I taught band.
On Monday I went to school to substitute for the band teacher. Middle school and high school.
Back in my day, although I never took band, I did take chorus. When we had a substitute teacher, we had study hall. What was the substitute supposed to know about music?
Well, in this teacher’s world, the substitute is supposed to know some things.
I did fine for a while. I counted out rhythm charts with the middle school percussion people. Then I had a free period where I ate some lunch. I did well at that, too. There was high school band which was largely a blur. I asked some students to do most of the work and they were happy to oblige.
Then I had the trombone twins come in a try to play music. Holy cow. Those twins could have combined their talents and still have been less than good. Yes, they were only middle school students, but those were my ears they were playing near. It was soooo loud. So loud.
Middle school band was in the afternoon. I had one kid who decided to play a different instrument. Another decided to be a mouthy little bastard. I said something like, “If you’re going to play it, then play it the way you’re supposed to.”
He said, sort of quietly, “I’ll play ‘it’ when I find out what ‘it’ is. Do you think it will be fun?”
I said, “’It’ is a game called, ‘Shh.’” It was an abrupt kind of shh with my hand closing as if it were a puppet’s mouth. “You should be playing it right now.” “Shh.”
That was a popular response among all by the shh-ee.
Little punk.
I went to bed at 8:00-ish last night. I slept until morning. Mmmm. Sleep’s so good.
Posted by dotty at November 29, 2005 10:52 PM