Farewell 2017...

The fireworks are currently being set off, a timely reminder to get cracking on my end of year post. I would normally post on Facebook, but getting back to the blog has me quite pumped and keen to be writing here once again.

Photography courtesy of socrgrl14.

2017 has been a year of milestones that I have enjoyed being a part of. This business turned 10, I completed my tenth year of teaching at Grafton at the Clarence Valley Conservatorium, the Bellingen Youth Orchestra celebrated its tenth anniversary. Orara High School had its first year of concert band without any members that originally formed the ensemble in 2010, and it was very successful.

I wondered if I would ever get this far, and if I would still be interested in music tuition after ten years. I have absolutely loved it, and continue to find many new facets to explore and share with many people. As for any teaching profession, you'll be finding your feet to begin with. The longer you can stay in the game the more you discover about yourself, different people, communities, and these days how the science of learning and relationships develop as a large part of this.

Exiting these first ten years now brings about greater and more exciting challenges that lie ahead. It is fair to say that we currently in a musical generational shift from the Coffs Coast to the Clarence Valley. A lot of events, people, and decisions have brought about all kinds of change for better or for worse. Musicians have come and left, ensembles formed and dispersed, opinions and views have been shared and transformed, and as a result there has been progress on a lot of fronts that has left this area in a promising position at the end of 2017.

There are many things I would like to see happen going forward. More schools taking on music programs, greater networking between the school music communities, the eradication of NAPLAN, and even greater teaching as we continue to invest in our future generations. A lot of us will continues to work hard for students, families, and their communities.

A lot of thank yous as always

Firstly, to my wife, Emelia, and our three kids Bennett, Isaac, and Zarahlinda. The travel and time away throughout the week is a constant working for the family, but also for them to help out and be supportive along the way. Emelia has essentially been my accountant, still finding ways of improving our system as we go along while still making sure that I am travelling well and remaining organised. I can safely say that without her influence, we wouldn't be as prepared and organised as we are today. Oh, and her cooking is the best (just ask the kids that have her treats at the end of year party...)

To the staff heading up the programs at the different schools I teach at. Ann Phelan (Bellingen High), Liz Scott (Bellingen Public), Simon Kermode (Orara High), Judy Thorn (Urunga Public) and Adam Wills (Clarence Valley Conservatorium). It's always appreciated to discuss different ideas that either of us present, and to see what more can be offered to students of these schools and institutions.

To the students and their families. Without you we wouldn't have any community or music, and the support we have for each other can only strengthen our society further going forward. We have an amazing generation of students emerging that we will always aim to give everything we have to support and nurture going forward.

To my relatives that have checked in every now and then. This year has been a challenging year as both of my grandfathers passed away, but to reflect on what they have done and left a bit of what they did as amazing people with each of us is humbling and inspirational going forward.

To the musicians and ensembles I worked with this year whether we performed or not. From orchestra, to chamber ensemble, and even a challenging flute/clarinet duet for an Australian premiere, the music and musicians I work with keep everyone on their toes and alert to provide performance at a high standard.

To the other music tutors and teachers who have had a moment to chat and share their thoughts and ideas. Many conversations have gone on to inspire thought and action as we aim to develop and improve further the programs we are involved with.

To the Sawtell Uniting Church once again for allowing me to use their premises for private tuition a couple of afternoons per week. While my teaching work has reduced in Sawtell, it is still much appreciated to use the building and inspire students to play with a large, joyful sound. Even while ukulele groups are playing across the road...

And lastly to all of those who have been of support via social media. Whether it's this blog, the Facebook business page, or any other avenues in the future. Your support and sharing of this work is not only a boost to this business but, more importantly, bringing about a greater awareness of the value of music education and how it can impact individuals, families, and communities.

Farewell, 2017. And may 2018 bring a lot more to your future!

10th Anniversary! Where are we now?

It has been a little over three and a half years since using this blog. I must admit I do miss the opportunity to sit down to write/type and share all kinds of musical happenings and ideas. A lot has occurred since my previous blog post (including the birth of my third child, Zarahlinda). To recap what has developed over the last three years would be complete madness, and too much brain activity to recall and take on board! Since this is the 10th anniversary of this teaching business, it's an opportunity to reflect how far this has developed and what to look forward to in years to come.

Ten reasons to play clarinet for the last ten years!

Before it all started...

I had completed my music degree at the end of 2005 and, to be honest, I wasn't completely sure what I wanted to do. The plan was simply to find work anywhere in Coffs Harbour, especially being engaged and getting ready to eventually settle into married life. After visiting the local conservatorium and being told there was no work, it was a case of figuring out where to make a start.

It had been initially suggested at my audition in 2001 to complete a Graduate Diploma instead of the BMus/BTeach combination, simply because I would miss out on the majority of my music degree completing it as a performance/composition combination. I took the opportunity to enrol through Southern Cross Uni to complete my Grad Dip. (Secondary Education), which was an interesting experience to say the least.

While completing my Grad. Dip., I worked as a delivery driver for a pizza shop. At this stage, it didn't matter to me what work I could find. It was a case of getting in, and just doing the job to the best of your ability. It was a job I enjoyed and started to discover some of the teaching strengths I could apply. To think that when I started I was being instructed to go with other drivers for two weeks before going out on my own. When I ended up leaving their work, I was instructing drivers and had them ready to go delivering after one night.

At the beginning of 2007, I was still searching for tutoring work. There were a few avenues that I sought after, but all to no avail. Needless to say, I was feeling the pinch and wondering if I should have continued with music studies after all.

I started to learn about piano tuning through Reuben Fox, although the first 12 months didn't involve touching any piano tuning equipment. It was all of the dirty work. Dismantling, cleaning, calibration, restoration, all the type of things I wouldn't have envisaged doing. But it was a satisfying line of work where you could look back and admire upon completion.

All of this, and I still had teaching on my mind. I continued travelling to teach at regional band camps, but it was getting established in my home town that I sorely sought after. I came to the conclusion that the only way of being involved in music tuition is to get yourself set up and established.

The classified advertisement that started it all

I was reading through the local newspaper when I came across the advertisements and noticed Margaret Gilmore, another local music teacher who had a large teaching base for many years, had a classified. It was surprising to see, and something that she later admitted she would never had imagined doing in all of her years of teaching, but this appeared to be a starting point. A classified was drawn up and submitted to the local newspaper that would run on occasional days for two weeks. It was at a decent financial expense, but would it be worth it?

One family contacted me. That's right, only one. It didn't matter to me that the response was so little, there was the potential to get started at last!

A local church was more than willing to allow me to use their building. This was where a handful of students made their start prior to vacating the premises. This was where I met my first student, Grace, a skinny, shy little girl at the age of no more than eight who blossomed in personality within five minutes of meeting her. I am still teaching them to this day, although they are now known as Morgan. I am still reminded by Morgan's family, on occasion, about when I first worked with them or how long it has been since I first taught. It's still quite remarkable, upon reflection, to this day.

Where the teaching and business is up to now

From the first family came along a few other families. An interview at Grafton yielded a teaching position with their conservatorium from 2008, a position I continue to hold today. After this I was contacted to go out to Bellingen from the beginning of 2009, and from there the networking and contacts grew further (word of mouth can be incredibly powerful!) I have been involved with two high school band programs, one primary school program, and work behind the scenes with other students for established ensembles in different towns.

Expectations should always be a part of what we do, rather than just rolling through the motions. And, there is nothing wrong with being ambitious in order to help others attain a higher standard! Higher ambition in order to stretch further can often be what helps unlock the potential of a person or group. And it's this ambitious influence with other teachers that has seen a lot more of my teaching shift south of Coffs now. In the early stages, the workload was fairly balanced. As the years passed by, the numbers grew and developed with further opportunities in Bellingen and Urunga. Two full days in Bellingen, half a day in Urunga, and only snippets of students in Sawtell as of the end of 2017.

What will the next ten years bring?

Demand has been increasing over time, and it's no different heading into 2018. Develop and build the mindsets and skill sets of students, and the ensembles and communities will continue to grow. Continue to challenge and raise the bar, and not only will the standard increase but also the interest and excitement.

Predicting what will happen in the future is not easy. There are tasks and items I would like to be able to check off or attempt along the way.

• Creating instrument accessories has been a developing interest, in particular over the course of 2017.
• Creating tuition books has been something on my mind for the last few years. While I enjoy structuring other books and content around a time period of a student's schedule, to customise what, how, and when you teach can bring about a satisfaction to not only your teaching but others learning and development.
• Greater presence through social media, despite any introverted tendencies I tend to have on occasion. There are so many avenues and ways to utilise contact through this. Currently it has been Facebook for this business, but there have been thoughts of expanding to create video content. The possibilities include views on musical issues and teaching, guides, exercises, or even other suggestions.
• More oboe. I'm serious, this instrument can be a lot of fun when you don't feel like your head is about to explode!

The heights students have reached over the last ten years have been amazing, but can we reach even higher over the next ten years with this emerging wave? I believe anything is with the network of musicians and teachers I am involved with, but also the communities that surround these people.

Here's to the next ten years!