School has finally settled into some semblance of a rhythm. It helped that I did the Virgo thing and scheduled basically every minute of the week. I am finding that the more I write stuff down (schedules, to-do lists, exercise, practice, study, etc.) that I actually get quite a bit done. Now, not everything always gets done.....but more than if I tried it without the schedule. It also means that I get work done bit by bit instead of one massive gulp.....better for retention.....better for my sanity.
Classes are also going fairly well. The discussion section continues to be one of the highlights of my week. I have had four different students contact me outside of class to discuss research paper topics, and it's actually fun to talk to them about what their interests are (except for the students who want you to hand them a topic that involves absolutely no research.....see paragraph below for my feelings about a lack of intellectual curiosity). Still no issues in discipline in my 38 person discussion section. They actually talk and try out ideas, which is great. I inadvertently planned an early music semester for myself. I'm taking History of Music Theory from Antiquity-1600, a Medieval Music seminar, TAing for the Undergrad Antiquity to 1700 Music History sequence, and of course the Early music ensemble. Basically the only other stuff I do is our the World Music Ensemble (concentrating on Gallician music this semester), and Flute Lessons (although I'm playing Baroque Flute for that too). Working on my official proposal for the thesis....hoping to get it in fairly soon. Getting ready for comps for the flute degree. Trying to plan other non-course-related musical stuff as well. It all adds up to less sleep and occasional bouts of panic. I think I've managed to convince myself that I'm human and that there are limits to how much I can get done in a day. And hopefully, I'm learning to get to the end of the day and be happy with my effort and not disappointed in what I couldn't get to. It's a continual balancing act between scholarship and performance, and I've sort of accepted the fact that it's a balance beam I'm going to walking for the rest of my life.....because I don't really feel complete without both. Anyway......school is good.
Here commenceth the rant about a lack of intellectual curiosity. It is physically impossible for someone to lack interest about EVERYTHING. What that means, is that the student who came to me and wasn't interested in a topic about anything either a) just doesn't want to do the work or b) is hiding in the guise of not wanting to do the work because he/she is deeply afraid of forming original thought/expressing interest in things that are different. Let's exclude option A, because I choose to believe that a student who goes through the trouble of scheduling an appointment outside of class actually wants to write an interesting paper. Seeing students like this, truly makes me want to ask, "What is it that conditioned you to just read the textbook and regurgitate?" Or rather who? Everyone is born with intellectual curiosity.....you see it in small children every day. Meaning some other teacher, or babysitter, or (god-forbid) parent, or friend conditioned this person to not ask questions about the world that surrounds them. The pavlovian reaction is to not be interested in anything. It's safer......the dumbass in the back row doesn't harass you for being a nerd, the teacher doesn't harass you for being a smartass, the babysitter can FINALLY call her boyfriend and leave you to watch the R rated movie your parents won't let you see, and life is easier all the way around. It's one of the reasons I love it when my students participate in discussions.......they learn that their thoughts and questions MATTER. And they learn that it's ok to have a little intellectual curiosity.
Anyway....I'm way past my allotted time for "lunch." Time to practice!!!
Peace, love, and tunes,
Mac.
Labels: grad school, TA
