Firstly, I must thank everyone for the hard work and commitment being shown. Attendance at lessons is great, and the sudden surge in the amount of technology being used is inspiring. Students are motivated and happy, committed to our learning community. Wow.
Year 10 and 11 lessons are settling down. I am aware of the rotation nightmare that has been created by the fixing of so many lessons. Continue to feed back to me about it and involve Sue if reminders need to be sent to students.
Trinity and Rock School letters for exams are in the trays in the kitchen. Rock School on 1st Dec, Trinity on the 9th Dec. Please submit your entries online, using the tab above here. Don't see Sue individually, as this caused issues last time! Please put on this week if at all possible!! The closing date for entries is 7th October, so we have enough time to chase.
Open Evenings are upon us next week. Wednesday 5th from 6pm and Thursday 6th from 4pm. Thursday is also an inset day. With music being the lifeblood of the school, we need to ensure that our standards are high again. Wednesday teachers - please remind all your after 3pm lessons that they should continue to come at the usual time. This is very important please. If anyone I have not contacted to be involved in our open evenings, please let me know - I want to ensure there is the buzz about the place again.
I have the newsletter for parents that goes out each Friday. If you have something to add, please let me know. This week's blog is here: simonballemusicnewsletter.blogspot.com.
Speaking of blogs, Alex has written a piece about how blogs are being used in our department.
'Do you know Joe blogs …..?
After a very successful session with all of the members of the Contemporary Music team I can proudly announce that Joe ‘The Don’ Neisyto is now blogging!
Blogs, blogging, the blogosphere …. It can be very confusing , but Blogs are a simple way of allowing your students access to a world of information relevant to your lessons and controlled by you, the educator, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
I feel that a change in the way we deliver information to our students is upon us. Gone are the days when students would come to us for a 20 minute lesson , once a week and then we would have little or no contact or input until we see them following week. A more modern and progressive (an ultimately productive) way of thinking about this would be to consider ourselves as a ‘Musical / Instrumental Consultants’. Students come for a 20 -30 minute consultancy, once a week to demonstrate their progression, receive coaching on new or developing skills and knowledge and then leave with a structured plan of work for the following week, based upon and backed-up with work and information ‘posted’ onto an on-line text book we would call a BLOG.
This way students and parents would be able to access all of the information they would need to continue practicing and developing all through the week. Parents would love this as it would be a real-time commentary on their child’s development and the work that is expected of them. Also they can see exactly what they are getting for their money.
I have personally used a blog for the past 2 years as a way of giving my students access to all of information that I feel they need between lessons. I post up a brief commentary after lessons and provide links to worksheets, videos or any other ‘hard info’ that I may have previously posted up. All of the worksheets are printable (by the student) but they are also available to view full screen on a PC, ipad or ‘smart phone’ .'
Anyway, enjoy the musical week and thanks for your commitment.
Mark
