Any school teachers in the house?

[ThomasG]

Are there any school teachers in this great bass domain? Let me ask you, does teaching and all its duties take away time for you to gig and practice ? Of course you can make time, but, when I mean time, I mean a time that is not rushed and all other aspects of life are fullfilled in a normal fashion without running amuck. Thanks !

[BassChuck]

I've taught school for 30 year and have aways had a gig of some sort, arranged music professionally and done studio work. Its not easy, but (IMHO) there are people who are musicians by birth, and I don't mean incredably gifted, just people who have to have music in their lives and have to be involved with it. At a young age I realized that I'm like that and so... I make time for it.

I take my bass to school and practice during lunch. (advice to all teachers: stay out of the teachers lounge for lunch, that's where all the negative poop is)

Everyone has something in their lives that has to be addressed, some people golf. I know teachers who always have their clubs in the trunk of the car. Others have their mountain bike on the roof of the car for after school.

In short.... I don't think anyone can be happy until they find something to be passionate about. Once you idenitify that passion, you need to have it with you at all times (mentally and/or physically). And trust me, you won't make a career of teaching if you can't be passionate.

We already have enough people pointlessly watching TV.

[ThomasG]

Where do you practice your bass ? Classroom, car, on the football field ! Your the man !

[dancehallclasher]

I don't think it infringes on practice time. Teaching is very time-consuming, but grading is a big chunk of it and it can be delayed if need be. Gigging can be a problem though, simply because if there's a weeknight show and we play last and I have to wake up at 5:45 the next morning... it's not pretty.

[MakiSupaStar]

I'm a teacher. I'll practice during my duty free period. Or sometimes, I'll practice afterschool. Not plugged in. Either with my acoustic or with my electric 5vr. I get quite time. Sometimes, I'll practice in front of my students. They like it. I teach 7th and 8th grade. I pretty much agree with everything BassChuck says in this instance. I pretty much stopped doing mid-week gigs though, unless it's an important/big show. Too brutal the next day. I definitely don't drink during those midweek shows.

[gkbass13]

i substitute teach a bit...

[Hawaii Islander]

I taught biology labs at the University for a semester. I also did some substitute teaching at the university, when faculty had to go off island.

So, when are we going to do away with grades????

Just finished reading HOOKED ON LEARNING: The Roots of Motivation in the Classroom,(pp. 198-226) by Alfie Kohn, published by Rewards, 1993.

[GrooveWarrior]

I'm a middle school principal. I'm 32, and in my 7th year of administration. 6th in this district. I don't play out that much any more, but that is because I have a 1 and a 3 year old at home. Before they were born, I was playing every Friday and Saturday night. The mid-week gigs are rough when you have to be at work at 6:30, and aren't leaving until at least 5:00.

We have an annual talent show that is huge here. We put together a staff band for that and play something different every year.

[rfclef]

I am a K-12 Music and Band teacher... I have taught for 13 years now... When I was in college and for the first few years after graduating, I was doing a lot of Brass QUintet stuff on tuba (weddings, museums, church services, etc...). Then got married, but still played. Moved to a different state and had a kid or two, and did little or no playing outside of at school for almost a decade. Started playing in a community orchestra about 3 years ago for a couple years. Just took up bass back in November. Have been playing at church, took some lesson last spring, and just got into a "band". The other 2 guys are finishing up another project, and I am finishing up my masters this month (That has done more to hamper my time than work...). We are looking to really hit it at the end of October, and start gigging after the 1st of the year... Of course I gotta plan around Ball games (school pep band plays), and unfortunately I am a divorced father who has his kids every weekend and all holidays, so gotta plan for that, but I am gonna try to give it a go...

[Monkey]

I taught junior high and high school (history) for 11 years, and have worked at a university for almost 7 years. I have always played in bands, since I have to play. My band has been doing a weekly gig every Wednesday for the past 4 1/2 years. Thursday mornings aren't much fun (it was easier when I was younger....), but I can still do it. I play on weekends, and feel like I have to play to keep my sanity.

I have grown a lot as a singer over the past few years, and have been thinking lately of forming my own band. Having a day gig with a lot of responsibility means that I can't give my music as much attention as I might like, but I can still nail a groove!

[Folmeister]

I teach in the community college system and only have issues with music when I have a lot of night classes. Most semesters I only have two nights that keep me away from playing, but this semester it's three and that gives me some problems with my current project.