Grade 1

I studied the Grade 1 theory syllabus today.
This first month of teaching has gone on well enough and it was encouraging to hear from my student that after her one week holiday (last week) she had spent 1.5 hours practising yesterday after school. :-)
Nonetheless, I haven't really been formally teaching her theory. I've always incorporated it as part of the lesson. As we embark on scales, or a new piece, I make it a point to teach the various theory aspects such as time signatures, key signatures, how tied notes work, treble & bass clef note reading etc.
But today's study helped to see where to draw the line, so I don't overload the poor student with too much, or too difficult, theory concepts she would not need to know for Grade 1, or may find too difficult to grasp. Today's studying also revealed to me some gaps that I would need to fill in lessons to come. All in all a productive study session today.

First Lesson

My first lesson with my first student took place last Friday. It was really more a "getting to know what you know" session, testing out her current level of knowledge/ability with the keyboard and music-notation. Now I have a good idea how to do the lesson plans, and we probably need to change location of the lesson to my place, since she doesn't actually have a proper piano. (Unless she trades in her keyboard for a piano sometime soon.)

First Student

I have my first 'official' student starting in October. A 12-year old girl who has some prior knowledge of music/piano, but now would like to take the graded exams. :-)

Professional Development Programme

The most widespread music examinations board here in Singapore is the ABRSM and every so often the board would organise Professional Development Programmes (PDP) for music teachers in UK and around the world.
I went for the PDP 2008 today held at VCH and was quite an informative seminar on the 2009/2010 piano examinations syllabus.
The seminar was not FOC, participants have to pay S$100 to attend, but we do get a bunch of materials, handouts and advice on music pieces. As a colleague of mine told me, this was my first investment into the music teaching career and I really couldn't agree more.

University of Melbourne Applications

My explorations of possibly studying music therapy came to a roadblock recently. By chance my colleague found a newspaper advert publicizing the auditions held by the Uni of Melbourne professor for music degree applicants, which led me to renew my explorations in embarking on this course of study/work.
I surfed online and realised that Melbourne offered a graduate diploma in music, and I thought to myself that perhaps I could do a grad-dip before applying to do a full Masters in music therapy. I emailed my idea to an Australian music therapist based in Singapore whom I had previously corresponded with, and she put me in touch with none other than a music therapist lecturer in Uni of Melbourne!
Through this lecturer I got to know that my current undergrad degree actually qualifies me to apply directly for the masters program. This cheered me on and knowing that I could apply with a fee waiver through OAL made me think even more seriously about actually doing it.
BUT, after corresponding with the lecturer some more to clarify some details, I came to a realisation that some of the application requirements for the course were quite daunting. Amongst these include:
1) Getting an academic reference AND one from a person who can attest to my musical ability. The latter I could get from my music teacher. But the former, I think my professors back in Cal would be hard pressed to even remember my name, nevermind write me a good recommendation.
2) The vocal part of the audition requires me to sing and play accompaniment on the guitar at the same time. Now sing and play the piano I can. The guitar, I don't know HOW to play one. And apparently it is an important part of the profession!
So, BIG roadblock. To do music therapy I have to learn the guitar. How easy is that??

Music Teacher

So I followed up on the contact in my previous post. Turns out that music school principal has recently given birth! With the new life to care for she has handed over the running of her school to another partner while she more or less concentrates on only teaching a handful of students. So I guess the plan of opening another music school is more or less shelved for the moment. However, she did chat with me and promised to hook me up with her current school principal/partner, who can discuss with me terms and conditions of employment as a music teacher in the school. By the way, this is the said music school.

Music School (?)

A friend of mine knows a music school principal interested in opening a new branch. The principal was looking for potential partners/teachers/principals to help invest and run a second branch. This idea was broached last year, not sure if anything has happened since. So my friend will likely be putting us in touch to discuss possibilities if the option is still open.

Musical Species

An interview with Oliver Sacks', the author of "Musicophilia" and "Awakenings".

- Courtesy of Shanghai Mui