A day in the life...

I am a middle school choir and handbells teacher.  My day is spent playing piano, waving my arms, and running around like a crazy person.  I love my job.  Here's an anatomy of a typical day for me:

6:50 a.m.     Leave home.  Commute to school via the George Washington Parkway, where I drive along the Potomac River and have views of the Washington Monument, the Kennedy Center, and Georgetown University.

7:15 a.m.    Arrive at school. Check email, take care of last-minute details for Community Sing.

8:15 a.m.    Community Sing.  This event happens four times a year and involves the student body, faculty, staff, and parents all singing together.  Yesterday I was the emcee.  Great fun ("The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in three parts sounded amazing).

9:20 a.m.      7/8 Women's Choir.  Among the pieces we're working on is "A World We Cannot See" by Jim Papoulis, a new commission we're part of through Chorus America.  The girls adore the piece, as do I.

10:10 a.m.    Fifth Grade Choir.  These kids are hysterical.  So much fun.

11:00 a.m.    Check email, last minute preparation for the rest of the teaching day.

11:10 a.m.    Lunch

11:15            Fire Drill (which just happens to be during the 15 minutes I have to eat lunch)

11:25           Quickly scarf down remainder of lunch.

11:30            Fourth Grade recess duty

12:20            7/8 Men's Choir.  We're working on two Laura Farnell pieces (love her stuff!) including "She Walks in Beauty," one of the greatest pieces I've taught yet.

1:05              Sixth Grade Choir

1:50             7/8 Handbells.  We're playing a transcription of "Clocks" by Coldplay.  It's hip.

2:30             Check email, prepare for Music Man rehearsal

3:30             My colleague stopped by with her two year old daughter.  So cute! 

4:15              Music Man rehearsal

6:25             Depart Norwood

7-8:15 p.m.    gym

8:30            Dinner/finish up re-arrangement of "Lida Rose" for Music Man

9:00            Catch up news and send a couple of personal e-mails

10:00         Crash

All in a days work!  It is crazy to me how different my day is from someone who works in an office.  I spend my day making music and laughing with wonderful, creative kids.  I am an extremely lucky man.