I dislike Christmas music. Eleven years of working for the evil toy store took much of my Christmas spirit. (And Christmas music... Burned out. So burned out.)
But when on the Wednesday before winter break during the other calculus class (the non AP one mentioned yesterday) a student started playing Christmas music via his phone, I let it pass. It wasn't too loud, and half the class was in the middle of a discussion about some anime show.
Some days are like that. It was a battle I wasn't in the mood to fight.
The girl in front of Scott wasn't so sanguine about it all, though. She told him that it was too loud. That perhaps he shouldn't by playing the music at all.
They were all the way across the room from me, in the opposite corner. And I heard all this. The room wasn't terribly loud even though everyone was talking. A fairly mellow day.
Scott replied that no one was complaining. He said it was days before Christmas and everyone wanted a bit of Christmas cheer.
The girl wasn't so sure. So, she started asking various classmates if the music was bothering them. After her fifth or sixth no, I figured it was time for me to jump in.
"Is the music bothering you?" I asked the girl.
Because I was totally ready to have that battle if she wanted the music off.
"No, it's fine," she said.
I rather doubt this. If she was actually fine with it, she wouldn't have started the conversation.
But that ended her questioning the rest of the class. And we were stuck listening to the Christmas music for the rest of the period. Well, I was stuck. I think the other students kind of tuned it all out.
I'm so with you, as my favorite Christmas standards now just become ear worms bothering me in the night. Sad. I did enjoy hearing a great Hendrix Christmas tune at My Favorite Muffin to meet local writers weeks ago. After that, however, it was back to headphones. Be well!
ReplyDeleteAt a certain point you've heard them all so much. But I seem to be in the minority IRL.
DeleteThat's why I don't listen to standard Christmas music either.
ReplyDeleteI thought only musicians got sick of Christmas music. (It's the busiest gig season for us, and we play a ton of the stuff!) Although I have to admit, I do like some of it.
ReplyDeleteSorry you didn't get a break from it that time.
My favorite Christmas piece is "Sleigh Ride" precisely because I played it in high school band. But that was over the course of four years, not eleven. I think that's the big difference.
DeleteWow why mention it if it wasn't bothering her? lol
ReplyDeleteEx. Act. Ly.
DeleteShe probably didn't want to say it was bothering her if it wasn't bothering anyone else.
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas music but I don’t listen to the typical stuff because I was raised by my German mom and my dad said he didn’t know Christmas until he met her. We have more the classical side but not opera. The Harry Simone Chorale ( my favourite is O Bambino) and I love German Christmas carols with the church bells. Ivan Rebroff has a great voice. I actually think it is nice that he liked to play it.
ReplyDeleteNow, that's the kind of Christmas music I could get behind :)
DeleteI like Christmas music, but I refuse to listen to it before Thanksgiving, and I’m happy the season ends before I get bored with it.
ReplyDeleteI suppose that's why it's tolerated. It's only a brief time.
DeleteI like Christmas music, but it always irritates me to have to listen to anything on someone else's phone. I just think it's kind of rude to play music or videos that other people end up being forced to listen to.
ReplyDeleteI totally get not being in the mood for certain battles some days.
Now, could you explain this to the kiddos? Because they don't seem to get this no matter how many different times and ways I try to explain.
DeleteI would chuckle, but my husband has worked in retail for, oh, going on 35 plus years, and he is so sick of Christmas music (and has been for years) that I don't dare play any in the house. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteTell him I'm sorry. I thought 11 years in retail was bad...
DeleteI should say "11 Christmas seasons of Christmas music". I didn't mean retail itself was bad...
DeleteI love Christmas music but there is a time and place for it. During class where it can bother others is not the place....I personally think cell phones should be banned at school.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the debate of our times...
DeleteOK, so I get the whole "ban phones" thing. But in some cases it's throwing the baby out with the bath water. And as cell phones aren't going anywhere any time soon, it's better for the kiddos to learn appropriate phone ettiquite while they're young.
There are times when having the phones is good. Teachers can send them assignments directly. Some days they use an app to check their grades. If there's a copy of something that for some reason I can't copy, they can take a pic of it for their reference. And they can look up things if needed.
So, good and bad. Banning them at this point is just short sighted, at least IMHO.
I have very mixed emotions about Christmas (and its music anymore). I love the holiday and what it's meant to represent, but a few decades of...stuff...has kind of left me feeling a bit hollow.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, I understand. 11 years of Season kicked a lot of Christmas spirit out of me. But there are other reasons why it might have some negative connotations. I'm sorry. Happy January :)
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ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I'm not the only one ;)
DeleteMaybe phones should be banned during class time. They are here in Australia as far as I know. I don't mind Christmas music but only at Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThey are, kinda. Teachers are allowed to use them at their discretion. Which translates to kiddos figuring they can use them with subs all the time.
DeleteNot sure what it is, but Christmas music is beginning to grate on me too. Kinda turned off by the commercialism of it all and the need for every artist to have their own variation. I turned to orchestrations instead and had a better time enjoying the holidays. :)
ReplyDeleteAh yes, every different interpretation that all begin to sound alike... Yeah, that annoys me, too.
DeleteAw that's too bad. I enjoy Christmas music especially when done by current artists. A nice mellow day is a plus at least.
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