My dream room is finally finished!

[Mando_Lynn]

Hi folks,

It's me again, your friendly music teacher over in GA. In case you don't remember or you never saw these threads, I'm the one who you helped get the mando stand by donating to my Donors Choose project and then the next year you voted up another project for some guitars (that I ended up winning). Since then I've acquired a few more nicer mandolins: a Michael Kelly F style and four KM-150s.

My most awesome dream music room is finally complete! I posted pictures on my Facebook page and made it public so even if you're not on FB, you can still view them.

It took me four years of fund raising and grant getting and voting in contests, but I now have everything I've ever dreamed of in a music room for teaching kids. Please check it out and enjoy! I do every day. Slide me a friend request also if you like.

https://www.facebook.com/Tillmanator...28?pnref=story

[BrianWilliam]

Congratulations! I dig the paint job on the back wall.

[Mando_Lynn]

Congratulations! I dig the paint job on the back wall.

Thanks! The art teacher and I did that over the summer.

[red7flag]

Lynn, Great vibe to the room. Feels like it would be a great place to share music.

[Mando_Lynn]

Lynn, Great vibe to the room. Feels like it would be a great place to share music.

Thanks! It is :-) Kids are always in there in the mornings looking up chords and lyrics to their favorite pop songs or old ones that I've taught them and they form their own little bands on different instruments.

[Mandoplumb]

Lynn you've put in a lot of effort to teach a bunch of kids something they can enjoy the rest of their lives. In 50 years when all those sport nuts can only watch and remember how they used to be. Your pupils will be playing their best and enjoying it more. Thank you for what you do.

[catmandu2]

Great room - congrats! You must be the acoustic/or some-such teacher - there must be another room where they do the tech stuff. That's great to have an acoustic program! What grade?

Edit - now that I look closer at the pics I'm guessing it's more than "acoustic" music program - probably plenty of rock stuff - as in my kids' schools...(rock being the magic elixir of youth that it is )

It was for me in middle school too - although we didn't have a dedicated space - such as your wonderful accomplishment. Your kids must love it!

[Steve Lavelle]

Looks like a nicely organized space. How is the sound in the room? I ask because I see that there is carpet on the floor and tiles on the ceiling, but all the wall space that is exposed is concrete block, and that might mean a lot of sound bouncing around, or a very "live" room. Putting absorbent materials on part of two adjacent walls would probably help with that.

[F-2 Dave]

That is awesome Lynn. Your kids are lucky to have a resource like that. They're also lucky to have a teacher who cares enough to share the gift of music with them like you do.

[Brian Sullivan]

Great job Lynn! That room looks like a lot of fun. Wish I had a place like that to learn when I was a kid. Keep up the good work. Also, I'd love to hear more about what you're doing with your students. I'm finishing up a PhD in music education and am always looking to hear how folks are incorporating folk/rock/hip-hop/etc. (so-called "vernacular" music) in their school curriculum.

[Mando_Lynn]

Great room - congrats! You must be the acoustic/or some-such teacher - there must be another room where they do the tech stuff. That's great to have an acoustic program! What grade?

Edit - now that I look closer at the pics I'm guessing it's more than "acoustic" music program - probably plenty of rock stuff - as in my kids' schools...(rock being the magic elixir of youth that it is )

It was for me in middle school too - although we didn't have a dedicated space - such as your wonderful accomplishment. Your kids must love it!

I teach k-5. And we do a bit of everything. I have a group that does rock and another that does bluegrass/country. And I have a mallet/percussion group that does things like Herbie Hancock's Rockit and Henry Mancini Baby Elephant Walk. I only have electric basses. Trying to find a good price on a 3/4 or 1/2 size upright. I'm not there yet....

[Mando_Lynn]

Looks like a nicely organized space. How is the sound in the room? I ask because I see that there is carpet on the floor and tiles on the ceiling, but all the wall space that is exposed is concrete block, and that might mean a lot of sound bouncing around, or a very "live" room. Putting absorbent materials on part of two adjacent walls would probably help with that.

It's pretty loud. I use brushes rather than sticks and hands on all the drums. Helps cut down on the sound. I asked the fire marshall about acoustic tiles for sound and he said NO NO NO. Fire hazzard. They're really picky about stuff like that in schools.

[Mando_Lynn]

Great job Lynn! That room looks like a lot of fun. Wish I had a place like that to learn when I was a kid. Keep up the good work. Also, I'd love to hear more about what you're doing with your students. I'm finishing up a PhD in music education and am always looking to hear how folks are incorporating folk/rock/hip-hop/etc. (so-called "vernacular" music) in their school curriculum.

I've been teaching so long I don't "incorporate" anything. I just do what the heck I want and totally ignore the curriculum. LOL! When you're good at it and an established teacher, NO ONE cares or bugs you as long as you have something exciting to present when the big wigs come touring the school. And I do! Two weeks ago when some stuffed shirts came by, the principal brought them by my room and we did "Good Vibrations" with 3 part harmony AND the Theremin part. Yes, I also have a Theremin! And one of my small groups did Low Rider. They were blown away! I'm PM-ing you my email. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have or to bounce around some ideas.

[catmandu2]

I teach k-5. And we do a bit of everything. I have a group that does rock and another that does bluegrass/country. And I have a mallet/percussion group that does things like Herbie Hancock's Rockit and Henry Mancini Baby Elephant Walk. I only have electric basses. Trying to find a good price on a 3/4 or 1/2 size upright. I'm not there yet....

Wonderful.

[Randi Gormley]

What a great room! Congrats to you and your students!

[catmandu2]

I'm finishing up a PhD in music education and am always looking to hear how folks are incorporating folk/rock/hip-hop/etc. (so-called "vernacular" music) in their school curriculum.

I'm interested in this. My kids were going to attend a Montessori-style school where the principal asked if I would provide a program of instruction that essentially catered to each student's resources and predilections - eschewing a "uniform" approach (such as you would find in regular public school). We ended up relocating so I didnt get the chance to - but it would have been an interesting and challenging experience: to bring such diverse instruments, styles, and abilities together in some form. For example, my son loves to improvise on guhzeng (as in my avatar) - and also works out melodies, figures, and technical exercises. Other kids enjoy squeezing on my concertinas and small button boxes. Combining these and others with traditional band and orchestra instruments would have offered up quite a blend : )

[Al Trujillo]

You're obviously a teacher who knows how to inspire children! We need more like you...congrats on all the instruments, the room (love the back wall!)...and the door.

[Mando_Lynn]

You're obviously a teacher who knows how to inspire children! We need more like you...congrats on all the instruments, the room (love the back wall!)...and the door.

Thanks! When I taught in Miami (for 21 years) my music room was a free standing separate building from the rest of the school, so my door was exposed to the elements. Now I'm in a hallway and I can sticker up my door! Been waiting for years to do that :-)

There's only one picture indicative of my light show but I actually have two disco balls on either side of my riser stage and two wall wash lights that can be controlled by kids using the remote on either side of the instrument stage. It's a big hit! I usually just leave them running. It seems to mesmerize the kids and keep them focused. Weird I know...

[catmandu2]

There's only one picture indicative of my light show but I actually have two disco balls on either side of my riser stage and two wall wash lights that can be controlled by kids using the remote on either side of the instrument stage. It's a big hit! I usually just leave them running. It seems to mesmerize the kids and keep them focused. Weird I know...

The visual element is huge with kids - theyre apt to integrate elements and aspects by nature. This of course is one reason why the hip-hop vernacular is so prominent - as it combines several popular elements. Ever check out the "club" room at guitar center? : )

Multi-media is our kids' stock in trade.

Also, some kids (such as those with spectrum 'disorder' issues) will really respond to these aspects. Im talking now with a program providing for students with these typical challenges - and thinking how to implement this "montessori"-style approach. I imagine it will incorporate plenty of non-traditional/non-formal elements -

[Sweetpea44]

Job well done Lynn! Those children are certainly lucky to have such an engaging teacher!

[Nigel Gatherer]

Thanks for sharing those photos - you've done a great job all together, and you should be proud of yourself. Next project? Engaging with the local community?

[DHopkins]

Great job!!

My dream room is finished, too. It just so happens it belongs to Vince Gill, though.

[CWRoyds]

Yea!!!!
That is amazing.
I wish my school had a room set up like this.
I love that you have a nice selection of acoustic and electric instruments, and a lot of rhythm instruments the allow those who can't play a string instrument to bang along and experience playing music.
Love the wall with all the guitars and basses, each with an amp.
Really really really really great.
Thanks for all the work you put in.
Your kids are very lucky.