Thursday, August 12, 2010

AMEB Results and Western Band Camp

Again, it's been a while since I updated. AMEB examinations, Western Band Camp, tutoring, and even involvement in a high school musical (no, not the "High School Musical"... relax...) is keeping me incredibly busy. Here a couple of events that occurred recently.

AMEB Examinations a Success!

24 candidates I teach were enrolled for exams this year, with 21 taking part from Grafton, Coffs, and Bellingen. The results were outstanding with everyone passing, including two As, and a multitude of B+s and Bs. While the results didn't quite match the amount of As earned last year, I am still very pleased with the development of the students over the course of the last 12 to 18 months (for some, even less). This development really showed through their performances. The exams ranged from Preliminary grade all they way through to the new Certificate of Performance.

One of the examiners commented on how impressed they were with the students presenting themselves with very little nerves. If anything, it was mild anxiety that quickly disappeared as they established themselves for the exam. I was informed several other woodwind students examined in one of the towns were withdrawing from examinations on the day, or were incredibly unsettled with nerves from which they could not recover. The three withdrawals of mine were due to one being enrolled for AMus (AMEB couldn't provide a second examiner), a conflicting music camp, and a broken instrument.

Well done, and congratulations, to all of my students taking part in the AMEB exams for 2010.

Western Band Camp

The Western Band Camp for 2010 was a major surprise, and moreso for the sudden leap in standard compared with last year's ensemble.

An advanced ensemble was formed with the performance of Gelato con Caffe, Japanese Graffiti X, and the first movement of Vaughan-Williams' English Folk Song Suite. Some of these works were a real eye-opener for the kids, especially for some as young as the age of ten or eleven. What was even more surprising was that some of these really young musicians had solos in these advanced works that they performed.

The band, as a whole, were quite unified and are developing the skills of balance and ensemble awareness. All round there was quite a good balance in instrumentation despite lacking a little in the bass end. However, I have heard that there may be some tubas on the rise for the next year. We shall see. Everyone involved learnt something new about their instrument, performing, notation, and even the styles of different pieces.

There were very few illnesses within the camp this time. Last year I finished the camp feeling incredibly ill, and there was a small fear that I would start the camp in the same fashion this time. The exhaustion of the exams had hit me very hard, but resting on the night when the exams finished and the next day allowed me to recuperate and fight on (along with some very powerful vitamin C tablets).

Projects Post-Exams/Camps

Now that my involvement in the band camps for 2010 is finished, it's full steam ahead for teaching. The quality of playing and practice from students is really lifting for 2011 exams, HSC exams, and for some the opportunity to audition for the state wind bands next year.

My research into teaching and teaching practice continues and I am really enjoying it. Even though it's not for a degree, the personal professional development is key to being a great teacher in my opinion. Whether it's exploring new method for technique, researching other people's techniques, or even studying the art or psychology of teaching and learning, I feel it is always better to be thoroughly prepared or "over prepared" with the knowledge than to sit dormant and rehash basic information with no inspiration. You can never learn too much.

A dream goal of mine has been to help set up small ensembles with the students I teach in the region and this is appearing to be possible now between those I teach in Coffs and Bellingen. There is the potential to form a saxophone quartet and a small clarinet ensemble, as well as having individual musicians team up with students of other instruments in the area to form duos, trios and possible quartets. Students and parents are very keen to see these projects occur, and these ensembles will do wonders for students developing their own skills as well as ensemble skills.

Until next time, keep on playing!