Blog Archives

Thursday, May 14, 2020

A video-chat meeting with my department at school today.  Sharing some elements of the ‘plan’ for the fall, which involves 8-week terms each with half-courseloads for both faculty and students.  The claim is that this makes us more ‘academically nimble.’  Without even noting the implicit oxymoron at play here, I really have absolutely no idea what that phrase is supposed to mean, nor how this arrangement is a benefit.  But, at the same time, I don’t see this scheduling as any worse than a single extended (15-week) semester, as is the usual.

The meeting involved an explanation of the plan to use/assign/trace practice rooms—these are 6’x8’ rooms with small pianos, for the most part...

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Wednesday, May 13, 2020

The news came yesterday that a major American university—Northwestern, a private one—is taking drastic steps to deal with fallout from this pandemic.  This article notes that, among a number of very frightening actions, Northwestern is going to cut into their endowment.  That’s a step of last resort, as the golden rule is to never touch an endowment’s capital unless in an existential crisis. This is all a very clear indicator of just how desperate this very well-endowed institution is right now, and this is surely not a unique situation. 

And then the news that the California State University system, the largest system in the US, with 500,000 students, is maintaining all-online classes through the fall; the same with several Canadian universities (McGill, UBC, others).

This ...

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Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Feeling things hitting close to home.  Hearing of a few more people ill with Covid, both family and family of dear friends; and more people losing their jobs now. 

So many musicians have lost every job on the horizon, really through August and, in some cases through October.  Those in my sphere who’re in academia are relatively safe still, though furloughs and pay cuts are likely not far off.  But others in the ‘professional’ world are now also being laid off.

The most recent layoff hits very close to home, though the reaction it’s causing is a jump-start to job-hunt action, which I’m glad to see...

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Monday, May 11, 2020

The online/virtual graduation ceremony last Friday was more than I expected.  Brief (35’) and efficiently delivered, there were some moments of touching sentiment, moments of worldly wisdom, moments of kitschy school pride.  But it was a meaningful event, well done.

During the event I was thrilled (really) to receive messages from cap-and-gown-clad pictures of students I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with during their time in the School of Music.  The personal messages, rather than the mass graduation ceremonies, were very moving expressions...

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Sunday, May 10, 2020

The school year now officially closed, and there are so many non-fatal casualties, along with the covid-19 victims.

Colleagues leaving us through retirement, new opportunities or, worst of all, massive budget cutbacks requiring elimination of positions.  Along with graduating students, there’s no opportunity for career closure.

One among many valued colleagues, the director of our bands, Scott Carter, is retiring after a long and distinguished career.  He was an undergrad here at ECU, then taught in a public school system for years before pursuing his graduate degrees, and ultimately joining the School of Music’s faculty long before my arrival in ’98...

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Saturday, May 9, 2020

Now starting a different blog-thread, Pandemic Life. This post double-listed, but will only post in Pandemic Life moving forward.

Another good read:

But the value of education, the value of educating the next generation, is not held high by American society, gov’t, businesses, indeed by those who espouse capitalism as a panacea to the world’s problems.  The values prioritized by the generation that went through the great depression and WWII are fading fast under vacuous leadership. 

Those of us in the field of education are effected, of course, but not nearly as much as those we’re charged to guide towards the future...

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Friday, May 8, 2020

Now starting a different blog-thread, Pandemic Life. This post double-listed, but will only post in Pandemic Life moving forward.

This article is a great one, I think.  https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-pandemic-is-the-time-to-resurrect-the-public-university

A recent meeting i attended included some University of California faculty.  Fac/Staff in the UC system are told to expect a 25% pay cut, and a 25% furlough of staff.

“Pay cuts and furloughs.  We keep hearing about these, but the UNC System has been mum.  Not sure how we get to the level of cutting that looks like is around the corner without many more tools like pay cuts and furloughs.  I hate to say it…” (a candid comment from a UNC system-member Dean.)

It’s all terrifically frightening, and te...

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Thursday, April 29

We are back in Greenville, now for 10 days.  Coming home was a good move, as Hawaii’s extended its lockdown to the end of May…it was a nice condo unit, but better to be taking care of this house, getting outside for yardwork, m’cycle riding, etc.  Things generally quiet here, but people not as cautious as in Hawaii; few masks, e.g.  But we’ve been back nearly 2 weeks, are healthy, although Pattie’s really reacting to a potent spring bloom in the air.

Sorry you have to leave the island, but the CAT scan’s essential…how long has it been at this point, 3 yrs?  I know you’ll both take all necessary precautions, so hope it’s a safe and easy trip in and out.  Sorry you won’t be able to sit and enjoy a nice meal at a favorite café but, alas, let the suspense keep building...

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Tuesday, April 21

A bizarre night’s sleep, with very odd dreams of people not seen in years.  Feel asleep early for about an hour, then up until 3, finally waking at 10:30.  Such an odd pattern for me; Pattie not awake until after noon, getting in 11 hours.  Clearly we’re readjusting to Eastern time, and catching up on needed rest.

A beautiful day, and one for continuing to get re-settled here at home.  Lots of boxes coming down from the attic—today everything from the kitchen.  And then an afternoon of yardwork, as recent storms had left a lot of debris littered around.  By evening everything picked up, lawn mowed, things looking ok.  Tomorrow I’ll try to do more, but it’s respectable at this point.

The attic unloading is a pain, quite literally, as lifting and moving heavy boxes while sto...

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