I don’t think adjuncts have to sign anything – they aren’t paid enough to justify it, and no one really cares what they believe. As for being a hired gun, for me, my position contains all the benefits that I care about right now, without a lot of other stuff that aren’t motivating for me at the present time.
From jupiterj
on
my life is pretty damn good
They’re lucky to have you. I don’t understand your last sentence (“without a lot of other stuff that aren’t [isn’t?] motivating for me…”]. But no matter. I’m glad adjuncts don’t have to sign that paper as I object to an institution of learning requiring dogmatic commitment from teachers to a certain faith. Still I feel like I’ve gone over to the “dark side” even working for the Dance department which I admire. I have watched several very fine teachers and dancers leave Hope. At least two of them (husband and wife) did so because of the signing requirement. The other was uninterested in getting degrees as she had already had a spectacular dancing career with the Joffrey ballet.
From Rhonda
on
my life is pretty damn good
I don’t have to go to staff meetings, or grade papers, or deal with internal politics in the music dept (who said what about whom…), or make lesson plans. I could come up with a longer list too! Of course, those things are what get one health insurance and pay the mortgage, but right now we’re surviving without them.
From Rhonda
on
jupe attends a choir concert
Just cause I’m feeling grumpy today…
I thought the first piece of the program was pretty dang cool. And the Rutter (not by any means a favorite composer of mine) was very interesting.
As to where the improvisation was – well, there wasn’t any, and while I appreciate imporvisation done well, I don’t think that’s necessary to make a good concert.
You probably are listening for different aspects of a choral sound than I am, so I’ll grant you that maybe the blend wasn’t as good as it could have been.
But I will say that, no matter your impression from the audience, Meredith is a very collaborative conductor – and I’d rather work with a conductor who IS collaborative than one who LOOKS collaborative. I’ve worked with a lot of conductors. I know what the difference feels like.
Ahem. The marimba business hasn’t gotten me in a bad mood or anything.
From jupiterj
on
jupe attends a choir concert
I’m having trouble recalling the first piece (I went looked at the program). You are probably entirely correct that it was cool. And it may have been prissy of me to mention improvisations. I also don’t think it’s necessary for a good concert. And I don’t doubt that your friend is collaborative. I am impressed with orchestras that perform without a conductor. I worked under Lockington once and was impressed with his ability to connect with the GR symphony (although there is a faction in it that apparently detests him). You are welcome at any point to be grumpy in the comments. Sorry about the marimba thing. My head, of course, has moved on from the composing of that piece. I was interested to hear it actually performed, but I am thinking of other things these days. Best from the old guy
From jupiterj
on
my life is pretty damn good
Thanks for clarifying a bit. I’m probably just thick.
From Elizabeth
on
choices and new jupe compositions
Yes, I can access those two pieces on google drive.
Do you have recommendations for intro to music theory? I’m trying to trace back my basic music knowledge and am a loss about things like what is the 7 in D7? and what key has three sharps? and what’s the 4 in 3/4? and what’s the difference between 4/8 and 4/4 key signature?
From jupiterj
on
choices and new jupe compositions
Thanks for checking to see about accessing those pieces. The 7 in D7 in C (7 notes up from D). 3 #s is usually (but not always) A major OR F# minor. the 4 in 3/4 stands for quarter note (the upper number can pretty much be any number, the lower only numbers that indicate a note value like 2 for half note, 8 for eighth note and so on), There’s really not too much different between 4/8 and 4/4. In 4/8 the eighth note gets the beat and there are four of them in each measure, in 4/4 the quarter note gets the beat and there are four of THEM in each measure. So either way there are four beats in a measure. I’ll poke around online and see if I can find a web site or two about this stuff. This one looks pretty good: http://www.musictheoryvideos.com/ I watched part of the video on key signatures. It seemed clear and understandable.
From Mark
on
choices and new jupe compositions
When Steve and I were in college, the basic intro book to music theory was W. W. Norton’s “Scales, Intervals, Keys and Triads” by John Clough – a self teaching, programmed text. The most recent edition is pretty pricey but you might be able to find a used, unmarked copy, second or even first edition.
I really enjoyed that book. It covered lots of intro stuff – no teacher needed. FWIW.
From jupiterj
on
choices and new jupe compositions
Good book. I remember it well. I recommend it as well.
From Michelle Smith Kingsley
on
crisis at jupe's house
Hi Steve–I’m days behind in reading so I just read this on Monday 3-2. I am concerned that your health insurance is complicated by seemingly too much money. I strongly encourage you to enlist a Democratic US Senator’s assistance in navigating the AFC act. They are likely to refer you to local folks who are trained in assisting people sign up. I know it’s a lot of work to re-do all of this, but take your time & make sure you understand it. And don’t hesitate to call the Dem Senator back for assistance. I just looked up Michigan Senators–both are Dems. [I would choose Sen. Stabienow, but that is because I recognize her name & she has a somewhat national presence.] The Dems have a continued interest in the AFC working. I suspect & ardently hope that this may work out better than it currently seems. Kind regards, Michelle in NH
From jupiterj
on
crisis at jupe's house
Hey Michelle,
Thanks for your concern. Your idea about contacting Stabenow (for whom I voted) is a good one. I’m not sure how much her office could do about our income being more than we estimated, but I’m sure they could help us with our second problem of being accidentally signed up for a second policy.
I’m going to contact an accountant today and clarify the possibility of adjusting last year’s income with an IRA. This looks like it might work. My wife, Eileen, is a wreck over this, blaming herself. We will work on it together until she gets happy again.
Hope you and yours are doing well in NH.
Best wishes from Michigan.
Steve
From Elizabeth
on
choices and new jupe compositions
Thanks, Dad! And for the title, Uncle Mark! I’ve been dinking around with the keyboard Jeremy gave me for Christmas and also the ukulele. I found John Thompson’s Easiest Piano Courses, Book 3 at the local book shop — it’s in Chinese but hey. Also been looking up various kids tunes and strumming out chords to sing with Alex. Right now, we are really good at “Old McDonald” and “I had a Rooster”… This second one I heard played by Pete Seeger. So many kids’ books and songs are about animal noises, what gives?
From Jonny Keen
on
ebooks and christians who bully
I recommend this book on silence, “A Sunlit Absence: Silence, Awareness, and Contemplation” by Martin Laird. I also recommend another book by Laird titled, “Into The Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation.”
From jupiterj
on
ebooks and christians who bully
Thank you for the recommendations. I’m always interested in what others recommend.
From Michelle Smith Kingsley
on
sweet gustav
The Holst Suite is a favorite of mine & I’m *very* lucky b/c my husband plays the baritone/euphonium solos flawlessly–he must like it too! Thanks for the tunes!
From jupiterj
on
sweet gustav
Cool! You’re welcome!
From Mark
on
Jupe's monday, some greek misunderstanding and no pics
Greek and Hebrew were no longer required when I attended Sewanee thirty years ago. And I’ve recently been told that Sewanee was the “intellectual” seminary whatever the hell that means…
From jupiterj
on
Jupe's monday, some greek misunderstanding and no pics
Silly me.
From Rhonda
on
tired old burned out jupe
AirBnB perhaps? One can sometimes find pretty good deals that way…
Hope you have a chance to get out of town!
From Rhonda
on
tired old burned out jupe
Oh, and thanks for the plug!
From Elizabeth
on
tired old burned out jupe
yeah, air bnb might be a good option…
From Elizabeth
on
tired old burned out jupe
I recommend checking reviews before you book any hotel! http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g42821-Whitehall_Muskegon_County_Michigan-Hotels.html
From jupiterj
on
tired old burned out jupe
Rhonda, I splashed your concert all over Facebooger publicizing it mostly about my piece.
Eliz, thanks for the input and link. I haven’t done anything on this yet.
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