Same Class, New Sass

It was the same class as apple blaster. The "Bellringer" question for today was: "Could a robot compose or perform music better than a human?" One girl answered, "No. Robots don't have good taste in music." The smart kid, the one I asked about the atom smasher turned around to her and said under his breath, "They don't have ANY taste at all!"

I love how I use the word "robot" and these kids answer like they know everything about robots. I'm not even sure what a robot is. Here were some other answers:

No, not if their batteries ran out.
Yes, they are programmed to be perfect.
No, because techno stinks.

And my favorite- No, because music comes from the heart, and robots don't have a heart.

stupid robots.

Blasting Forth in Three Part Harmony!

I didn't know what I was doing last year. My "choir" students didn't actually sign up for choir. They weren't singers. This year is a whole new ball game. I've got eighty seven kids in seventh grade choir, and they signed up for it too! Madness.

Today we began rehearsing one of the pieces I have picked out for the Fall concert (Thursday, November 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Lakeview Baptist Church). It's a Kirby Shaw arrangement of the popular spiritual "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" (or, as some of my fourth period kids sang it, "Joshua fit the battle of Cherry Coke"). And, for the first time ever, we sang three parts. This would've been crazy talk last year. We were doing good to bumble through two parts (with awkwardly voiced guys- and rightly so- there was not a part for them). Today, in first period, we sang three parts! I was on cloud nine afterward. It not only was a first for them, it was a first for me! I've never had a choir sing three parts before. Even my church choir (God love 'em) couldn't sing three parts. This shows great promise for this choir and this year. I just can't wait until our next combined rehearsal when I can hear the whole choir, eighty seven strong!

I love my job.

Centennial

For my one-hundredth post, I'd like to get back to the basics. I named this blog the musing teacher because I'm a teacher and this is a great outlet for some of the more humorous things I encounter as such. So, here goes.

Today the long awaited "atom smasher" was finally tested. This is a 17 mile long tunnel, 14 years and billions of dollars in the making. Scientists sent the first particle clockwise in this tunnel last night. We are on the brink of possibly knowing more about the atom, or blowing up the earth, whichever comes first. Get this though: it can send a particle around the 17 MILE loop as fast as 11,000 times PER SECOND. Science.

So, I have a student that is really smart. He's mentioned Stephen Hawking before. I asked him in front of the whole class if he had heard of the recent successful test of the "atom smasher". This caused an uproar in my classroom. One girl said, "there is a ten percent chance that everyone on earth will die today, and a thirty percent chance that everyone on earth will die tomorrow." I quickly squelched that rumor. However, the class was now loud and boisterous, shouting out their opinions on the "atom smasher". In the second row sat a rather rotund student with glasses. I watched as he sat, eyes glazed during the classwide debate. Several moments later, he clued in and realized he was behind on what everyone was talking about.

"What's an APPLE BLASTER?" he asked.

I immediately pictured scientists in white lab coats cheering the successful launch of the long awaited apple blaster.

Blown Cover

I'm no expert, but there are a few things a band must consider if they want to play a cover of a popular song. The song should have some time behind it. When the cover is played, it should make people say "Oh yeah, remember that song?" Second, the covering band should have something new to contribute to the song. The point of doing a cover song is for the band to play a classic song, but give it their own flavor. Otherwise, there is no point in covering it, people will just want to listen to the original.

So why in the WORLD did Bowling for Soup do a cover of "Stacy's Mom" by Fountains of Wayne? My friend Katie makes Christmas compilation CDs every year. They are pretty awesome. She has given me the last several years of Christmas CDs. The one she most recently gave me is from 2006 and has "Stacy's Mom" by Bowling for Soup on it!? I listened. I frowned. The original is awesome. This one offered nothing different, nothing better, nothing period. Fountains of Wayne released the song in 2004, the Bowling for Soup version was on a 2006 CD. What the heck? That's like U2 doing a cover of "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay. It just came out! And, it was fine before, thank you. Whatever, just thought it was weird.

Recompense

I just finished C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce. In it, the main character enters a form of heaven and encounters angels as well as newcomers in need of conversion. At one point, he witnesses an interchange between a large angelic figure and a visitor from the Grey Town. The "ghost", as those who have come from the town are called, has perched on his shoulder a large red lizard. This lizard whispers into the ghost's ear, keeping him hypnotized into thinking that he needs the lizard. The angel approaches the man and asks if he may kill the lizard. The ghost makes excuses, stumbles over his words, and tries to change the subject. "May I kill it?" asks the angel, his hand hovering over the lizard, almost burning it. After much debate, the ghost finally consents. The lizard makes a last feable attempt to survive but is silenced as the angel closes his grasp around the reptile and throws it to the ground. The narrator then witnesses the transformation of both the ghost and the lizard. The ghost becomes bright and takes the shape of a man. The lizard returns to life and slowly transforms into a shining horse. The man mounts the horse and the two of them ride into the high countries, the mountains.

I am the ghost. My red lizard has been whispering into my ear for quite some time. I've been discontent with church. I rarely attend. Whenever I do attend, I spend the whole service picking apart every element of the church, the music, the service that I can; convincing myself that it's not a good service (as if I somehow have the authority to make that judgement). My lizard whispers, keeping me in a cloud of cynicism and discontent. The result is separation: from worship, from Christian community, from God Himself.

My lizard was killed this morning. I wish I could say that a glorious transformation a la C.S. Lewis took place, but it didn't. Rather, a change in my heart took place. No, it wasn't an alter call or a tear jerking moment. It was a slow realization of several things. I wasn't picking things apart. I wasn't judging the church or its people. I wasn't doing the things, or rather thinking the thoughts that have dominated my mind and heart in recent months.

I went to Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church. I worshipped. I met some new people and saw some old friends. I listened to the Word. I had an open mind. I could feel the thoughts creeping in: "look at that huge sound board, it must have cost 50,000 dollars!" but as soon as the thoughts had been thunk, they were gone. I didn't dwell on them. I feel like the Lord purposefully redirected my mind, refocused my spirit. Who am I to say anything negative about this church, its worship, or its people?

Rather than stacking up the negatives and trying to find the church with the fewest things I dont' like, I'm going to look for the church with the most things I do like. I've been going about it backwards. This church had a lot of good things going for it, as do many churches. I want to find them. I want to experience the good things, not waste my time tallying shortcomings.

Dear church,

I apologize for being an idiot. I'm sorry I've been so judgemental. Just as no human is perfect, no church is perfect. Therein lies the beauty of Christ's love right? I will be different. I am different. It is right and good to see other Christians in worship of our God. I'm sorry I've been in the way. We cool?

Dear God,

Thank you.

Will Worship for Food

I've been thinking lately about worship, specifically about worship leaders. As a former worship leader, I've got a unique perspective on the whole thing. The modern trend in worship is for churches or campus ministries to have super-hip, rock n' roll, high definition worship bands. At the front of that worship band is the rock star of religious revelee, the worship leader. I'm blessed to have many Christian friends that are quite in tune with the latest in worship music. I tend to lag behind in keeping up with the most recent worship music. My hey day of worship music was in high school. Those were the songs that resonated with me the most. Even when I led worship for Campus Crusade for Christ, we tended to play older songs. So, sometimes I'll hear my friends talk about the new Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Charlie Hall, or Steve Fee album. Then there are the CDs and DVDs that follow the Woodstock of generation Y worship: the Passion conferences. Locally, Auburn students flock to Encounter on Thursday nights. Here is where I tend to take issue with the whole worship thing. My big question is this: Should worship leaders make money for leading worship? Some churches and campus ministries sell CDs of their worship bands. Now, I have no idea where that money goes and for all I know it goes to a discretionary fund to help families in need. All I'm saying is that if someone chooses to lead other Christians in worship, should they make an income from that? My outlook on it was an acknowledgement that the Lord has blessed me with musical abilities, a desire to share those abilities in a worship setting, and a desire to somehow attempt to bring Him glory. He led me to Campus Crusade and I led worship for a year there. I wanted no glory or recognition. We weren't on a stage. In fact, we were at the lowest point of the auditorium classroom in which we convened. For whatever reason, I just don't like when worship bands; bands meant simply to lead others in glorifying the Lord, are put on a pedestal. Were it up to me, worship bands would play behind a curtain. Worshippers would only be able to hear the music being played by the band.

"But these popular worship leaders write their own songs." That is a valid argument. Still, if their intent is to lead worship with these songs, I just don't think they should make money from that. "How will they make a living though?" Again, a great question and one to which I don't have the answer. I don't have answers to any of these questions. I'm simply letting you in on what's been brewing in my brain lately. All thoughts are welcome.

She Walks In Beauty

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes:

Thus mellow'd to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impair'd the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o'er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express

How pure, how dear their dwelling place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent!

by Lord Byron

__________________________________

Man, that's just good.