End of Year Wrap

Surprise, surprise. Yet again I have fallen behind in the world of blogging. On the other hand, it has been a hectic last term for the year experimenting with teaching method and planning for 2011. At the beginning of this year I wanted to make it a goal of mine to be able to update and work on this blog a lot more, and it is something I am planning to enforce for next year (especially if I can get myself a laptop for my travels).

The big push for 2011, through my teaching work, is to establish small ensembles involving my Coffs Harbour and Bellingen students. The time has arrived where the students have developed to a standard where they can meet the challenge and experience playing in a small ensemble. I am hoping to establish a saxophone quartet and wind trio with my private tuition students, and a clarinet ensemble at the high school in Bellingen. To top things off, the clarinet choir in Grafton (Clarinza) will be looking at expanding into a woodwind choir for a couple of performances next year.

Students have been incredibly successful this year in performing. Sectional wins at the local eisteddfod and major prizes, 21 students completing and all passing their AMEB practical exams, high results achieved in HSC performances, and to cap off the year I had three students successfully nominated for the Junior State Wind Band for 2011. Obviously, I have been challenged to go for better results in 2011.

I mentioned a new method of teaching I experimented with for the last term of the year. This method was designed to keep track of practice and to prove strategies and approach that are most effective. The great aspect was that this could be applied to any standard of performer, and it is something I will be embracing next year with all of my students. Students as young as nine set themselves goals and aimed to establish strategies in approach to their practice and achieving their targets through this method. Not only did we see incredible improvements in playing, but it also reinforced the point of when good practice and inconsistent practice was established and how it had an effect on playing. It also brought to light where support was evident from parents/families and schools, and where it was a lot less evident. During the holidays, I will be developing this practice tracking system further for 2011.

All the best during the Christmas/New Years break, and bring on 2011 for another successful year!