hey there music buddy!
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I have found out that working in a school usually means that I am the outcast when it comes to music selections. I do not look down upon my colleagues, although at times I almost feel I should. In 12 years of teaching I have only found one person who I would say shared the same musical tastes as myself. I guess in a school, listening to music sometimes is not something that is thought to be shared with the children you teach. I chose to share however, and I find it refreshing when an artist that I love reaches out to the kids who inhabit my classroom.
Still, there is that desire to find a person who might just buy the same albums I do. Music is something that can bond just about any two people, and when you make that connection it is always something special.
This last Thursday I was in my room on my prep getting my things together as I always do. From my computer I was playing the latest offering from Tapes and Tapes when there was a knock at my door. It was one of the TA's at our school, and she heard the music as she was going from one classroom to another. She happened to love the band, I happen to love the album. It is funny because I only know the girl in passing, our school is big and most of my interactions are with the fourth grade teachers only. Samantha is a TA who is never in my room, thus the reason we do not get to talk on any given day. Well that day we talked, and she told me she thought I should make her a mix she could listen to over the weekend. This was like asking a crack addict to watch over a bag of dope, so I headed home with the intention of making a mix to give to her on Friday.
When I make a mix, I usually put a lot of time and effort into the artwork on the front and back cover. This is just how I am, and one of the reasons making a mix tape is a big deal to me. I knew I would not have time for this, so instead I just made a simple cover to go along with the music I chose for her. I gave her the mix on Friday, and considered my goal accomplished.
Well, today Samantha walked in grining from ear to ear and immidiately began to talk about the songs I chose for the mix. Some bands she loved, others she had never heard of. Either way I was happy to say I now had a new music buddy at work. To show her appreciation she brought in 5 albums that she felt I really should listen to, and this is the kind of shit I had been waiting for to happen to me in a work environment. In college it was easy to find people who shared the same musical tastes as yourself, in real life it is not so simple. Life gets in the way, and music often takes a back seat to the everyday happenings of real life. I went home tonight with 5 new selections of music, and can already tell this is the start of something good. Concerts have been mentioned, and for the first time in a long time I might even have a concert buddy to go along with a new music buddy. Good things come in small doses, although this one put a smile on my face from ear to ear.
On a different note, I have to appologize for not being around on MOG that much as of late. It seems as if the survey monkey pop up slows down my page loads, and getting to the many emails I get is almost impossible with that damn pop up coming on everytime I try and read a post. If anyone has any idea how to make it stop, well I would be one happy mogger. As for the picture, it was taken a short drive from the place I call work. It is of my hometown St. Paul, and the temperature at the time of the photo was -17. Cold you say, well that huge area at the foot of the picture is the mighty Mississippi River, it froze over back in December.
Comments (19)
as for the pop up, I use firefox, and have never seen it. I see the little gray bar across the top that tells me it has been blocked, but that's it. I've heard a lot of people complaining about that pop up, and am really surprised TPTB would let it continue.
congrats on the music buddy. I have yet to find one at my school. They know me as the guy with the weird music there, and although I have some similarities, when it comes to things like C,S,N & Y, most of the time I just get looks whenever I'm playing something. Hope it stays awesome!
Damn that's cold. I went ahead and answered the survey, and now it has gone away. It took about 90 seconds.
I have also never had a concert buddy or work/music connection. In fact I have never really been great friends with anyone I have worked with. Sounds fun.
That is so cool Kevin! I've worked in the same company, on the same account, for almost seven years and only once did I find a fellow music nerd. Of course, he changed jobs a couple of months later.
Sheesh, that's what I call killer cold. I couldn't handle that. Happy to hear you've found a fellow music bud, that's so cool.
I count myself as one of the few have been able to find many who share similar music tastes as me, and if not, are more than willing to be introduced to some new artists. In my life, I am always the one with introducing people to new stuff. I think its great you put so much time and effort in to your mixtapes. I do the same and its really a big deal when someone asks that of me. I am new to this mog stuff but I love the overall vibe. Music is something that should find its way to the forefront of our lives.
By the way, I am teacher as well and I never thought about sharing music with my kids, I plan to steal this idea and see how it goes over with my lil kiddies!!
peace.
awesome. i need a new music buddy. everyone i work with is a music heathen. ...the things they listen to......*shutters....... good thing i have you guys!
I had a couple music buddies when I was in grad school, but now there are only 4 other straight up classroom teachers in the 72 student school I'm in at the moment...unlikely there!
congrats kev!
glad to see there are a few other fine music loving pedagogues on mog, i will be adding you guys as trusteds imminently
unfortunately, i work in 19 schools, so the odds of stopping for a minute to chat about anything musical are slim to none, so work is not the place for music chatter
but concert buddies are where it's at for me
though one of my concert buddies is not very reliable anymore with two newborn, and i was hoping to have a partner in crime for the thermals this saturday night, but they go on at 2am, so that ain't gonna happen for him
poor me ;(
I think that you can either turn on the block pop-ups option in your browser if you have it (it's what I do), or when it asks you about taking the survey you can answer "never" and it won't show up again.
So wonderful that you have a new music friend! EMCD-ing on fire. It must have shed a new life in the way you deal with your work days. Very happy for you, and here's to many great moments coming as a result of that :)
I'm jealous. I am the music leader and some of my co-workers follow and others don't. While I'm bossy enough to enjoy leading, it would be nice for the give and take of a true music buddy. I think I'm going to make music tastes a part of the interview process for new hires.
Until I find a music buddy, I have you people. You complete me. ;)
Dude, I was there for that day. Psht -17 degrees is nothing, although I'm from the same area, so are you surprised?
I saw that Gaslight Anthem was coming and thought of you, but I'm sure you already know about that. In fact, you probably posted about it. It's April 4th at the Varsity. I might try and go....
Good for you Kev! I only wish some of my co-workers were similar to my fellow MOGgers. I don't think any of 'em listen to CD's. Nothing but the pablum fed to them from the top 40 stations.
I do know a couple guys, but it seems to be a one way street. I'll whip up a mixed CD, and they'll love it, but never reciprocate. They don't seem to have the same passion for music. Like it's too much work (?) to hunt for new great music!
I too have not been around as much as usual. Not really any one reason, just been doin' other shit.
Oh, and what were those 5 albums, anyhow? Some goodies? Inquiring minds wanna know :)))
-17,,, yikes!
I've been lucky, my current gig has two guys with similar eclectic interests, and for awhile last spring we were trading mix CDs with themes--We took turns coming up with themes and then traded the results. It was awesome! It was cool because one guy is totally into new indie rock, one guy was into more folky/Americana stuff and mine were usually all over the place. But most schools I've been in, I've not had much luck like that.
Groon - Thanks, I guess you could say it took long enough to happen
Oatmeal - I did what you did, answered the survey and now I am home free!
Dale - I did not want to refer to myself as a music nerd, but in reality that is what I have become!
August - A music bud outside of mog, I did not think that existed
Super - Try doing name that tune with them. My class loves it, and it gives me a chance to expose them to all kinds of new artists......... although with 4th graders you still have to give em a little top 40 to boot.
Sam - My 4th grade team listens to the following 1. Top 40, 2. Christian and 3. Lots o country................not my cup o tea
Eric - my closest music friends all came from college as well as mog. Go figure
Neil - I know how tough it is to just talk about music in my school, I could not imagine trying in 19 different ones.
Anna - It is just finally great to be able to share bands that I hear of with people that are not mog related!
Amber - Dont get me wrong, MOG is still my bread and butter!
P-Wagz - You might just see me at that show, wanted to go see the city and the colour until I found out it sold out. I might be getting those tickets early!
Blue - I should have posted them before, here are the five cd's
1. Daft Punk - Alive
2. Black Keys - Attack and Release
3. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
4. Tapes and Tapes - Walk It Off
5.Cloud Cult - Advice from the happy........
Chris - Yes the weather has been cold, and I can not remember the last time the mississippi has remained frozen over for so long.
So jealous. Still looking for a moment like that to come along. :=)
A connection! A thing to be relished. Happy listening!
Good for you Kevin!
It makes me happy to read a story like this. Best of luck with your new buddy.
As for the weather there, DAMN that's cold! I went to Syracuse U. and recall that, no matter how used to the cold I thought I should be, it still simply felt bone-chillingly cold.
Ayway, maybe you two can find a way to keep each other warm?...
(couldn't resist)
I've worked with a few people who became music and concert buddies.
I dont think a female concert buddy would go over too well with my wife though.
Hey, I can sympathize on all fronts, as I am a High School Teacher, Music freakazoid, and mogger. I stream my last.fm library constantly, often in the middle of class. It helps me relax and the kids get into a good work groove.
Sometimes a real belt of shreaky feedback will come on, from Sonic Youth or A Place to Bury Strangers, or Jesus and Mary Chain, and most of the kids are so conservative when it comes to music, they even say "That's just noise" which is the same things my parents used to say.
Every once in a while a student will come along who is really open minded musically. Even if the kids like a song I play in class, they rarely say anything when I do play music, but its always a pleasure when you find a music buddy who is also a student..