Week 11 10/31/11: Well this is that last week for writing in this journal. I have diligently tried to keep up on the writing and the practicing. I have enjoyed this medium of journal keeping on the blog. Classrooms where everyone has a computer would do well to have the students keep a journal on their own blog. It could encompass their math journal, reading journal, science journal and maybe even a 'Learn Something New' journal.
I have found learning something new to be challenging and difficult. I really thought I would be able to be successful at using the organ pedals if I just practiced enough. I believe now that it will take me a year of practicing to be able to do the pedals for one piece. That is not a bad goal. I think, being the lifelong learner that I am, that I will set that goal for myself. I will choose a hymn and work to learn the pedals. I'll give myself a year but no more! Wednesday Melissa and I will play our final rendition of 'All Creatures of Our God and King'. It will hopefully be beautiful even though the use of the pedals is limited. I will practice tomorrow and hopefully be ready for our taping on Wednesday.
Thank you, Dr. Carr, for having us do this exercise. It has been eye opening to see how difficult learning something new can be. I did think that I would be successful. I didn't realize that after all of this practicing, that I would feel so very unsuccessful. But, it just means that more practice is required and patience, just as students, especially students with disabilities require more practice and patience (Eggen, 2012). (I just read that in our Chapter 9 reading today). (This is not the end, go on to November's posts).
