Relieving/Substituting Someone Else's Class

I’m writing this as I sit in an empty teaching studio in a high school.  Waiting for the next student to turn up.  The last two have been a no-show.  I have no idea how to go about finding the students who are supposed to be here.  These are mot my regular students.  I’m relieving for another teacher.

Being Overwhelmed - It's OK!

It was only my second time conducting the choir when the hand went up for the third time in about as many minutes.  “Excuse me.”  Always so polite.  “I don’t think that harmony part is right.”  

Teaching Note Reading

A word of warning: This is going to be very treble clef-centric.  Alto, bass, and both treble/bass readers, adjust as necessary.

Teaching an instrument you don't play

Yesterday my phone rang.  On the line was the Musical Director of a local music school.  “What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?” he boomed down the phone.  My eyes narrowed.  I’d heard those words before and I knew to be wary.

“That depends,” I replied.  “Good,” he said, ignoring me.  “Can you take John’s guitar classes please.”

 And that is how I found myself teaching four guitar classes – from beginner to intermediate levels.

Be the person you needed

There’s a meme floating around online at the moment, sometime attributed to that fabulous writer “Unknown” and sometimes to former BuzzFeed writer Ayesha A. Siddiqi that says “Be the personyou needed when you were younger”.  Now, I’m not one to go crazy over these “inspirational” quotes that pop up on my facebook and Instagram feeds, but this one did make me think (so much so that it’s actually my current screen saver).

Choosing your words wisely

It’s important to choose your words wisely.

D# or Eb?  Why does that matter?[i]

Chamber Music Coaching - what to wear

Traditionally I get my younger groups to wear a white top and black trousers/skirt and my older groups to wear all black.  This is a formal occasion, so try hard to avoid black jeans, t shirts with writing and sneakers.  

I prefer hair tied back, but that’s just me.  Feel free to argue that one.  But it does look tidier.  I try to avoid “gimmicky” costumes.  It distracts from the music and the performances.  

Little unifying touches such as matching ties, waistcoats, hair ties are fine.  I once had a group perform a medley from “Carmen” and they wore a rose tucked discretely in their hair, which was a nice reference to the opera and identified them as a group.