This has been a really strange week for me. I still haven’t gotten any information about virtual teaching from my CTs, and so I wait patiently on that. I have discussed with Dan the possibility of the students all recording themselves playing their parts with a metronome and sending that in for me to compile as a virtual concert to send back to them, but it truly is a big bummer that their concerts won’t happen, NYSSMA won’t happen, and I won’t get to spend the rest of the semester getting to know these kids like I would’ve loved to do in the capacity that one would be able to in a classroom. I’ve discussed other possibilities to keep up teaching with all of you but I just feel pretty lost right now. I’m devastated for my students and their families and I just want everyone to stay safe — that’s my number one priority for both my family and theirs right now. I hope that they are able to make music at home in some capacity, and I hope to hear more about virtual learning this week from my CTs. For now, however, it is the waiting game.
Week 9
Marlena's Student Teaching Journey 
Hello!
I really appreciate your perspective and honesty in this week’s blog post. I’ve been thinking about how this is a first in a lifetime predicament for everyone, even my parents who are old enough to have grown up during the Great Depression. Unprecedented times can throw us off our game, or at least, I know it has thrown me off my game. That’s why I’m so happy to read your idea for student recordings leading to a virtual concert. That’s a tremendous idea, and I hope I get to learn more from you about how something like that gets put together, even if it doesn’t happen this semester for NEST+M. I’ve seen them online, but I don’t know anything about them. Perhaps you could share with me some of what you know about virtual concerts during our Zoom meeting next week. On that topic, I sent an email on Friday asking about your availability. I know some of my emails have not gotten to you, so let me know if you received it. I look forward to visiting with you online, and please let me, Lauren, or Dr. Parkes know if you need anything.
–Robert
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Marlena,
This is such a weird time for all of us. I think we are all dealing with our new normal in different ways. Some people are working harder than ever as they figure out how to work from home while others have had the rug pulled out from under them. I think you are in that latter group. There has been so much worry as to how this was going to work and if you would get certified, now that you know that is being worked on, all you are left with is the loss you feel. It is OK. I am holding out hope that something will work out, and while it won’t be the same, we will all come back form this with a new appreciation for each other and drive for our work with students.
Keep reaching out, offering to help in any way you can. Do not hesitate to reach out, and I will “see” you on Thursday.
Lauren
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