Sun, 08 Mar 2026 17:04:50 -0700WeeblyFri, 13 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMThttp://www.kimberly-flynn.com/blog/january-2023​January 2023
 
I am so incredibly blessed to work with these students.  For the past two years it seems that I cannot put enough music in front of them.  I have been successfully exposing them to all different styles, composers, genres, conductors and musical time periods and they just keep gobbling up everything that I put in front of them.  
 
The students completed an assignment on conductors in prior years where they had to watch videos of different conductors (and orchestras) performing the same repertoire and assess how each conductor’s personality and style influenced the sound of the orchestra.  The students were particularly interested in the work of Gustavo Dudamel.  Maestro Dudamel is perhaps the world’s most famous living conductor.  He is the full-time music director of the LA Philharmonic and is known for his significant work with El Sistema and the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles.  He loves children and will be working with the NY Philharmonic on May 19th. An open rehearsal has been made available on that date so that schools can attend the performance.  I am working with Maximum Tours to arrange a field trip so that my orchestra can see the NY Philharmonic (which they have never seen) and also see Gustavo Dudamel conduct live.  I am very excited for the opportunity to expose my students to this amazing collaboration.  
 
Aside from working on this field trip and extra March concert, I have been busy helping prepare Maya and Noah for their upcoming college auditions.  Noah plans to major in Music Education and is hoping to gain acceptance into Fredonia, Crane and Ithaca.  Maya is planning to major in Viola Performance with the goal of becoming an Artistic Administrator.  We are both hoping that NYU is in her future, but she is also auditioning at Purchase, Mannes and Bard.  While I am of course, excited for all of my seniors…I am very interested to see where Noah and Maya wind up next year.  Fingers crossed!
]]>Fri, 23 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMThttp://www.kimberly-flynn.com/blog/december-2022​December 2022
 
I am so excited for my students.  They performed exceptionally well at their concert on December 20th.  For the first time ever, I had the ensemble go out and perform an unconducted piece in true Baroque, chamber music style.  The students did an amazing job. They watched, listened, followed the concertmaster (Noah) and played a very musical performance.  While I am exhausted and am very much looking forward to vacation, musically, I am excited to get back to work on new repertoire in January.  I am truly dreading graduation this year as I am losing so many strong players.  The third period orchestra has come such a long way in just 3.5 months.  They are such a quiet bunch; I am struggling to pull them out of their shells.  They are eager to learn and are definitely improving, but when it comes to critique and/or comparison, they are very silent, and few will volunteer any answers.  I am hoping that this improves next semester.  
]]>Fri, 30 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.kimberly-flynn.com/blog/september-2022September 2022
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This has been a wonderful month of reconnecting with students and watching them go through the college application/audition process.  I have three students who are majoring in music next year and am so proud of each of them.  Maya plans to major in viola performance with the aspiration of becoming an Artistic Administrator down the line.  Josue plans to double major in viola and computer science and Noah plans to major in Music Education.  All three students are looking at three entirely different sets of schools which is great.  
 
This year’s ensembles are shaping up to be excellent yet again.  While third period orchestra will need a lot of review of the fundamentals (note reading, posture, bow holds, syncopated rhythms, key signatures, tuning, bow placement and division, vibrato…) I believe that they are going to improve quickly, and they seem to have a desire to learn. They are extremely quiet.  I have been assured that it is not me, but it is eerily quiet in the class.  Second period is off to the races already and are already gobbling up music.  I am hopeful to feature each of my music majors somehow this year.  I am unsure if the class will want to return to NYSSMA majors, but I am hopeful that they will be able to attend a NY Philharmonic performance at some point.  I would love to expose them to that before the bulk of them graduate.  It will be hard to top this group.  I am planning to enjoy them every day until June.  


]]>Fri, 17 Jun 2022 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.kimberly-flynn.com/blog/june-2022June 2022
I am so proud of my orchestra students! This has been such an amazing year.  It has been a very long time since I have had a group that can perform level 5-6 music the way that it was indented to be played.  The second period orchestra earned a Gold for their level 5 performance at Majors.  To say that I am excited for them is an understatement.  
 
This group learned so much music this year that rather than selecting what music that they would perform on their spring concert, they opted to add an additional concert.  Their parents loved it and it really fostered a string community within the music department.  I am really looking forward to next year to see how much further we can push.  While the make-up of the orchestra will be different with several strong seniors graduating, it will still be a very dynamic ensemble.  

I am looking forward to a restful break in my new house and I can spend some additional time reflecting on what music to select for next year.  
]]>Fri, 18 Mar 2022 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.kimberly-flynn.com/blog/march-2022​March 2022
I am very excited about my second period orchestra. Honestly, both orchestras are sounding great.  I decided in January to have my second period group attend NYSSMA Major Organization this year.  I can’t believe after teaching for 12 years that I have never brought a group to Majors.  I am interested to see how they compare to other groups in the area.  If there were ever a group to take, it would be this one.  I honestly wish that we were going to a real competition, out of state.  These kids can really play, and it is not going to be like this after next year.  

I am looking forward to organizing and hosting the NYSSMA Festival this year.  While this will be quite an undertaking, I am excited to use that part of my brain and ensure that our District’s festival is well organized and runs efficiently.  The added challenge of a weekday festival will require a lot of coordination with Salk and custodial staff and I am looking forward to building those relationships across the district. 


]]>Fri, 24 Sep 2021 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.kimberly-flynn.com/blog/september-2021​September 2021
 
So far this year is off to a great start.  The second period orchestra is NO JOKE! They are so talented and are accepting changes/criticism very well.  They are also excellent at critiquing themselves and driving their own rehearsals which is rare and fantastic.  I am a bit nervous about the small size of my current freshman class.  I only have 5 students.  As many students often leave orchestra after a time due to course conflicts, I am a bit nervous about the size of my groups in the future.  Obviously Covid has played a part in recruitment/retention but this is a bit ridiculous. 
 
My current 9/10 class is a bit behind which is to be expected considering everything from the past two years.  I am finding it hard to balance having them work and letting them play for fun.  It is a bit difficult to navigate.  I am trying desperately to catch them up.  

]]>Thu, 24 Jun 2021 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.kimberly-flynn.com/blog/june-2021​June 2021
 
I am so thankful that this year is over.  While I am so grateful to be back in Levittown and love my job here, Covid has made teaching way more complicated and frankly, exhausting.  While many things were unable to take place this year, I am pleased that we were able to at least record a virtual concert at the conclusion of the year.  Matt Shamloo was able to come in and record my group in the auditorium after school and the result was awesome.  I was sure to send it to Central Office to have it placed on the District webpage.  

I invited Iris back so that she was able to officially say goodbye to the graduating seniors and everyone was thankful to have that experience.  The seniors had expressed that they wish that they could have seen Mrs. Bastone before she retired, so I felt that it was only fair to have her come in and spend a day with the kids before graduation.  
 
I am excited for vacation and for next year when I can start anew with the current juniors and move forward.  I will have a stellar group in second period next year and I am looking forward to hopefully being able to perform more challenging repertoire and really push the group forward.  
]]>Thu, 24 Dec 2020 08:00:00 GMThttp://www.kimberly-flynn.com/blog/december-2020ClickDecember 2020
 
Well, I had my first major student/parent issue.  I had assigned a video reflection essay for both period 2 and period 3.  It was quite simple; the students were asked to watch the video of Gustavo Dudamel conducting as well as several other conductors and reflect upon what they saw.  This was clearly intended to be an independent assignment and while reading through the student submissions, it was clear that three students (Isabel, Taylor and Bridget) all had the same exact information, (some verbatim) written in their essays.  I sent an email to all three students telling them that they would all be receiving zeros and that they would be required to resubmit the assignment.  
 
All three students were in disbelief that I would “accuse” them of cheating, and all had their parents call to complain.  I was shocked to have three parents support their children’s plagiarism.  Taylor dropped my class immediately.  Bridget went to band full time and Isabel tried to get switched into band, but Joe Romano would not allow it which I appreciated.  After many conversations and emails with parents, I was truly disappointed that at no point were the students accountable for their actions.  
 
As a new teacher in the building, and it is unclear how long hybrid learning will be taking place, it was imperative that I set a tone with these students.  I want to avoid future instances of plagiarism as much of this work will be completed at home.  While I am the first to admit that this assignment was not of uber importance, it was an opportunity to show me independent, creative thought and you cannot accomplish that when cheating off of one another.  
 
I am very frustrated with this entire scenario.  I really would like to be playing music, not reading reflection assignments and dealing with issues related to plagiarism.
]]>Sun, 27 Sep 2020 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.kimberly-flynn.com/blog/september-2020​September 2020
 
I am so thankful to be back in the field of education, in the building where it all began.  It is incredible that after 14 years, MacArthur students and parents are still the best to work with.  It is very interesting coming back to the place where it all started after having taught in other districts.  While this year is challenging due to Covid-19 mandates, masks, hybrid learning, teaching in rows, etc. I am pleased to say that it is still enjoyable, and the students are still fantastic. 
 
Items that I wish to improve upon are all related to technology.  Google Classroom is going well, however, integrating the available extensions (Kami, etc.) has been proving to be a challenge.  SmartMusic has been beneficial, although the students do not seem to find the assessments accurate (too sensitive perhaps?).
 
Iris continues to be very helpful regarding student and parent information, skill level, musical background, etc.  That said, the students seem very attached to her still and this may pose a problem as the year continues.  
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