John W. Baumgartner
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334 – The Muffin Saga, Pt. 2

3/23/2022

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The muffin saga continues:
Student: I was going to bring you a muffin today, but my dog ate them all.
​
I think this is the first time I've gotten "my dog at my homework" from a student. His entire grade [that I have no actual control over] now depends on him bringing me a muffin and signed apology letter from his dog tomorrow.

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333 – P-bone

3/22/2022

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*student walks in with a P-bone [plastic trombone]*
Me: ...why...? [<--my first words to him today]
Student: I'm so sorry. I don't want this either.
--
Me: I just realized I can see all the way down the bell to the tuning slide. It's a little unsettling.
Student: It's such a horrible instrument.
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332 – The Muffin Saga, Pt. 1

3/18/2022

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*yesterday*
Student: Do you have any food allergies?
Me: Nope, why?
Student: Would you want a banana chocolate chip muffin? I decided to make some for my teachers, and I thought, "Mr. Baumgartner might want one too!"
Me: Um, absolutely.
--
*end of lesson*
Me: Do you have those muffins with you?
Student: Oh, no, I haven't made them yet, but I'll bring you one tomorrow [Friday].
Me: Oh. I won't be here until Wednesday...
Student: Oh...
​
Sometimes teaching is a rollercoaster of emotions.

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331 – Clefs

3/16/2022

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I have a 7th-grader doubling on trumpet and trombone. He wanted to play Pink Panther, which I only had for trumpet, so I'm teaching him to read Bb treble on trombone, for tenor clef practice.
Student: So wait...how many clefs do trombonists have to play in??
Me: Bass, tenor, and alto, and sometimes treble too.
Student (dejectedly): Why is life so hard?
​
Same, kid.

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330 – Old MacDonald

3/2/2022

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Subbed for Brian Handeland at his school band directing gig today.
Student 1: Can you play #185 in the book, "Symphony No Period One," for us?
*I play it*
Student 2: Can we do #22 in the book with the band?
Student 1 [referring to what I'd just played]: They play that piece at funerals when soldiers die.
Student 3: They play Old MacDonald [#22] at funerals?!

Yes, but only with the original lyrics (probably):
Old MacDonald had a farm
But now he is dead

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    Author

    I have been teaching music across the Twin Cities since 2011. Along with seeing students grow as musicians and people, one of the joys of teaching is the ridiculous things my students say.

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