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You figured it a...
You figured it all out while I didn't even bother to investigate into it, taking things for granted. Amazing(!) and a good thing - sharing this useful info with everyone.
-- (July 14, 2009) on sunday, 2009-07-12 1442
So, they think t...
So, they think they found a way to get the grades up but still haven't figured out how to get the students motivated to learn.
I think the problem lies in modernist values with people desiring to determine the best - the creme-de-la-creme - and rank people according to a standard. Were it not for competition and the need to filter people out of certain societies, there would be no need for this type of school system that employs 'objective' standards of performance. The students themselves perceive the school as just that - a system and a mold - and adapt by making it easier for themselves, either by believing that that's the way to go and striving for approval or by tuning out and finding other ways of fitting in. They become objects, not subjects. If only teachers would - or had the liberty to - focus on the students themselves, their learning styles, and their abilities...
My idea of an ideal education is more postmodern. I imagine it being a whole lot more fun were it unplanned and unorganized, say, the day starts out with a talk about water, which leads to learning about the properties of it (physics), then about the rivers and oceans (geography), the scarcity and proper stewardship of water (ecology), life living in water (biology), then going on a tangent, about sailing, wind, knots, and maybe even horsepower (and all that technical stuff I still have no knowledge of; physics, engineering, mechanics), then about all the countries you could visit that have ports and havens, how their geographical location helped (or did not help) their economy, other factors that deter an economy - lack of land justice, economic justice, poor climate, culture and world view, gender issues (politics, economy, sociology, religion, philosophy), and so on. The whole class as a community is involved and determine what to learn next, their curiosity being the drive and catalyst. Nothing is planned other than the determination to learn something new.
I imagine tutors of princes being like that centuries ago... generalists and specialists at the same time. If you can't have a Renaissance Man in the classroom, why not have multiple specialists co-teach?
Just some random thoughts. :)
-- (June 9, 2009) on monday, 2009-06-08 1558
My ultimate favo...
My ultimate favorites are J.S. Bach and Rachmaninov but I can almost always find a favorite piece among all the other composers.
The pieces that unlock my heart are lyrical, melancholic, and passionate. The piano has always sounded the best when the composition expressed my deepest longings, the cry of my heart for peace (yeah, I want world peace too! ;) ), a sense of belonging, love; beauty in the midst of pain, and (sometimes) strength and raging passion.
May your time at the piano be one of renewed joy as you transfer your thoughts and emotions into this beautiful language.
-- (May 13, 2009) on monday, 2009-05-11 0331
Am curious to kn...
Am curious to know what you played, what type of music you like to play in general, and what you'd like to be able to play in the future.
Grand pianos - even if they are baby grands - usually have a better sound quality and 'aesthetic presence.' You can place it any way you wish and enjoy a better rapport with your audience with the sound board placed horizontally.
I don't know of any grand pianos available to the public for playing. If you find out, let me know. Occasionally, I get to play on the grand in Payton 101 at Fuller or on the one in my church in Covina before the service.
The BNPKs could get together and engage in chamber music, play duets (pieces for four hands), accompany singers, have mini-recitals, or just play for friends.
If your piano playing is even half as beautiful and poetic as your writing, I think I shall really enjoy it. :)
-- (May 12, 2009) on monday, 2009-05-11 0331
Congratulations!...
Congratulations! It's exciting to see your photo in that collage. (By the way, isn't that the image you pulled out to design my 'vampire deer?')
-- (May 12, 2009) on saturday, 2009-05-02 0207