Katie’s journey back to the classroom (music education)!!

Hey, I’m Katie! I used to be around the forums a lot but haven’t for a while. This journal follows on from my one in yr 12 Katie-A rhino’s charge through the HSC! and my previous uni one with exactly the same name.

I’m in the 5th year of my music/education degree now at UNSW. I have 3 subjects left of my entire degree-2 music subjects next term and my last placement in term 1 next year! Technically I was meant to finish uni at the end of this year but I extended my degree by a term because of lockdown last year (I didn’t want to start my last placement online)

Why do I want to be a teacher?
I have wanted to become an instrumental teacher since around year 5 where I wanted to be able to teach young kids how to play a musical instrument. In high school I had music teachers who I really loved as well as those that I haven’t enjoyed their classes or teaching style as much. I would love to be able to explain difficult musical concepts (especially those that I didn’t understand at first) clearly to a class in a way that they can understand easily. I want to be able to share my passion for music with kids and be a class that everyone can enjoy and escape from the stress of everyday life. I’m also really keen to be able to help out with a schools band/musicals and encourage students to try and learn an instrument.

Me and music:
I’ve played the clarinet since year 3 so for around 15 years now. I’m still getting clarinet lessons and am hoping to complete my AMEB certificate of performance at the end of this year. I also play with my community band, uni’s wind symphony and with fundamentals of improvisation this term. I can also play beginner piano and saxophone but definitely not as good as clarinet.

Me and education:
I’ve completed my first two pracs so far! Last years placement was really fun to be able to start teaching years 7/8 music classes, observe lessons that the music teachers taught and be involved with bands/choir. This year I’ve started working with a school band; I get to run short sectionals with the woodwind students and play clarinet with the band. It’s only 1 1/2 hours a week but its been awesome to have a job at a school doing music stuff!! I’m hoping to be able to sort out my teaching number/accreditation details these uni holidays. Then I can potentially casual teach next term. I’ll probably only be able to work one day a week because of uni but would be great to have experience in a school.

Highlights of uni so far:

Making friends who also study music and/or education.
Being a part of Wind Sympth/Fundamentals of Improv & learning so many new and challenging pieces.
Becoming a Christian through reading the Bible with one of my music friends and the Christian group at uni.
Campus Bible Study (uni’s Christian group)! Going to Bible talks, studies & training and being able to spend weeks away in the holidays working out what I believe and how that should affect the way I live.
Placements! And having actual experience teaching music in a classroom!

This year:
I started uni this year really grateful that I had another year left of in-person classes. I really didn’t enjoy online classes during covid and I didn’t feel ready to go into teaching full time. It’s been a bit disappointing though that some of my closer friends have already graduated: music is a 4yr degree and some of the other education combos are 4years. So, while I’ve been at uni, I’ve been hearing stories of friends who are full time teaching, doing placements or onto their next degree. And while I’m not exactly jealous, I’ve kinda felt a little left behind. It’s also hard because I’ve finished all of my education subjects besides placement so the years spent doing music subjects. And I haven’t enjoyed some of my final year music subjects as much as I thought I would-sometimes music philosophy/politics don’t feel super relevant to music education. I’ve been able to make some music friends in the lower years though! We’ve been able to hang out in the music corridors, classes or ensembles!

This term I did two courses:

Critical practice in music: The main part of tis was a group assignment and our group chose to look at gender and music (particularly Spotify listening patterns). We had to do a manifesto, academic research, interviews and eventually an event (which we recorded a podcast). Then at the end of the term, we had to present it to the class. This group assignment was huge and sometimes frustrating!!
Music ensembles: This was an elective that just needed you to be in two different ensembles. I chose wind symphony (which Ive already done for my entire degree) and fundamentals of improvisation. I was a bit nervous about fundamentals going in but it was so much fun!! We had a group of around 15 people and got to be comfy around everyone. We learnt how to play some jazz pieces (Dinah, Lonesome Road, Kalimba & Corcavardo) and how to do solos on top of them. Wind sympth was another awesome term where we got to play some challenging music I’d never played before. Our program for the concert was a tribute to Percy Grainger and one of my favourite pieces was Lincolnshire Posy! I’m really going to miss wind sympathy next year!

I'm on holidays now & head back to uni in around 4 weeks! Honestly, I don’t know how much I’ll update this thread. This post took ages and I didn’t really know what to say. I’d love to hear your thoughts/questions on anything! 💜😄