
May 2011 - I finally graduated with my bachelor degree in music (on the flute) from Boise State. And I did it with a 1 year old and a 3 year old. I am proud to say that I persevered through it with my 2 boys, and hopefully it will teach them that it is possible to get through school with little kids. Some of the hardest times were:
- when Spencer was first born - he was born august 22 - then the semester started a week later.
- the semester I was pregnant with Parker - taking almost 15 credits being extremely pregnant with really high blood pressure and also dealing with a 2 year old.
- And then this last semester was hard, doing my senior project with 2 kids - one who is 3 and the other who just turned one (at the end of the semester).
Neither kid is content, and both hate it when I try to practice - if I'm playing my flute, that means that I am not playing with them. But I did it, thank you very much:)

I was planning on starting a master's program in the fall in Flute pedagogy (pedagogy is the art of teaching),basically specializing in teaching someone how to play the flute - but BSU only has pedagogy programs in piano and voice. After a few weeks of battling it out, my professor and I couldn't change the program. So we spent my last year really studying flute pedagogy. I don't have the time to get a master's in performance or else I would do that. Performance majors need at least 3+ hours a day to practice, and I am lucky if the boys let me practice for 10 minutes.Plus I would need time to be in all of the ensembles (orchestra/band), plus do a master's assistantship program, and a thesis. Throughout my entire bachelor degree, I practiced in 5-10 minute increments, and did homework at night, so I wouldn't neglect the boys. And there is no way that I can do everything a master's would entail at night. When the boys are older I plan to go back and take all of the education credits, so I can teach elementary music, or band - but for now I plan on teaching private lessons.



The beautiful wood music stand my parents gave me for graduation

My amazing flute professor - Dr. Nicole Molumby

Myself and fellow flutist Sarah Goodenow

Trying to be festive...too much? Maybe I should have asked the duplex:)

BSU flute studio (minus 1)

BSU flute choir: Christmas concert 2010

BSU flute students, plus honor high school flute choir - with the one and only Dr. Angeleita Floyd (world renown flutist) She is on the far left side, and I'm standing right next to her:) The picture was too far away to crop everyone else out:)

My flute literature and pedagogy class, having class (and breakfast) at Elmer's Restaurant