Departing San Diego

I’m at the airport in San Diego, in the tiny commuter terminal en transit to LAX and then home by 6 p.m. tonight, God willing.

The annual meeting of the National Association of Schools of Music is now history.  Much of this conference focused on advocacy, with some retention thrown in too.  I spent most of my time in the sessions on the nuts and bolts of NASM reporting and membership, and on the self-study process that we will complete in just a few months’ time.

NASM is a voluntary association of schools and departments of music.  We all subscribe to certain standards of curriculum, program design, facilities, library holdings, and the like.  Every ten years we engage in a substantial self-study, after which we are visited by a team of evaluators.  Their report, along with our self-study, is forwarded to a Commission on Accreditation.  That commission reviews all the information and determines whether or not we meet the national standards.  If we do (and we certainly think we do right now!), we are re-accredited for another ten years.

Right now?  The full-time faculty in the Department of Music have completed their writing.  I’m editing, filling in gaps, providing my own portion, and preparing a first full draft of the self-study.  The faculty will review this, along with students.  We’ll prepare the final copy, provide hundreds of pages of accompanying material and documentation, then send all of this off on January 1.  The visitors arrive on February 10.  By February 13 this is all done, and then we await their report.

Meanwhile, we have miles to go before we sleep!

November

I don’t know why November seems to be the busiest month of the semester, but it does!

Part of the busy-ness comes from advising appointments, graduation reviews, deferred projects that are suddenly on deadline.  Part of it is that budgeting for the next fiscal year is in full swing.  Part of it, for us at least, is that we are heavy into the NASM self-study that is due at the end of this year.

I’m in San Diego right now, where I’m attending the annual conference of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).  Interest sessions and plenary meetings fill my next few days.  The location is spectacular, as the Manchester Grand Hyatt is sumptuous, waterside, filled with great views, and within walking distance of a number of fine restaurants.

Our choral search is under way.  The search committee will have days of activity ahead of them in Janaury.

The month at the office has also been filled with concerts and recitals.  My students are singing on most every Thursday recital now.  The Webster University Symphony Orchestra performed last Sunday in an all-Mozart concert.  All of our choral ensembles perform tomorrow (Sunday) in a concert for Saint Cecilia.

And our first round of new-student auditions is in two weeks!

Saint Louis schools

We hosted last evening an awards and recognition program for the music teachers in the Saint Louis Public Schools.  This celebration was made possible by the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts at Webster University, the Parsons Blewett Memorial Fund, and the donors to the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation.

Great joy is always present when music teachers gather.  Such was the case last night.  A catered reception, about 30 teachers, several Webster folk, awards and recognitions – all contributed to the festive atmosphere.

I’m delighted to see our music building hosting these events, especially in the 100th anniversary season of this old house.

Music machine

 

People are thinking that this is real, and really made out of spare parts from John Deere tractors.  I think it’s a wonderful and creative video from Animusic!

Arts Schools Network

Self-portrait 10/28/09.

I’m in Washington DC right now (actually, in Arlington, Virginia) for the annual conference of the Arts Schools Network.  Webster University is one of the corporate sponsors for this event.  Others include the Kennedy Center, Berklee College of Music, Interlochen.  This is good company to join!

Over the next 2.5 days, Dottie Englis (chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance) and I will visit with those who influence students at arts high schools in the US: principals, counselors, teachers.  This is an awareness-building trip, and a chance to build networks from coast to coast.

One of my great joys in life is travel.  This trip is more business than anything else, but I’m hoping to get to one of the Smithsonian museums tomorrow afternoon for a while, and will surely get to the Lincoln Memorial one evening while I’m here.  Lincoln is a staple for me on every trip to DC.

The self-portrait above is today’s shot from the hotel room.

Fall Break

One of the joys of the Webster University system is that we know we have a full week off after eight weeks of classes.  The graduate programs and international campuses demand this.  How grateful I am.

I’m supposed to have traveled to Arizona next week, but I’ve postponed those plans.  The rest of the semester will go easier if I a) get some things done here (recruiting letters, prospect follow-ups, NASM work, advising prep, website work, a few make-up lessons) and then b) take some time off.

So, after a busy weekend of performances, rehearsals, and entertaining at home, I’ll come to the office Monday, then work from home on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Four blessed days off from school email or phone will follow.

At this very moment I’m looking at students who are also ready for fall break.  I’m in room 206, giving a mid-term exam in my Fundamentals of Music class.  These kids look ready for rest too.  And my exam is scaring them just a bit!

Shift happens

Workaday

I spent little time at the office yesterday between lessons and off-campus appointments.

Today . . . gray, rainy, ugly, and off-kilter outdoors . . . has been a workaday kind of day.

I’ve finished a report for my faculty regarding enrollment in one of our program areas.  We’re meeting tonight to discuss some options on how to proceed with a faculty search.

I’ve written several letters, proofed a scholarship program, sent three dozen emails, returned several calls, talked with a half-dozen faculty members about various things, and shared lunchtime with five students over fried rice and Diet Pepsi (the rice ranking among the worst meals I’ve eaten in a long time).

Along with two lessons, three meetings with students, one meeting with a faculty prospect seeking some work, and stopping to chat with the lady who runs my life and keeps me on track . . . this is a usual and customary day!

Mid-terms are this week.  I have a test to prep for my Fundamentals class for Friday.  And more meetings tomorrow to fill up the afternoon.

Brightness, though: Sunday’s Webster University Symphony Orchestra concert was well-attended and very well-received.   My appearance on the voice faculty recital on Sunday was apparently a hit too!

Fun!

I’m thinking of doing this to our stairways in the music building . . . .

My colleagues

I am blessed with wonderful colleagues at Webster University.

Just this morning, as I was waiting for a tardy student, I noticed one of our staff accompanists and part-time teachers reading up on French.  I asked; he answered “I’m learning French.”

And then I heard another of our staff accompanists, one who usually plays jazz, practicing the Rachmaninoff G minor prelude on piano.

Thirst for knowledge?  We have it.  Self-betterment? We have it.  Amazing people in this department?  We have it.