Family – Ed Castro's Blog

Teaching Orchestra and Band in a Digital Space: Day 10

Routine & Balance After ten days of teaching remotely, plus a week of keeping track of assignments the week before, while preparing to be a virtual teacher, this thing we now think of as remote teaching, is starting to feel routine. Teaching from my makeshift home office is starting to feel almost normal too. In…
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My Old Notebooks

I usually carry a notebook in my backpack. It’s become a habit for me to just pull it out and jot down what’s on my mind or notes from a meeting, chord progressions, tone rows…anything I need to put on paper. Sometimes I may even take a moment to review a notebook from its first…
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It’s Been A While…

It’s been a long time since my last post, so I feel the need to add something new. However, the something new feels like it will be a combination to things that have been on my mind since November. There are personal thing and other ideas and feeling related to music or teaching. I guess…
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Appreciation, Hip Hop and Fatherhood

As a musician and a teacher, I have had the pleasure to be a part of many cool moments of discovery. This even happens with my daughter sometimes. I still remember with pride when I asked her “Can I Kick It” and she replied (appropriately) “Yes You Can”. Thank you, Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed and Jarobi for…
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Playing Games

I’m sitting here watching my kid play with her friend and I start to reflect on what winter breaks of the past. Winter break has always been tricky for me, like my kid I need a structured day. Work tends to give me the grounding I need, a task list or a deadline gives my day order.…
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Contact

The other day I talked with my uncle over the phone. We joked around and laughed at each other for being too serious. I guess that’s just where I’m at these days. With social media making it possible for friends to stay in touch, I forgot what it was like to actually talk to my friends…
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Podcasts and Eddie Huang

There are times when I feel I’m getting too much of something. Lately, it’s been, a lot of Eddie Huang. Everywhere I turn I see or hear him. He’s everywhere and I kinda like it. Recently I listened to an NPR podcast called What’s Good with Stretch and Bobbito. The topics have been broader than I…
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The things students do

The past four weeks have been quite difficult for me. I had to take a significant amount of time away from my day job as a middle school music teacher to care for my father. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about that as I continue to cope with losing him. However with all…
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Coping with first day of 1st grade

My breathing becomes labored, I don’t know what to do with my hands. By the time I get to my car, I’ve got several tears rolling down my face. Luckily it’s raining…so if anyone saw me they might think it was just the rain. It’s 9:30 in the morning on the first day of first…
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Planets from my house part 6

My night started off with thoughts of jazz and beer. Brother Thelonious is great for both. Eventually I stayed up long enough to keep up with my latest hobby… Looking up. My kid calls Jupiter “daddy’s planet”, which lets me know the level of my geek is strong. This may potentially be the last time…
Read more: Planets from my house part 6

Tag: Family