Number Your Measures

Happy start of second semester, everyone!
I love using this desktop monitor stand for my coffee and tea storage in my office’s “mini kitchen”

May your caffeine be strong and your passion for your profession even stronger!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: traditional to-do lists DON’T ALWAYS WORK!

We HAVE to PRIORITIZE our tasks.

All December break I’ve kept a running list of things I knew I needed to do on the teacher work day in order to feel ready for the start of the semester.

Today, I went through and prioritized based on what will take TIME and WHERE I need to be to complete the task.

Slower tasks that have to be completed in my school take first priority. Then fast tasks that have to be completed in my school. Then slow computer tasks, lastly fast computer tasks.

That way, if I have to complete things after work hours tomorrow it’s not a problem because all school-based tasks will be tackled first (I already have a coffee shop date scheduled with myself to knock out leftover tasks).

This level of prioritization falls in line with the fact that I don’t know what additional tasks will be asked of me at the 10:30am staff meeting, so there’s an extra challenge to get as much done before that meeting as possible!

Happy back to school!

The presentation that started it all, “Let’s Get ORGANIZED!” is going NATIONAL (again 😉). This time as a very accessible, FREE, live webinar through NAfME!

Let’s chat how to create systems at work so we can celebrate presence at home!

Hope to see you there THIS WEDNESDAY, September 3rd. Registere Here:
https://nafme.org/event/lets-get-organized/

SIMPLE EFFECTIVE SYSTEM ALERT!

Red = where students turn in ALL things (work, forms)
Yellow = where I move it for “to be graded”
Green = “ready to be given back” right next to my podium/lesson plans.

I am very structured. I am good at giving work and grading work. But GIVING BACK WORK has been a bit of a nemesis for me.

This idea came to me in a moment, wishing I had the things I needed at arms reach. Then I found the most perfect organizer randomly in the teacher work room; someone was getting rid of it. So I asked our amazing custodians to hang it for me.

Receipts books and deposit forms. I keep all money related papers together, right on top of my desk, so I know exactly where it is when kids bring me their fees. I can write their receipt quickly and take care of the deposit to the bookkeeper promptly.

Everyone’s school and booster programs are different. But if this is the kind of system that isn’t working for you yet, figure out a way to make it simple and effective!

Shelves are all hung back up after the whole band room got painted! I got to do it myself and choose where everything went and I’m so happy with the result.

If you aren’t sure if you want to prioritize making your space look the way you want it to, please do! It has such a positive effect on your work day to be surrounded by a space you enjoy!

Exciting news: “Let’s Get ORGANIZED” will be a national webinar through the National Association for Music Education on September 3rd, 7pm EST.

I am very excited to share what I’ve learned about simple effective systems and mental clarity, even since this presentstion’s premiere in 2022. LGO has been to Georgia Music Educators Association In Service Conference, Georgia State University Music Ed Senior Seminar, Fulton County Schools Professional Development, Tennessee Fine Arts Academy, The Midwest Clinic, and now NAfME!

This session has shifted and grown alongside me, and I’m honored to speak to a national audience across all divisions of music education.

Side note: NAfME has really revamped their website, resources, and professional development opportunities. If you haven’t seen their website or follow them on social media I highly recommend you do!

So music friends: renew your NAfME memberships, remind yourself your NAfME passwords (definitely had to reset mine last night…), and I hope you log in (for free!) on September 3rd!

Event details and Register HERE:
https://nafme.org/event/lets-get-organized/

BLANK SLATE after the school-wide painting! At first I was annoyed after all the work last summer, but realized this is the PERFECT scenario to reorganize what was already pretty good….plus the walls look great!! Switching out locations of the storage zone and music library will be the biggest change. STAY TUNED!

How do you communicate during the busy season? I send a weekly reminder “newsletter” every single Monday morning, even when it’s not that busy. My parents have come to expect it, and it’s really helpful when the busy season shows up and I need everyone on the same page. There’s already a culture of calendaring and communication - which is great when I have two LGPE’s, two trips, 6th grade honor band, spring concerts…to keep alive!!

I’ve had the privilege to organize NUMEROUS honor bands and all state bands in my career so far. By far the most time consuming thing is stuffing music in the folders.

BUT, with the right planning, it can go really smoothly!

1. Get your conductor’s repertoire EARLY
2. Get the roster for the ensemble
3. Get your conductor’s part assignments and specifications for extra instrument needs (piccolo, piano, etc.)
4. Scan through and make sure you have ALL of the copies you will need for each section
5. Keep everything in score order
6. Print labels for the folders (student name and instrument #)
7. Lay everything out in a line on a flat surface, that can stay in operation over multiple sessions if necessary (ex: you shouldn’t have to move it all in order to have class)
8. Find your system before you start! I was going to grab my folder THEN the music, but I realized it made way more sense to grab what I need and THEN get the folder
9. Have a newer empty box to place stuffed folders in

OPTIONAL: put folders in seating chart order (this depends on how the students are getting the music)

**percussion assignments MUST be done in advance for better planning. One could write a separate post on percussion planning!

DO NOT try to do it all in one day if you can avoid it. This is a much easier task when it is broken down into smaller, digestible pieces

Happy Honor Ensemble Season!

Check us out on Instagram to see the video of the system in action!
https://www.instagram.com/number_your_measures?igsh=dmxsMXFnanFrdnR0&utm_source=qr