Busy times. February 2017 brought the birth of my son Bryson Dewey Elrick. Since then it's been a whirlwind of being a new mom and getting a new job. We made it through the first semester with lots of help from people who love us.  Christmas happened. The packages were wrapped, I baked 12 dozen cookies, hosted a neighborhood cookie swap, decorated the tree, watched lots of old Christmas movies, I was even responsible for cooking dinner on Christmas Day but no, we didn't send Christmas cards. Sorry friends. Now, I'm applying for jobs (this one was temporary). I'm re-visiting my research interests, preparing for festivals and conferences, grading mock EdTPA exams and preparing syllabi for next semester. Oh, and my son at 10 mos old eats a full human meal every 2-3 hours. It takes him 30-60 mins to eat. Do the math. I have never done so much cooking. It's a different kind of GSD... 

I was told once that someone interested in hiring me asked a reference if I '...had a lot of energy..." I'm assuming that's because they knew I was a new mother and they wanted to know if I was up for the challenge of a full-time teaching job AND being a new mom at the same time. I would suggest that I have been able to fulfill all of my obligations as a professional and then some. It has nothing to do with energy and everything to do with time.  

Let's be honest...no matter who you are or what you are doing or what role in life you are playing, you probably feel as though you don't have enough time. Same here. I realized it's much more about recognizing what time you have (which is the same # of minute, hours, days as everyone else) organizing it in such a way that you are able to get done what you need to get done and take care of the people you need to take care of... especially yourself. If you can do that, you are winning. So the next time you wonder if a new mom 'has the energy' to do the job you do, the answer is hell yes. (#Halyes) We might take pause and prioritize various aspects of our lives and careers differently than you, but we will get the job done and you will love the work we do. 

It's been a big year for me. February 2016 I turned 40. That was the beginning. This spring saw presentations at NAfME, followed by the completion of my doctoral degree in Music Education from Teachers College Columbia University. Taking some time off with my partner, we traveled to France and England, attended the opening match of the Euro 2016 - France vs. Romania, visited friends and got engaged in his great grandfather's childhood village of Belleville, Sur-Saone.  In July I presented with some of my favorite colleagues at the Literacy Unbound Summer Institute at TC, then traveled to Glasgow, Scotland to present my dissertation research at this year's ISME conference. The rest of the summer was hot and busy, buying a new house, planning a wedding that took place on October 8, conducting choral festivals in Vermont, and oh- I am due with our baby on March 3, 2017.  

I am currently writing curriculum and managing content along with professional development courses for MusicFirst (www.musicfirst).  I am working on publications related to my dissertation research and plan to pursue my research interests in musical expression and music education pedagogies. I am never too busy for colleagues and students who wish to talk or work together on new projects so please reach out and let's get some more stuff done in 2017! 

I am honored to have been selected to present my completed dissertation research on Musical Expression in the Choral Classroom at this Spring's National Conference in Atlanta, GA.. I look forward to seeing many of you there and hope you can attend my session.