Pursuing Passion

For those of you that are reading this and are thinking, “I thought Nate worked for a church…”  You are correct!  I still do.  However, I’ve decided that I want to keep teaching fresh since it is something that I love and want to continue to do.  So to feed that desire, not only am I re-opening my private percussion studio (now accepting students…), but I decided to become a music-substitute teacher for the upcoming school year!  It’s glorious!  I can work on Fridays when I don’t have work at the church, AND, if there’s a Friday I don’t want to work…I just don’t schedule it.

Anyway, I was putting together my application materials the other night and came across some of my favorite student quotes from when I student taught and had to share some of them because they were some of the funniest moments I’ve had in the classroom.  Kids say the darnedest things…Enjoy!!!

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Me: “When you’re singing, I need you to open your mouths nice and wide!  Wide enough that I can see your tonsils!”

(half the class looks puzzled and slowly raises their hands…)

Me: “…Or where they used to be.”

(Students smile and lower their hands)

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Student: Can we sing the song “Oats and Beans” again Mr. Reed?!?! Please?!?!

(a dorky song i taught them one day with motions)

Me: man you guys really like to sing that song don’t you?

S: Are you kidding? My entire Hockey team was singing it at practice last night!

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Student: Mr. Reed whats it like being a senior in college?

Me: well whats it like being a senior in high school.

S: well i can’t wait to get out of here and move on to whats next.

Me: any more questions?

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Me: Hey, you need to make sure your sitting up in your seat while you sing!

Student (wearing a Harvard sweat shirt): Sorry, Mr. Reed.

Another Student (This student was wearing a Princeton sweatshirt…): Yeah, Harvard boy!

Ironic…if only they would act like they were ivy league students

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Me: Another Ancient Culture that contributed to early music was the Babylonians.  Does anyone know where the Babylonians were from in terms of today’s Geography?

S: Oh Oh!! Latin!!!

Me: No Mitch, Latin is a language, not a country….They actually came from the country now known as Iraq.  Does anyone know what Ancient Cultures liked to use music for?

S: SACRIFICES!!!!!!

Me: oh dear….