Being kind to yourself

This summer has been, well, interesting.  I had a job list that was two typed pages long....and I still have a job list that is two typed pages long.  All my "goals" got put on the back burner when my body decided to shut down.  While attending the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Convention in Burlington, I ended up in the hospital with internal bleeding.  5 days and 1 blood transfusion later, I returned home to Brockville with an extremely low hemoglobin level and no energy.  Trust me, spending a holiday in the hospital is no picnic.  BUT, trying to be kind to myself and allow my body to heal is even harder. 

I love being focussed.  I love my job.  Theory, teaching and communicating with other teachers is my passion.  Not having the energy, stamina, strength or ability to focus on my passion is demoralizing. 

I have been surrounded by facebook and yahoo group friends who have continued to remind me to be kind to myself, to take time to allow my body to heal, and to just throw the job list out the window.  They still are not sure where the bleeding was happening, or why it was happening....so I have several Doctor's and Specialist appointments lined up.

In keeping my words of wisdom from my net friends in mind, I am not going to apologize for not being up-to-date with my blogging!  I am going to trust that if you are reading this, you understand that my journey as a teacher, editor, mother, wife and friend is what it is....and that I am just doing the best that I can!

Today I am going to be kind to myself.  I am going to stop when I need to.  I am going to nap when I need to.  I am going to do what I can at the speed that my body can handle.  And I am going to continue to thank God that I am alive and that I have friends and family who love and accept me.

Thanks Mom

Tonight as I sit here and reflect on Day #1 of the Ultimate Music Theory Certification course here in Burlington (Ontario), I really should say a great big thank you to my mom.  My mother, Loretta U'Ren-Kivinen was my piano and theory teacher.  I was really lucky as she reinforced all aspects of music - practical, ear, sight, technique AND theory.  She pushed me to keep on learning and growing as a musician, especially when my carpal tunnel made it painful to practice.  That allowed me to focus myself on theory instead of playing.  So many teachers today did not have the good fortune of a full-rounded musical education.  And, as is life, we do what we know.  This has resulted in a number of amazing piano teachers not being comfortable teaching theory AND not realizing the importance of a strong foundation in theory.  So, theory gets left out, or is introduced only when it becomes necessary to get the theory co-requisite for a piano/voice examination. 

Even though I am going to be 50 this year, I know that I have NOT stopped learning.  Neither has my mother.  She is going to be 70 years old this year, and she continues to take courses at our local College for a degree in Fine Arts.

Teachers - NEVER stop learning!!!  I challenge you to pick up a set of Ultimate Music Theory Books and start working through them.  If you don't learn anything new, then at least you will have refreshed those theory concepts.  But.....I truly believe that you will be excited by what you didn't know that you didn't know!!!  You CAN become "that teacher" like my mom, who stressed the importance of being a musician, not just a person who could play the piano.

Thanks mom.

Anticipating the beginning of the UMT Certification Course

I am so excited, I can't fall asleep.  Tomorrow, well....later today....I will be helping Glory as she presents Day #1 of the 3 Day Ultimate Music Theory Certification Course.  We traveled this morning from Brockville to Burlington (with a little pit stop for some Dim Sum in Scarborough) and then spent several hours setting up for the course.  17 teachers will be participating.  I will get to "meet" some online friends and I hope to make some new teaching friends as well.  Supporting teachers as they build their theory teaching foundation is very VERY important to me.  SO....I guess that I should head to bed so that I can be awake throughout Day #1 of the UMTC!  Good night and God Bless!

My First Post!

Hello and welcome to my very first blog!  My name is Shelagh McKibbon.  "Shelagh" is pronounced like "Sheila" and "McKibbon" is pronounced like "Mick-kib-bon" (not McGibbon).

I am the Editor and Communications Director for the Ultimate Music Theory Series, an amazing theory series created by Glory St. Germain.

I also have my own private teaching studio in Brockville, Ontario.  I teach Piano, Theory, Voice, History and Harmony.

I have been married to Scott for over 27 years.  We have 2 children and have fostered over 100 children.

I look forward to sharing about Ultimate Music Theory, my own teaching, my thoughts and ideas, and about my life as a writer, a composer, a teacher, a wife, a mother and a foster mother.

Thanks for reading!