representative, Tina Arena, will be attending Orff training in St. Thomas. Myself? I will be attending Phyllis Weikart's two week coarse on Music and Movement.

Can't attend a training this summer? What about a book? There is a vast amount of literature out there in regards to music education. Or what about reading a biography about one of your favorite composers? When I was in graduate school, a classmate said she wanted to read a biography about a different composer every year. I thought, "what a great idea." I have never done it, but I still think it's a great idea.

After my first disastrous year teaching, I went to SMU in Dallas for Orff Level I. I had a much better year the next year and then moved from Northeast Texas to Central Texas and went to the university formally known as Southwest Texas for Kodály Levels I, II, and III. It was a teaching changing experience. If you are pondering attending a Kodály training this summer, please check out the list of trainings we have in Texas. Texas Trainings

But whatever you contemplate doing, please consider taking some time for yourself. Whether or not your school realizes how much you do as the music teacher, you are an instrumental cog in the workings of the school.

I am also very excited that my family has aggreed to part with me next Spring while I attend a music pedagogy tour of Budapest, April 18-25, 2009. Here is the information about the tour, if you think you might be interested in joining me. Information and Application