Nashville: Week 1

I am here in Nashville to work with a company who is changing the face of music education. I met the team from Quaver's Marvelous World of Music a year and a half ago at the Florida Music Educator's conference. I almost missed their presentation, but am so grateful I stayed the evening. Graham Hepburn, Quaver to my students, gave a technology based/21st Century/staying true to tradition presentation that blew me off of my feet. I was hooked. The Quaver program has changed my approach to teaching.


The Crew
Back row: Al, Brandon, Graham, Jim, Rita, Sam
Front row: Jeff, me, Stephanie, Jodie

The end of this summer marks the launch of the Quaver curriculum. I have been working with the Qfamily and a number of teachers who have developed the lesson plans. We have spent the week dissecting the lesson plans, making recommendations for the website, and discussing the new state standards. The days are long, but the work is fun and meaningful. I am having a blast.

While here I am staying with friends, Billy and Carolyn. They are more like family to me and are just the sweetest couple. Carolyn teaches sixth grade social studies and Billy runs a print business (t-shirts, posters, etc.) They are having a yard sale on Saturday morning and I cannot wait to see the East Nash locals come out to browse. They've got a pretty cool style. I hope I don't buy everything.

                     The cute couple                               Carolyn made us a delicious dinner

I met Marcus and Kara Caudill at Kaufman Kamp. They encouraged me to reach out to their daughter, Ashleigh, who lives here in Nashville. Their family has been making music for years now. It turns out that Ashleigh had a song recorded my Balsam Range and, it's my favorite Balsam Range song, Row by Row. (Ashleigh's version, Balsam Range version).

I went to Dino's to see her play on Thursday night. She sang, played banjo and bass, and was amazing. Now, Dino's, not so amazing. The bartender had to order pizza because they found a rat on the grill. Yup. This really happened.

 
This is a statue I pass everyday to and from work. Many people here are appalled that the figures are naked.

                               I passed these tracks on my very hilly run yesterday morning.