132 replies to this topic

[mel2]

Perhaps she'd do better in Malono Blahniks ?

That must be an Irish subsidiary.

[HelenVJ]

I'd like to nominate this for my favourite post of the day, mainly because it's so wonderfully bonkers

https://forums.abrsm.org...showtopic=53198

( Sorry - haven't worked out how to transfer the whole quote.. duh..)

[Aquarelle]

I'd like to nominate this for my favourite post of the day, mainly because it's so wonderfully bonkers

https://forums.abrsm.org...showtopic=53198

( Sorry - haven't worked out how to transfer the whole quote.. duh..)

How about pencil and paper?

[linda.ff]

I'd like to nominate this for my favourite post of the day, mainly because it's so wonderfully bonkers

https://forums.abrsm.org...showtopic=53198

( Sorry - haven't worked out how to transfer the whole quote.. duh..)

How about pencil and paper?

They're for sending to the pupils, Aquarelle, I email them. They also act as my preparation notes for the next lesson, a lesson record to check back on - in some cases to verify that there definitely was a lesson on such and sucj a date because there's a note. So I want a thoroughly written out report, not a scribble. I know someone on here a while back said that they write their notes on the fly in the lesson in legible handwriting and complete sentences. I am to engrossed in teaching and interacting with the pupil to do this. I don't have time at the end of the lesson, with the next pupil already there and both mums suddenly wanting to ask me something about the exam or the holidays or buying a new book or changing the time for next week, and I have never got into the habit of teaching for 25 minutes and writing notes for the last 5.

Three other reasons: my handwriting is illagible to anyone but me

If you saw the amount of paper already floating around this room already, you wouldn't have bothered asking

The notes get sent to the parent, sometimes to the parent and also the child. Parents often want to know what their child has been doing so that they can support their practice, and if there's been a new concept in the lesson I will sometimes feel the need to explain it in the note - I also write reminders about scales etc because some children come back and say they've forgotten how I showed it to them. I also have documents and diagrams about some things (tones/semitones, circles of 5ths, checklist for g1 sight-reading, compound time...) which can be sent through MTH via the File Area; and as many of you know I make videos of pieces, sometimes in the lesson with the child holding the camera, and they have their own video page on my own website so that they don't have to search through hundreds to find the one I want them to see (yes, sometimes I do just embed one from YouTube - I had to do that last year when I broke my wrist)

I have it down to a fine art now - the method has developed by trial and error, and will probably be a lot quicker once MTH has solved its many teething problems; I'd like it not to have nearly so many stages. With a few exceptions, each note takes about 10-12 minutes from start to finish. You may call it bonkers, HelenVJ, I call it thorough. It takes FAR less time than my planning used to when I was teaching classes! And the many replies I get each week from parents tell me how much they appreciate it . I can do them in my own time, curled up on the sofa and reading a bit of a book in between each one if I'm flagging.

I always used to just write and send the notes in an email anyway (called it the eNag) but this way it gets integrated with all the rest of the admin (register, accounts, etc)

[Aquarelle]

Oh well I suppose my method of writing quick notes in the pupil's notebook and quick notes in mine followed up by email if necessary is antedeluvian.

While I am here can anyone enlighten me about how to get a quote from another thread into this one? In words of one syllable please?

[linda.ff]

Oh well I suppose my method of writing quick notes in the pupil's notebook and quick notes in mine followed up by email if necessary is antedeluvian.

I doubt if you really suppose that at all, Aquarelle, I think you're just trying to provoke me into saying so but I don't think so at all. I don't do it my way because it's "modern", I do it for the reasons I already said - I'm no good at "quick" notes that do anything much more than just list what they're doing, my handwriting is so scribbly that typing looks better, I'm no good at stopping in time to do them anyway (not while we're having fun!) so I don't have to hold up the lesson or the next lesson to do them, it gives me time to think about it...

It's what works best for what I want to do. It's still the most efficient* method for me, for the end result I want. Some of my pupils have transferred to me from other teachers, bringing a notebook which the parent has asked me to write in, and I've told them how I prefer to do it - and guess what? Not a single one of them has ever complained and said they'd rather have the notebook. Instead I get mail every week from different parents saying "thank you, those notes are so helpful". So you lot can poke fun and scoff and bray all you like, but I am trying to do the very best I can for my pupils, and I've every reason to believe I'm achieving it. Of course I'd love it to take 90 seconds, but it doesn't.

*Making allowances for the fact that some of the software is still creaking. I'm patiently waiting for that to improve.

[Czerny]

et viola

This is now my favourite post of the day.

[maggiemay]

et viola

This is now my favourite post of the day.

and it only took him a minuet.

[Aquarelle]

Thank you very much VST. When I get a favourite quote of the day I'll try it!

[linda.ff]

et viola

This is now my favourite post of the day.

Sounds like the answer to one of those viola player jokes

[fsharpminor]

et viola

This is now my favourite post of the day.

Sounds like the answer to one of those viola player jokes

Like this:-

Letter to an Agony aunt in a women's magazine:


Dear Maggie,

I've just met the man of my dreams. I love him so much. He plays viola in our amateur orchestra. He has made so much progress since leaving prison and his probation officer says that he has finally agreed to help the police locate all the bodies. His mother is still inside for smuggling cocaine and his father is somewhere in Peru being tracked by the CIA for his work with Al-Quaida. His sister lives in Runcorn and is known as 'Miss Easy Lay' and his brother is in Broadmoor.

Next week I want him to meet my parents. Mummy and Daddy are so fussy and rather old fashioned.
I want to tell them everything, but one can only go so far..... do I really have to say that he plays the viola?

[maggiemay]

You can tell them what you like - but please leave me out of this!

[JudithJ]

What's Made You Happy Today.... ?

My mother-in-law's in town tonight ready to be taken back to her home by my OH tomorrow. She's been away for a few days staying with her boyfriend.

She's 90.