Dear family, friends, and all readers of this blog...
It's been a busy month, and we haven't been the best at keeping up this year. All in all, school is going well, despite all the "teething issues" we and the community are dealing with from our transition to two buildings. But, more on ASB and India later.. I have a bit of a tangent that is related to mine and Reid's teaching career...
We all have those teachers that have inspired us. My first music teacher (other than my parents) was Tom Wells, at Ramsey K-8 in Minneapolis. My fondest memories of junior high are in that band room- gaining confidence in myself as a musician, making some of the closest friends I still have today, and ingraining in me the love for music I will carry with me always. I think of all the great opportunities I had with Tom Wells from jazz band, to pit orchestras, to concert band- playing out in the community and just loving every minute of it. Reid had the opportunity in college to work with Tom for a month long internship and gained a mentor and experience that has helped him grow as a band director.
And Tom is still giving 100% (and more) today. I don't need to tell you that the arts have been hit hard budget wise in the recent years (heck, they weren't great when I was in school), especially in the inner city where many parents can't afford rental or purchase of instruments for their kids. But enter Tom Wells, a few years from retirement, taking on a high school job (in mine and Reid's neighborhood back home) to try and rebuild a program very much beaten down. Two years ago he arrived at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis and there were less than half a dozen students in the program. Now he's up to 80. But, the school has no money and neither do the families to support this growing program. So, Tom is running the Twin Cities marathon to raise funds for his students.
Reading about this in the news today came as a bit of a reality check. -I am also dealing with a fast growing band program (I went from 28 in 5th grade band last year to 48 this year). When I needed extra instruments this week I just mentioned it to the principal, he gave me the nod, the office staff called in an order and I will have 4 percussion kits FedExed to me within the month. Just like that. And here my junior high band director is having to run 25 miles to hopefully raise enough money to get his students instruments.
So, it took me approximately 3 seconds to run to my purse and grab my wallet. So yes, ladies and gentleman, here you were reading a blog entry about an amazing man, and now you are being solicited for a donation. If you feel compelled to help out the MPLS schools with this one, click on the link below to donate. I've also included the CBS article.
I wouldn't be the teacher I am today without him, and I hope beyond hope that I am half as passionate and inspiring to my students as he has been for countless Minneapolis students and fellow music educators.
Rachel
To Donate: Go to https://
CBS Article:
Band On The Run: Teacher To Run Marathon To Raise Instrument Money « CBS Minnesota
It's been a busy month, and we haven't been the best at keeping up this year. All in all, school is going well, despite all the "teething issues" we and the community are dealing with from our transition to two buildings. But, more on ASB and India later.. I have a bit of a tangent that is related to mine and Reid's teaching career...
We all have those teachers that have inspired us. My first music teacher (other than my parents) was Tom Wells, at Ramsey K-8 in Minneapolis. My fondest memories of junior high are in that band room- gaining confidence in myself as a musician, making some of the closest friends I still have today, and ingraining in me the love for music I will carry with me always. I think of all the great opportunities I had with Tom Wells from jazz band, to pit orchestras, to concert band- playing out in the community and just loving every minute of it. Reid had the opportunity in college to work with Tom for a month long internship and gained a mentor and experience that has helped him grow as a band director.
And Tom is still giving 100% (and more) today. I don't need to tell you that the arts have been hit hard budget wise in the recent years (heck, they weren't great when I was in school), especially in the inner city where many parents can't afford rental or purchase of instruments for their kids. But enter Tom Wells, a few years from retirement, taking on a high school job (in mine and Reid's neighborhood back home) to try and rebuild a program very much beaten down. Two years ago he arrived at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis and there were less than half a dozen students in the program. Now he's up to 80. But, the school has no money and neither do the families to support this growing program. So, Tom is running the Twin Cities marathon to raise funds for his students.
Reading about this in the news today came as a bit of a reality check. -I am also dealing with a fast growing band program (I went from 28 in 5th grade band last year to 48 this year). When I needed extra instruments this week I just mentioned it to the principal, he gave me the nod, the office staff called in an order and I will have 4 percussion kits FedExed to me within the month. Just like that. And here my junior high band director is having to run 25 miles to hopefully raise enough money to get his students instruments.
So, it took me approximately 3 seconds to run to my purse and grab my wallet. So yes, ladies and gentleman, here you were reading a blog entry about an amazing man, and now you are being solicited for a donation. If you feel compelled to help out the MPLS schools with this one, click on the link below to donate. I've also included the CBS article.
I wouldn't be the teacher I am today without him, and I hope beyond hope that I am half as passionate and inspiring to my students as he has been for countless Minneapolis students and fellow music educators.
Rachel
To Donate: Go to https://
CBS Article:
Band On The Run: Teacher To Run Marathon To Raise Instrument Money « CBS Minnesota
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