I AM SO FUCKING PISSED OFF AND NO ONE CAN HELP!!

[Kuja]

I'll give you 10-to-1 odds that the reason this kid's being as big an ass as he is is because you're his teacher, and he has a crush on you.

Bullshit. I had a crush on one of my music teachers and I didn't treat her like shit.

[Kuja]

Hi. I'm having a shitty day. Just need to let off some steam... I started to over in the clubhouse, but I need to list out in detail (just to make myself feel better) why I'm so pissed right now.

1) I'm ready to kill my kids. Some of the ones I've been teaching for YEARS have started to act like pricks over the past months because there's some pissant little hotshot kid who thinks he can boss me around because he doesn't have to listen to a chick percussionist because obviously I'm inferior to him. How can a girl play drums? Anyway, some of the good ones have gotten swept up with this kid and I want to hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt him. Today they gave me fucking lip and banded together like idiots, so I tore them apart but am still so fucking hurt that these good kids have turned to the dark side.

Zaia, some kids are just jackasses and you have to put them in their place. I knew one guy who wasn't well behaved, and when the directors cut him slack, he just got worse. Then, they clamped down, and he sobered up REALLY fast. Remind this little shit that YOU HAVE THE POWER HERE. If he doesn't shape up, either report him to a higher band director, or give him a zero in one of his lessons (or both). Beleive me, this WORKS. Our band directors threatened zeros if you didn't listen, and when people ignored the threats, BOY WERE THEY SORRY when five-week reports came out. Just remember, you are the teacher, and you have a lot more resources than this little punk.

As for the other kids, well, band kids are nuts and tend to get rowdy at the drop of a hat. (of course, you probably know this already) Just give the ringleader what for, and the rest should fall in line.

2) Some people have been taking advantage of me lately and use me to vent about their problems and then never fucking ask me how I'M doing, because who the fuck cares about that? They just care about themselves and what I can do to make their life easier. Fuck that. Fuck them. I don't need them; I don't need anyone.

Egotists. When I meet someone like that, I drop them at the first sign, and I've never regretted it.

3) The guy I'm currently interested in seems to be only distantly aware that I am alive. Ok, so I exaggerate a bit, but things aren't going as well as I thought they were only a day or so ago...

ARRRRGH! I know how frustrating this can be! Well, you never know, tomorrow might be better.

4) This fucking piece of shit program called 'Finale' for music notation is totally SCREWING UP MY FUCKING BRASS ENSEMBLE PIECE AND IT'S CHEWED UP HOURS OF MY TIME SO FAR AND I HAVEN'T MADE ANY PROGRESS ON IT AT ALL!! And I can't even ask anyone for help because no one around here uses Finale, and my friend Jon who happens to be online now tried to help me but it's being all stupid and glitchy and it's not letting me do what I need to do and I'm just really amazingly FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW!!!!

I'm not big on the music programs, so all I can say is hope you can get the little POS working.

I'm having trouble controlling the VOLUME OF MY VOICE, can you tell? *half smile*

Anyway, I'm pissed off. It's probably best if no one even responds to this, because if you say, 'Oh, I'm so sorry, doesn't that suck,' I'll probably just bite your head off right now anyway.... Not for any reason, just because I'm a bitch right now.

*hugs*

Everyone has good days and bad days, and venting once in a while can do you good. Good luck with what I suggested, and most of all: HAVE A NICE DAY!

[Kelly Antilles]

I'll give you 10-to-1 odds that the reason this kid's being as big an ass as he is is because you're his teacher, and he has a crush on you.

You don't know musicians very well. He's being an ass because he's a percussionist. Percussionists (no offense Z) think they are the be all/end all of the band/orchestra. They just need to be put in their place.

Oooh, another idea, Z. Play lost of music WITHOUT percussion!

[Durandal]

I'll give you 10-to-1 odds that the reason this kid's being as big an ass as he is is because you're his teacher, and he has a crush on you.

Bullshit. I had a crush on one of my music teachers and I didn't treat her like shit.

I had a crush on one of my TA's, and I didn't treat her like shit either, but everyone acts differently. Arrogant drummer types love attention, since they're always the ones near the back of the stage while the rest of the band is up front. This kid knows he could never land Our Fair Lady in a million years, so he just wants to get her attention.

[Kuja]

Bullshit. I had a crush on one of my music teachers and I didn't treat her like shit.

I had a crush on one of my TA's, and I didn't treat her like shit either, but everyone acts differently. Arrogant drummer types love attention, since they're always the ones near the back of the stage while the rest of the band is up front. This kid knows he could never land Our Fair Lady in a million years, so he just wants to get her attention.

If this kid has a crush on Zaia and chooses this way to get her attention, then he's got his head so far up his ass, daylight's a myth to him.

[Durandal]

Bullshit. I had a crush on one of my music teachers and I didn't treat her like shit.

I had a crush on one of my TA's, and I didn't treat her like shit either, but everyone acts differently. Arrogant drummer types love attention, since they're always the ones near the back of the stage while the rest of the band is up front. This kid knows he could never land Our Fair Lady in a million years, so he just wants to get her attention.

If this kid has a crush on Zaia and chooses this way to get her attention, then he's got his head so far up his ass, daylight's a myth to him.

Well duh. Most arrogant assholes do have their heads up their asses.

[haas mark]

eeep... and get rid of Finale. Get NoteWorthy Composer.

[Vertigo1]

Z, here's what you can do.

Tell him to drop em and put his nuts on the snare drum....then play the shit out of that drum and occasionally come dangerously close to hitting his nuts. If he gets confident, nail em once or twice.

[Rob Wilson]

Hi. I'm having a shitty day. Just need to let off some steam... I started to over in the clubhouse, but I need to list out in detail (just to make myself feel better) why I'm so pissed right now.

1) I'm ready to kill my kids. Some of the ones I've been teaching for YEARS have started to act like pricks over the past months because there's some pissant little hotshot kid who thinks he can boss me around because he doesn't have to listen to a chick percussionist because obviously I'm inferior to him. How can a girl play drums? Anyway, some of the good ones have gotten swept up with this kid and I want to hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt him. Today they gave me fucking lip and banded together like idiots, so I tore them apart but am still so fucking hurt that these good kids have turned to the dark side.

Next time he says anything assinine : "So you feel I'm not good enough to teach you the drums? *beat* "Well that's easily sorted, you now play the triangle! And you will continue to play that instrument until you are comfortable with my ability to teach you the drums, Understood?" Take out a Triangle and place it on his desk (remember this is not a bluff.)
Ignore anything he says and address the class "Does anyone else here think I am not good enough to tach them their present instruments? As I'm sure I can arrange a reshuffle of current assignments. [A] how about you start on [Instrument A hates]?" (remember you are not bluffing so have new instrument assignments preplanned)
Turn back to troublemaker "Lesson one on the triangle, you make the irritating, tinny noise with the instrument in time to the correct music, not with your mouth. If you want the drums back all you have to do is say that you want me to teach you the drums. Do you? *beat* "Say it!"

If he refuses, simply keep him on the triangle and that's that. Remember, don't bluff, don't rant - Act and keep to that action.

2) Some people have been taking advantage of me lately and use me to vent about their problems and then never fucking ask me how I'M doing, because who the fuck cares about that? They just care about themselves and what I can do to make their life easier. Fuck that. Fuck them. I don't need them; I don't need anyone.

Are you sure you don't need a hug? Well tough I'm giving them away to deserving people today and you don't have a choice.
*Hugs Zaia*

3) The guy I'm currently interested in seems to be only distantly aware that I am alive. Ok, so I exaggerate a bit, but things aren't going as well as I thought they were only a day or so ago...

Then set aside some time with him and find out where things are at. With guys subtlety gets you nowhere, be direct and find out if he's interested, the sooner you know the sooner you can move on or more hopefully move things up a notch.

Anyway, I'm pissed off. It's probably best if no one even responds to this, because if you say, 'Oh, I'm so sorry, doesn't that suck,' I'll probably just bite your head off right now anyway.... Not for any reason, just because I'm a bitch right now.

Hey, you need someone to yell at, my PM button's right down there. Click it and yell if it'll make you feel better.

[jegs2]

I'll give you 10-to-1 odds that the reason this kid's being as big an ass as he is is because you're his teacher, and he has a crush on you.

Bullshit. I had a crush on one of my music teachers and I didn't treat her like shit.

Hate to say it, but he has a point. As a boy, I tended to annoy the females I liked, and that most often backfired. For example, one girl I liked, I annoyed so much that she threw a desk (yes, I said a desk) at my head, did not miss, and I had to go in for stitches. That experience didn't change my boyish tactics though. I later liked another girl and annoyed her to the point that she beat the tar out of me (I was the smallest kid in 6th grade, including girls). Later that same year, I had a crush on a teacher, so I placed a rubber, severed-hand (complete with fake blood) on her shoulder, and it fell into her purse, causing her to emit an inhuman screech. The bottom-line is that boys (younger and teens) are discovering that they like girls, and it's a strange transition, for they used to think of females as gross. So they don't know how to act, but they do know how to get their attention, be it negative or otherwise -- for negative attention is still attention...

[The Dark]

I'll give you 10-to-1 odds that the reason this kid's being as big an ass as he is is because you're his teacher, and he has a crush on you.

You don't know musicians very well. He's being an ass because he's a percussionist. Percussionists (no offense Z) think they are the be all/end all of the band/orchestra.

Not all of us. I was a very content mallet player. Our drumline just hated the main director because he tended to give us music the day OF the concert and expect us to sight-read for parents. Although the old drummers (two years ahead of me) did fit into the b.a./e.a. syndrome, since their director was cocky (he left after my frosh year). The new guy had learned from Bret Kuhn, and after he kicked out the two slackers in the first month, the rest of us became much better. We were still insular, didn't associate much with the rest of the band, but it was a mutual thing (we practiced twice as much as they did, and got pissy whenever they bitched about having to attend practice when we'd already been there for a couple hours).

They just need to be put in their place.

These guys definitely need to be put into their place. Percussion needs the most mature people, because they're the ones who can screw things up the easiest other than soloists. One third trumpet plays a beat late, it just sounds like a bad chord. One snare drummer plays a beat late, half the band gets lost.

Oooh, another idea, Z. Play lost of music WITHOUT percussion!

Mariachi. There's no percussion in mariachi. Or do medieval music. No percussions scores have survived from that era, so you can go for "historical accuracy." I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of any off the top of my head.

[Next of Kin]

What about calling the parent's of these kids and stirring the pot at home? That would be one feasible way of getting back at 'em.

[The Dark]

What about calling the parent's of these kids and stirring the pot at home? That would be one feasible way of getting back at 'em.

Most likely the parents don't care. Most troublemaking kids, in my experience, don't get enough attention from parents at home and cause trouble in order to get attention from their teachers the only way they know how. As weird as it sounds, their troublemaking is a plea for help in ending their loneliness. Although there really are a few stinkers who cause trouble just because they can, and in that case stirring the pot might help.

[Durandal]

I'll give you 10-to-1 odds that the reason this kid's being as big an ass as he is is because you're his teacher, and he has a crush on you.

Bullshit. I had a crush on one of my music teachers and I didn't treat her like shit.

Hate to say it, but he has a point. As a boy, I tended to annoy the females I liked, and that most often backfired. For example, one girl I liked, I annoyed so much that she threw a desk (yes, I said a desk) at my head, did not miss, and I had to go in for stitches. That experience didn't change my boyish tactics though. I later liked another girl and annoyed her to the point that she beat the tar out of me (I was the smallest kid in 6th grade, including girls). Later that same year, I had a crush on a teacher, so I placed a rubber, severed-hand (complete with fake blood) on her shoulder, and it fell into her purse, causing her to emit an inhuman screech. The bottom-line is that boys (younger and teens) are discovering that they like girls, and it's a strange transition, for they used to think of females as gross. So they don't know how to act, but they do know how to get their attention, be it negative or otherwise -- for negative attention is still attention...

It works the other way around, as well. I knew a girl who almost certainly had the hots for me all throughout middle school and high school, and I thought she was an annoying bitch because she'd always give me shit about one thing or another. So, we'd basically just fling large amounts of shit at each other in middle school. Then she started being really nice to me in high school, but I was essentially too stupid to see it. I still thought she was a self-absorbed bitch.

I 0wned her in middle school though. We were doing some sort of activity where we had to pass along songs we wanted other students to sing, so I told her to sing "If I Only Had a Brain." That little stunt vaulted me ahead.

And don't kid yourself, I'm still an asshole around girls I like. Whenever there's an opportunity go say something insulting, crude, sarcastic or cynical, I grab it by the horns. Flirting is fun, but predictable.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Oh shit

:Hugs baby demoness:

ok, relax, have some wine, blow of some steam...

[Shadowhawk]

Show him up in class, Zaia. Have a little drum competition. Improvise, jam with some of the other students, play some famous complicated piece...

The good kids who went over to the dark side may very well drop the asshole at the curb when you stomp him.

[Connor MacLeod]

I had a crush on one of my TA's, and I didn't treat her like shit either, but everyone acts differently. Arrogant drummer types love attention, since they're always the ones near the back of the stage while the rest of the band is up front. This kid knows he could never land Our Fair Lady in a million years, so he just wants to get her attention.

If this kid has a crush on Zaia and chooses this way to get her attention, then he's got his head so far up his ass, daylight's a myth to him.

Well duh. Most arrogant assholes do have their heads up their asses.

That explains why your voice is so muffled when we talk

[Connor MacLeod]

Switch him from drums to the clarinet.

Fuck that. One of those pussy lil recorders we were forced to play in elementary school.

LOL

*strokes chin thoughtfully*

Hmmmmmm.................

Even better. Make him do a solo of a particularily complicated, long-winded, musical piece in front of a large audience.

[Durandal]

Well duh. Most arrogant assholes do have their heads up their asses.

That explains why your voice is so muffled when we talk

Very funny. You probably spent all day thinking that up, didn't you?

[Connor MacLeod]

Well duh. Most arrogant assholes do have their heads up their asses.

That explains why your voice is so muffled when we talk

Very funny. You probably spent all day thinking that up, didn't you?

Nope. Took at most a minute, since its so aptly applied to you

Couldn't you come up with a less cliched comeback?

[Durandal]

That explains why your voice is so muffled when we talk

Very funny. You probably spent all day thinking that up, didn't you?

Nope. Took at most a minute, since its so aptly applied to you

Couldn't you come up with a less cliched comeback?

I'm stoned; did you expect something witty?

[Zaia]

Ok, where to begin....?

1) I have already wasted some of my extremely valuable rehearsal time demonstrating how I play leaps and bounds better than him, and he is still insistent about how I obviously am inferior due to my sex. It's not that I haven't tried; he just won't accept it. And I won't give up any more of my practice time to indulge him and his delusions.

2) If I play music without percussion, not only will that be a poor reflection on me as a teacher for punishing the other kids for this one kid's behaviour, but it will also make the entire ensemble suffer because an entire section will be missing. Besides, do you think they'd be easier to control if they had nothing to work on? They'd be insane every single day! It's be a free-for-all! There's absolutely no way, because the fact that in order to prepare for the District and State Band Festivals, all the pieces have to meet certain criteria, one of which being that all sections get utilized.

3) If I was to punish this punk by saying, 'You have to play the triangle until I break you,' that turns playing the triangle into a punishment. I can't make some percussion instruments rewards and others punishments (besides the fact that it isn't as easy as it looks, if you play it correctly, anyway). Not to mention the fact that sometimes the accessory parts are more challenging than other parts like snare drum or tympani.

4) Of course I've tried talking to his parents; they think he's a hilarious kid who everyone just takes too seriously. It's 'just Dave,' that's all. His parents think he's got so much talent that he shouldn't be expected to keep the same rules as everyone else, so when I talk to them about him, they accept the fact that he's constantly in trouble because I 'misunderstand' him and all his greatness. Yes, the kid has some raw talent, but if he doesnt learn to shut the fuck up and listen to what people have to teach him, he's never going to go anywhere. Only just today did I talk to his mother, and she said, 'Just think, a few years down the road when Dave's famous and you can say 'I knew that kid back when...'' I physically had to bite my lip to keep from laughing in her face; in the real world, if you have a professional playing gig and you say one word more than necessary, you're fucking tossed out, in the middle of a phrase if need be. Dave isn't going to be famous until he learns to shut his hole, and I don't see that day coming around anytime soon.

5) Yes, his grade is affected by his antics. I've actually been getting shit from my administrators because I had kids getting D's and F's in band because I held onto my grading rubric that I handed out at the beginning of the year. The thing that says, 'If you do this, this and this, you get an A. If you do this and this, you get...' Yeah. Too many kids think they can fuck around during band because it's a bullshit class. Well, it's not like that in my class. They have to earn their fucking A.

6) This kid requires attention from everyone, all the time. The only way I'm special in this is because he makes a point to give me hard time about the fact that I'm a chick and I do what he does, only better. I don't think he's got a crush on me, I think I threaten him and he doesn't know what to do about it.

7) Giving him a solo would enable him to show off AND would tell his parents that I think he deserves a solo. He most definitely does NOT.

I don't let my kids choose their parts; I choose them. If I let them choose their own parts, they would never learn any new instruments because they're all pussified little shits with no balls.

Hmmm, that's all I can think of for right now.... Today was better, but only because I went into it knowing that it couldn't be any worse. And as much as it may suck right now, Finale is what my original arrangement is on, so no matter what you guys may suggest I change it to, I need to figure it out on Finale. There no fucking way I'm re-entering it all into another program...

Oh yeah. Hope y'all had a lovely Valentine's Day.

[Connor MacLeod]

Very funny. You probably spent all day thinking that up, didn't you?

Nope. Took at most a minute, since its so aptly applied to you

Couldn't you come up with a less cliched comeback?

I'm stoned; did you expect something witty?

I don't expect witty from you when you're sober

[Connor MacLeod]

Ok, where to begin....?

1) I have already wasted some of my extremely valuable rehearsal time demonstrating how I play leaps and bounds better than him, and he is still insistent about how I obviously am inferior due to my sex. It's not that I haven't tried; he just won't accept it. And I won't give up any more of my practice time to indulge him and his delusions.

Wall of Ignorance. Anyone who has dealt with the WCOTC can tell you how impossible it is to reason with a racist/sexist.

Probably had to be done, but its rather obvious he's operating under his own delusional belief.

2) If I play music without percussion, not only will that be a poor reflection on me as a teacher for punishing the other kids for this one kid's behaviour, but it will also make the entire ensemble suffer because an entire section will be missing. Besides, do you think they'd be easier to control if they had nothing to work on? They'd be insane every single day! It's be a free-for-all! There's absolutely no way, because the fact that in order to prepare for the District and State Band Festivals, all the pieces have to meet certain criteria, one of which being that all sections get utilized.

Have you thought about talking to the principal or other faculty? I mean, if this student is giving you trouble, might there be other female teachers he is giving grief to? If so, then you might be able to get something done as a group.

And if not that, There's still the recorder.

3) If I was to punish this punk by saying, 'You have to play the triangle until I break you,' that turns playing the triangle into a punishment. I can't make some percussion instruments rewards and others punishments (besides the fact that it isn't as easy as it looks, if you play it correctly, anyway). Not to mention the fact that sometimes the accessory parts are more challenging than other parts like snare drum or tympani.

Two words: Accordion Polka.

4) Of course I've tried talking to his parents; they think he's a hilarious kid who everyone just takes too seriously. It's 'just Dave,' that's all. His parents think he's got so much talent that he shouldn't be expected to keep the same rules as everyone else, so when I talk to them about him, they accept the fact that he's constantly in trouble because I 'misunderstand' him and all his greatness. Yes, the kid has some raw talent, but if he doesnt learn to shut the fuck up and listen to what people have to teach him, he's never going to go anywhere. Only just today did I talk to his mother, and she said, 'Just think, a few years down the road when Dave's famous and you can say 'I knew that kid back when...'' I physically had to bite my lip to keep from laughing in her face; in the real world, if you have a professional playing gig and you say one word more than necessary, you're fucking tossed out, in the middle of a phrase if need be. Dave isn't going to be famous until he learns to shut his hole, and I don't see that day coming around anytime soon.

Hmm. Superiority complex and possible Megalomania. That might explain where he gets it from, if his parents are pushing/expecting him to be "great".. If he gets treated like a demigod at home, he no doubt expects others to treat him so (and would consequently look down on anyone who didnt meet his standards or perceptions.)

Again, looking into whether or not he has similar conflicts with other teachers (especially women) - and possibly other students, might be fruitful. Does he have many friends or is he in conflict with his peers often?

5) Yes, his grade is affected by his antics. I've actually been getting shit from my administrators because I had kids getting D's and F's in band because I held onto my grading rubric that I handed out at the beginning of the year. The thing that says, 'If you do this, this and this, you get an A. If you do this and this, you get...' Yeah. Too many kids think they can fuck around during band because it's a bullshit class. Well, it's not like that in my class. They have to earn their fucking A.

Got a choir class? Make him sing choir. Maybe you'll get lucky and he'll ge tmolested by a priest.

6) This kid requires attention from everyone, all the time. The only way I'm special in this is because he makes a point to give me hard time about the fact that I'm a chick and I do what he does, only better. I don't think he's got a crush on me, I think I threaten him and he doesn't know what to do about it.

According to what you said, he's probably got a superiority complex reinforced by his parents and probably feels a need to remind others of it.

Hmmm, that's all I can think of for right now.... Today was better, but only because I went into it knowing that it couldn't be any worse. And as much as it may suck right now, Finale is what my original arrangement is on, so no matter what you guys may suggest I change it to, I need to figure it out on Finale. There no fucking way I'm re-entering it all into another program...

Oh yeah. Hope y'all had a lovely Valentine's Day.

*hands Zaia a cookie*

[Darth Yoshi]

4) Of course I've tried talking to his parents; they think he's a hilarious kid who everyone just takes too seriously. It's 'just Dave,' that's all. His parents think he's got so much talent that he shouldn't be expected to keep the same rules as everyone else, so when I talk to them about him, they accept the fact that he's constantly in trouble because I 'misunderstand' him and all his greatness. Yes, the kid has some raw talent, but if he doesnt learn to shut the fuck up and listen to what people have to teach him, he's never going to go anywhere. Only just today did I talk to his mother, and she said, 'Just think, a few years down the road when Dave's famous and you can say 'I knew that kid back when...'' I physically had to bite my lip to keep from laughing in her face; in the real world, if you have a professional playing gig and you say one word more than necessary, you're fucking tossed out, in the middle of a phrase if need be. Dave isn't going to be famous until he learns to shut his hole, and I don't see that day coming around anytime soon.

Bummer. That means that the parent approach is out.

5) Yes, his grade is affected by his antics. I've actually been getting shit from my administrators because I had kids getting D's and F's in band because I held onto my grading rubric that I handed out at the beginning of the year. The thing that says, 'If you do this, this and this, you get an A. If you do this and this, you get...' Yeah. Too many kids think they can fuck around during band because it's a bullshit class. Well, it's not like that in my class. They have to earn their fucking A.

Well, you could hold him to higher standards than you normally would, citing his great talent . . .