Episode XXXI - Would the real M.C Keating please stand up!

Week 31 - 12.5.10, 13.5.10 and 14.5.10

On Wednesday i was to take part in a Degree project band, singing light Hip Hop hits. As an Instrumental Instructor, i need to be versatile and not just be fluent in one instrument. This gave me the opportunity to work on my vocals. The gig was in Dundee and i thought it went really well. One little thing though, the camera didn't record us! It was like we never played! All that effort.... I hear there might be audio recorded which is a day brightener. After the gig, i had to run straight to the train station to get a bus from Perth so i could make the 11am Funeral back home for my mate Mike Paterson. Due to this i had to miss both Thursday and Friday to grieve properly. I am confident i will be back to my normal self next week.

Episode XXX - Rest in Peace

Week 30 - 5.5.10, 6.5.10 and 7.5.10

This week, my close friend of mine, Mike Paterson died in a car accident back home. This effected my focus and concentration in all aspects of my life. I therefore did not achieve much during this week.

Episode XXVIII & XXIX

Week 28 - 21.4.10, 22.4.10 & 23.4.10

Week 29 - 28.4.10, 29.4.10 &30.4.10

College

In first study, i have managed to complete my two original compositions, 'Scenes of a Nightmare' and 'Memories of China'. Both contain rich harmony and display my abilities on the guitar and my ability to compose. In being an Instrumental Instructor, i may be asked by pupils how to compose original material. I believe that to progress on an instrument, you must be able to look away from sheet music sometimes and just create music.

Although my Rock School did not go ahead, i have collected all of my lesson plans and teaching materials and added them to my Graded Unit folder.

During these two weeks, i have been helping a friend by teaching them the ways of Microsoft Power Point. This has helped my teaching ability as i have not taught to someone my own age before in this one on one style. I felt i handled the situation correctly and now my friend has created a very impressive power point on their own.

I have also updated my day plans to include realistic times for my own free time and college work. Before i was being unrealistic and thinking i could spend a whole weekend doing what i wished! I have learned from this mistake and i now follow a strict but realistic day plan. In being an Instrumental Instructor, i must master the skill of both time keeping and organisation to make my lessons as efficient as possible.

Episode XXVII - Wake Me Up When May Ends!

Week 27 - 14.04.10, 15.04.10 and 16.04.10

After a two week break (and turning 21!), I am ready to tackle the ever changing challenges of Perth College. I first have some sad news, the Rock School in which i had done so much preparation and was looking forward to fell through. There was a guaranteed 20 children which were to attend my Rock School, but due to the two play workers of the club having to take the Easter holidays off, the club couldn't run with just myself as I only have a half an hour slot in a 3 hour after school day. I have been assured by the headmaster of the school that i can move my Rock School to August, and this agreement has been agreed by the after school club. Its a shame, but at least i can make my Rock School from 2 weeks to 4 weeks!

In college, I have been quite productive as a new term starts! My first study pieces are coming along nicely and Kevin and myself are now looking at possible grade 8 pieces to play in my audition. We were playing through Fernado Sor's 'Rondo'. Grade 8 is a lot harder than I first anticipated! Im going to need a lot of practise with this piece! I'm now realising that if i were to become an instrumental instructor, there is so much that i need to learn on the guitar! I have only scratched the surface! If a student needed help with a Grade 8 piece, at this moment, i couldn't help them!

In Graded Unit, we looked at a sound production students presentation. This presentation was voiced over and visually was quite impressive! What i learned from this presentation is:

- Keep my voice animated

- Make sure my slides are captivating

- Make sure i relate my classes back to the job

- Include relevant video with or without audio

- Use experience's from outside college

My own Graded Unit presentation is very very behind schedule and after seeing this presentation, i need to up my game!

This week we were given all of our times for various deadlines and they read as follows:

- An Adorno essay due 21st May

- My Graded Unit presentaion is on the 13th May

- My degree band's gig is also on the 13th May

- 2 D.A.W are apparently for the end of May

- 3 Session Skills essays for the end of May

- An articualtion assignment for the end of May

- A DEGREE AUDITION TO PREPARE FOR!

As you can see, May is a very busy month for me! This does not include the various commitments that i have outside of college!

Episode 24, 25 and 26 - Lack of Organisation

Week 24 - 10.03.10, 11.03.10 and 12.03.10

Week 25 - 17.03.10, 18.03.10 and 19.03.10

Week 26 - 24.03.10, 25.03.10 and 26.03.10

Due to a lack of time management and a heavy load of work needing completed, my logbook has regrettably been put to the back of my to do list. When completing my graded unit planning stage, this was one of my weaknesses: time management. I tend to put the less academic activities first which although is productive, i leave the more time consuming items to the last minute. I must rectify this by completing my essays before the due date and leave my practical assignments to nearer their date! Although living in Edinburgh, i have set time aside to work in the Perth College library, where i work far more productively than in my own flat!

My logbook entries will resume after the holidays with a very organised writer behind them!

Episode XXIII - Surely we should have known earlier?

Week 23 - 3.3.10, 4.3.10 and 5.3.10

College

This week, i felt like i was actually studying in a HND course! In first study, i submitted a 'composition proposal' to Kevin off of my own back, to show that i have actually done research and that i care for this course. He seemed quite impressed and liked my enthusiasm. In being an instrumental instructor, sometimes it good to think outside of the box and produce materials that have not actually been stated. This shows that you are committed and giving more than is required.

In Graded Unit, we had mock interviews in which we were asked to watch and take part in interviews for the up and coming 'Centre stage' company. The first interview was Zoe. She had a very confident attitude and had very relevant answer to Marlisa's questions. She kept an upright sitting position and asked some good questions at the end which showed that she had researched the company well. My only criticism towards Zoe was that she seems a bit nervous in her voice and that she lost eye contact on occasion. Overall, a very good interview and i gave her a 8 out of 10. Next was myself. For some reason, unknown to me, i came out with a very British accent! Through the accent and use of words such as 'gallivanting', i felt that i did give credible answers and gave an all right interview. I would give myself a 7 out of 10. Then it was Liam's turn for an interview. He was confident, kept a friendly and non-intimidating air around him and gave relevant answers to all the questions asked. I gave him a 10 out of 10, as i could not see a fault in his interview. As i happened, i got the job, but i felt that it should have gone to Liam.

In Articulation Class, we were given our customary bad news. We had to pass this class with a B, Graded Unit with a B and their will be an audition process. The audition process will consist of playing a grade 8 piece, learning a grade 8 piece and sight reading and technical exercises! I have to admit, im glad a bar has been raised, but not this late into the course. If this had been stated even before xmas, we would have had time to prepare. In University's, they know this kind of thing in advance, not here though!

Well, i have some Grade 8 pieces to learn, a 4000 word essay to write and 2 first study compositions to create, better get started then!

Outside of College

This week, i created the rest of my lesson plans for my Rock School. I have found this process very interesting and vital as i am now organised in advance. This will make the whole experience alot more enjoyable! I have also secured all of the necessary instruments required to pull this off, so i am now ready to go!

Episode XXII - Put the suit back to the dry cleaners...

Week 22 - 24.02.10, 25.02.10 and 26.02.10

College

This was quite an unproductive week at college i felt. I had to run for some of the way to college to make it in on time for 9. When i got there, all of the rooms had been taken and none of my band members turned up until 10. After they finally arrived, we were given a very small room at the end of the corridor, where we could hardly move let alone practice. The whole thing was a shambles. If i learned anything from this, it was to make my own lessons very organised and make sure, every lesson, that my pupils are happy and getting what they par for!

Thursdays graded unit was cancelled, so now i have more time to prepare for my interview! Session skills was a waste of my time. I took the 'sound engineers' an hour and a half to set up! Then we had one run through of my girl before we had to pack up! Shambles! Then in D.A.W, we were doing more research for the lectures own benifits....

Overall, not a productive week. I can only take from this that i need to not allow this kind of 'shambles' happen to my own lessons!

Outside of College

This week, i typed up my lesson plans for the next 4 lessons of my rock school.

I apologise for an appalling blog, but it has been an unproductive week!