An American ABC

ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary. Edited by JOHN DEFRANCIS. ABC Chinese Dictionary Series. Honolulu: UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I PRESS, 2003, 2009. Pp. 1464. $67. The ABC Dictionary, containing some 200,000 entries in fine print on thin paper, is the work of the late John DeFrancis (1911-2009) and of decades of selfless encouragement by Victor Mair. Thanks to electronic editions from Wenlin and Murage and other licensees, not to mention closely related materials found on free websites of all sorts, the ABC Dictionary and its contents are now the most widely distributed American dictionary of Chinese.

This beginner's book includes the finger spelled alphabet from A to Z and the fundamental signs for each letter in your child's first steps to learning sign language. 

Learn your ABCs with Jacob and Aaliyah.

This is the second book in the Jacob's Room: American Sign Language series.

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful 32 page 8.5” x 11” cover to cover book. 

Isaiah eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

Isaiah blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

Isaiah croons a song with a cow and a cat.

Isaiah dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

Isaiah eats eggs with an elephant.

Isaiah flops and hops with a friendly frog.

Isaiah gallops on a giant giraffe.

Isaiah has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

Isaiah is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

Isaiah juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

Isaiah kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

Isaiah licks a lollipop with a large lion.

Isaiah must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

Isaiah neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

Isaiah only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

Isaiah plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

Isaiah tries to sell the queen's quilts.

Isaiah races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

Isaiah makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

Isaiah tickles a tiger on its tummy.

Isaiah's up up and away under the umbrella.

Isaiah's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

Isaiah watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

Isaiah x-rays a fox and an ox.

Isaiah's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

Isaiah zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book Isaiah. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com.

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful 32 page 8.5” x 11” cover to cover book. 

Ethan eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

Ethan blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

Ethan croons a song with a cow and a cat.

Ethan dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

Ethan eats eggs with an elephant.

Ethan flops and hops with a friendly frog.

Ethan gallops on a giant giraffe.

Ethan has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

Ethan is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

Ethan juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

Ethan kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

Ethan licks a lollipop with a large lion.

Ethan must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

Ethan neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

Ethan only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

Ethan plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

Ethan tries to sell the queen's quilts.

Ethan races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

Ethan makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

Ethan tickles a tiger on its tummy.

Ethan's up up and away under the umbrella.

Ethan's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

Ethan watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

Ethan x-rays a fox and an ox.

Ethan's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

Ethan zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book Ethan. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com.

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful 32 page 8.5” x 11” cover to cover book. 

Gabriel eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

Gabriel blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

Gabriel croons a song with a cow and a cat.

Gabriel dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

Gabriel eats eggs with an elephant.

Gabriel flops and hops with a friendly frog.

Gabriel gallops on a giant giraffe.

Gabriel has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

Gabriel is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

Gabriel juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

Gabriel kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

Gabriel licks a lollipop with a large lion.

Gabriel must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

Gabriel neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

Gabriel only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

Gabriel plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

Gabriel tries to sell the queen's quilts.

Gabriel races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

Gabriel makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

Gabriel tickles a tiger on its tummy.

Gabriel's up up and away under the umbrella.

Gabriel's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

Gabriel watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

Gabriel x-rays a fox and an ox.

Gabriel's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

Gabriel zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book Gabriel. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com. 

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful 32 page 8.5” x 11” cover to cover book. 

Daniel eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

Daniel blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

Daniel croons a song with a cow and a cat.

Daniel dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

Daniel eats eggs with an elephant.

Daniel flops and hops with a friendly frog.

Daniel gallops on a giant giraffe.

Daniel has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

Daniel is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

Daniel juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

Daniel kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

Daniel licks a lollipop with a large lion.

Daniel must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

Daniel neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

Daniel only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

Daniel plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

Daniel tries to sell the queen's quilts.

Daniel races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

Daniel makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

Daniel tickles a tiger on its tummy.

Daniel's up up and away under the umbrella.

Daniel's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

Daniel watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

Daniel x-rays a fox and an ox.

Daniel's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

Daniel zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book Daniel. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com.

The first sixteen years of his life had been colorful and complicated. There had been easy times, but there were difficult ones as well, but all were integral stages in life. Now, author Kevin Y. Lu shares the insights to his life as an American Born Chinese in his newly published memoir, ABC. In eleven briefly written vignettes, the author encapsulated the interesting moments of his first sixteen years. Engaging, thoughtful, and candid, these quick glimpses of his life allow readers to also see the momentous milestones that led to his maturation. He describes how depressed he was in Broke at Age Three when his mother taught him the value and importance of money; how he felt after Cutting risk when his mother encouraged him, only six years old at that time, to use real cooking knives instead of just plastic knives; how dejected he was when his mother confiscated his Gameboy because he was unintentionally manipulating her trust; how wronged he felt when his teacher didnt appreciate his cleverly written Trumps Play; and how prescient he was when pondering the significance of awards; and how incorrect his original thoughts were about the divine power teachers have over their students. He turns to a more serious tone as he relates his work experience in the business world through real estate; and finally his international job experience which allowed him to understand the reasons for the differences between Americas and Australias economy. These and more await readers as they get to know the author through the pages of ABC. From simple childhood adventures to involvement in serious business, the life of this Asian American has been far more complex than even he had thought.

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful ABC book. 

Joseph eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

Joseph blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

Joseph croons a song with a cow and a cat.

Joseph dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

Joseph eats eggs with an elephant.

Joseph flops and hops with a friendly frog.

Joseph gallops on a giant giraffe.

Joseph has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

Joseph is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

Joseph juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

Joseph kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

Joseph licks a lollipop with a large lion.

Joseph must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

Joseph neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

Joseph only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

Joseph plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

Joseph tries to sell the queen's quilts.

Joseph races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

Joseph makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

Joseph tickles a tiger on its tummy.

Joseph's up up and away under the umbrella.

Joseph's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

Joseph watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

Joseph x-rays a fox and an ox.

Joseph's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

Joseph zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book Joseph. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com.

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful 28 page book. 

James eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

James blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

James croons a song with a cow and a cat.

James dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

James eats eggs with an elephant.

James flops and hops with a friendly frog.

James gallops on a giant giraffe.

James has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

James is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

James juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

James kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

James licks a lollipop with a large lion.

James must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

James neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

James only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

James plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

James tries to sell the queen's quilts.

James races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

James makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

James tickles a tiger on its tummy.

James's up up and away under the umbrella.

James's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

James watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

James x-rays a fox and an ox.

James's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

James zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book James. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com.

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful 32 page 8.5” x 11” cover to cover book. 

Elijah eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

Elijah blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

Elijah croons a song with a cow and a cat.

Elijah dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

Elijah eats eggs with an elephant.

Elijah flops and hops with a friendly frog.

Elijah gallops on a giant giraffe.

Elijah has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

Elijah is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

Elijah juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

Elijah kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

Elijah licks a lollipop with a large lion.

Elijah must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

Elijah neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

Elijah only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

Elijah plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

Elijah tries to sell the queen's quilts.

Elijah races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

Elijah makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

Elijah tickles a tiger on its tummy.

Elijah's up up and away under the umbrella.

Elijah's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

Elijah watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

Elijah x-rays a fox and an ox.

Elijah's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

Elijah zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book Elijah. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com.

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful ABC book. 

Jayden eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

Jayden blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

Jayden croons a song with a cow and a cat.

Jayden dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

Jayden eats eggs with an elephant.

Jayden flops and hops with a friendly frog.

Jayden gallops on a giant giraffe.

Jayden has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

Jayden is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

Jayden juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

Jayden kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

Jayden licks a lollipop with a large lion.

Jayden must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

Jayden neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

Jayden only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

Jayden plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

Jayden tries to sell the queen's quilts.

Jayden races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

Jayden makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

Jayden tickles a tiger on its tummy.

Jayden's up up and away under the umbrella.

Jayden's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

Jayden watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

Jayden x-rays a fox and an ox.

Jayden's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

Jayden zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book Jayden. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com.

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful ABC book. 

Justin eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

Justin blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

Justin croons a song with a cow and a cat.

Justin dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

Justin eats eggs with an elephant.

Justin flops and hops with a friendly frog.

Justin gallops on a giant giraffe.

Justin has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

Justin is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

Justin juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

Justin kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

Justin licks a lollipop with a large lion.

Justin must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

Justin neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

Justin only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

Justin plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

Justin tries to sell the queen's quilts.

Justin races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

Justin makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

Justin tickles a tiger on its tummy.

Justin's up up and away under the umbrella.

Justin's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

Justin watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

Justin x-rays a fox and an ox.

Justin's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

Justin zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book Justin. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com.

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful 32 page 8.5” x 11” cover to cover book. 

Cameron eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

Cameron blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

Cameron croons a song with a cow and a cat.

Cameron dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

Cameron eats eggs with an elephant.

Cameron flops and hops with a friendly frog.

Cameron gallops on a giant giraffe.

Cameron has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

Cameron is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

Cameron juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

Cameron kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

Cameron licks a lollipop with a large lion.

Cameron must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

Cameron neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

Cameron only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

Cameron plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

Cameron tries to sell the queen's quilts.

Cameron races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

Cameron makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

Cameron tickles a tiger on its tummy.

Cameron's up up and away under the umbrella.

Cameron's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

Cameron watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

Cameron x-rays a fox and an ox.

Cameron's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

Cameron zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book Cameron. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com.

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful ABC book. 

Joshua eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

Joshua blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

Joshua croons a song with a cow and a cat.

Joshua dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

Joshua eats eggs with an elephant.

Joshua flops and hops with a friendly frog.

Joshua gallops on a giant giraffe.

Joshua has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

Joshua is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

Joshua juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

Joshua kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

Joshua licks a lollipop with a large lion.

Joshua must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

Joshua neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

Joshua only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

Joshua plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

Joshua tries to sell the queen's quilts.

Joshua races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

Joshua makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

Joshua tickles a tiger on its tummy.

Joshua's up up and away under the umbrella.

Joshua's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

Joshua watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

Joshua x-rays a fox and an ox.

Joshua's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

Joshua zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book Joshua. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com.

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful 32 page 8.5” x 11” cover to cover book. 

David eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

David blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

David croons a song with a cow and a cat.

David dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

David eats eggs with an elephant.

David flops and hops with a friendly frog.

David gallops on a giant giraffe.

David has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

David is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

David juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

David kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

David licks a lollipop with a large lion.

David must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

David neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

David only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

David plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

David tries to sell the queen's quilts.

David races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

David makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

David tickles a tiger on its tummy.

David's up up and away under the umbrella.

David's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

David watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

David x-rays a fox and an ox.

David's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

David zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book David. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com.

Learn your ABC's with this one of a kind, hand illustrated book. It makes learning the alphabet as easy as A, B, C! Each page is dedicated to one letter of the alphabet, making it a beautiful 32 page 8.5” x 11” cover to cover book. 

Caleb eats an apple with an awesome alligator.

Caleb blows blue bubbles with a bouncing brown bear.

Caleb croons a song with a cow and a cat.

Caleb dances at a dynamite disco with a dog.

Caleb eats eggs with an elephant.

Caleb flops and hops with a friendly frog.

Caleb gallops on a giant giraffe.

Caleb has a huge hamburger with a hungry, hairy hippo.

Caleb is inside an igloo eating ice cream.

Caleb juggles jars while jumping over a jack-o-lantern.

Caleb kisses a kangaroo dressed up like a king.

Caleb licks a lollipop with a large lion.

Caleb must try to catch that monkey and his marbles.

Caleb neatly makes neckties out of newspaper.

Caleb only has two arms, but the pet octopus has eight.

Caleb plays the piano with a pretty pink pig.

Caleb tries to sell the queen's quilts.

Caleb races the rabbit while riding on a rocket.

Caleb makes silly faces while swinging with a snake.

Caleb tickles a tiger on its tummy.

Caleb's up up and away under the umbrella.

Caleb's violin plays very vibrant sounds.

Caleb watches a worm wiggle out of a watermelon.

Caleb x-rays a fox and an ox.

Caleb's yo-yo is yellow but the yarn is not.

Caleb zips along with a zebra holding a pizza.

That's the end of this book Caleb. We hope you liked it!

If you’d like to create your own personalized version of this book, please visit www.firsttimebooks.com.

Within the last decade, the world witnessed how the Internet revolutionized the acquisition of recorded music. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reported that digital downloads rose in U.S. sales from $200 million in 2004 to a record $3.1 billion in 2009. (1) We now realize that a significant portion of the current generation, made up of digital natives who have grown up interacting with digital technology, expects immediate access to music through digital streaming and downloads. For many, the purchase of physical media has become an archaic process. A by-product of such simple digital access to content is the diversification of our students' musical experiences and preferences. The Internet has changed the way our students find and select music. Social networking sites like Facebook and iTunes' Ping encourage them to listen to music their "friends" like, and websites like pandora.com and gnoosic.com allow them to search for new music by comparing commonalities in musical styles. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this trend, it complicates our jobs as music teachers. Just as we make an effort to adapt our lesson plans to students' learning styles and personalities, effective teaching and planning is also based upon our students' previous musical experiences. However, since those experiences are diversifying, lesson planning is more difficult than ever before. Undoubtedly, our students' musical backgrounds are built upon more than prior experience with instrumental technique and music notation. It includes the experiences they have had in listening, singing along and even dancing to music. To learn about their incredibly diverse backgrounds, we can discover a great deal during our initial interviews with students. Humorous questions like, "Do you sing in the shower?" or "Is your dad a good dancer?" may get new students to open up and talk about things they may view as unimportant or perhaps too informal to mention during an interview. We can even ask about their friends' likes and dislikes--students might enjoy comparing their own preferences with those of their peers. To remain current, we can choose to become part of their Internet social network of choice.

During my early studies as an undergraduate, and as a first-generation college student, the thought of eventually entering academia as a professor of music seemed beyond the realm of possibilities. Originally, I intended to finish my bachelor's degree and then to teach as an independent piano teacher. In my junior year, that plan underwent revisions to include the completion of a master's degree, and during my first year of graduate school, I revised that new plan to continue my studies as a doctoral student. In hindsight, my primary motivation to extensively prolong my student life came from an intense love of learning and a love for the culture of academia. My secondary motivation emanated from a strong desire for job security. While the prospect of life as an independent teacher held promise, a university position seemed the ideal way to reliably support my family. Nevertheless, the scarcity of university positions seemed daunting. Bill Deresiewicz, a former Yale English professor, recently related his sobering advice to prospective graduate students, "You're going to be in school for at least seven years, probably more like nine, and there's a very good chance that you won't get a job at the end of it." (1) With these words in mind today, as a hired graduate (albeit a pre-tenured one), I frequently reflect on how thankful I am for my current university position. The saturation of the academic job market should be a major factor when considering the prospect of a life in academia, but this is stating the obvious. A consideration that I had not truly explored as a graduate student was the nature of day-to-day life as a university professor and how I might be completely prepared for it. Most of what I learned about life in academia came from seeing my own professors at work as teachers. That perspective led to a rather narrow view since I did not understand the rest of their duties involving research and service. The following discussion offers my perspective as a junior faculty member in hopes of providing a clearer picture of the academic music profession to anyone considering graduate school and the possibility of a future career in academia.