I am back working with the 7-12 class this year on Mondays and Tuesdays focussing on Maths (the best subject ever!!!) and Science (very interesting too). I am enjoying helping the students with their work to unravel the mysteries and links that these subjects have. 

After assorted delays the Instrumental Music program is up and running and I am happy to be supervising the lessons again. This year we have 3 students continuing with trumpet and clarinet, and it's good to hear that they have not forgotten all they have learnt since last year. Three students have decided to change instruments so, with new students, we have a group of 6 learning the alto saxophone. The other new students are learning trumpet and flute. In week 6 the new teacher Jo Pike from Reynella East College came to the school to meet the students and get the new ones started on their instruments, learning how to set them up correctly, and teaching the correct embouchure ( the way you hold your mouth) in order to produce the proper sound. It was interesting to hear some nearly clear notes straight away whilst some will take a few weeks to get that face shape right. Our second lesson was in week 9 online. Lessons will be mainly online via Teams with 1 or hopefully 2 visits in person by the teacher each term. I hope they enjoyed and were inspired by the performance of the ASO that we attended whilst on camp. 

It is important that the students spend some time practising each week,  at least 3 or 4 times, and it only needs to be 5-10 mins each time in the beginning, in order for them to progress and feel good about their learning, and to help those strange sounds become nice ones to listen to as quick as possible. Online lessons are on Monday mornings so mark it on the calendar to remember those instruments when coming to school after the weekend.