Trip

I have been away on my first overnight school trip with students. We travelled to a bands festival with the junior and intermediate stage bands, 28 kids, 3 teachers and a bus. It was really great to get to know most of the kids a lot better, I'm fitting into the department so well now, they are coming to see me for things, they don't have to rely on the other two teachers so much. The students played so well, though I didn't have a lot to do with the students learning these pieces, I still felt proud of them achieving something. The next lot of music I will know a lot better, and know how to work on it with the students.

I was so tired today at school, it took me so long to get going. It's a bit mean that I only get a one day weekend, I'm only 4 weeks in and I start to see how important the weekends get. And how great it will be to get some holidays. It's so high pressure, working with students, so many different voices all wanting something, a hundred different things to be watching and stopping and starting assignments and keeping them motivated. It's exhausting. I felt really responsible for the students, constantly counting them and watching what they were doing and getting them moving. It's time for bed.

I'm playing piano for a few of the students in a singing competition in a few weeks, a great chance for me to get started as an accompanist with students and maybe work outside of school too. Even this early in I feel like I am settling into this job so well. I am working out my place in the scheme of things, but I have plans for this department and these kids. I can see where I want this job to be, and I can start moving in that direction already.