Mr. Turnbull's Blog

Well school is back and isn’t it just? Scottish schools break up earlier than elsewhere in the UK and return earlier too. We are all just back into our second full week and it is already starting to look busy. Last year got off to a much quieter start for me, but this year my diary is full of crossings out and last week had two triple bookings before I sorted things out.

I am doing music supply in Midlothian and Creative Music Workshops in East Lothian again, so my week is full of music, which is lovely. Being the start of a new year as well, the children all have energy and interest, making it very rewarding all round.

The RSAMD Musicworks tutors got together in advance of the new year at the weekend. Despite the pre-6am start for me (on a Saturday!), there was lots of food for thought and news of new sponsors and patrons. Maybe more on that as it becomes public.

Meanwhile I have also been developing new workshop ideas for Primary children and have updated The Flow, which was  major summer project.

Image Rosslyn Chapel, Midlothian.Photo CC by nds808v

Tags: music workshops, Primary, RSAMD, supply teaching

Supply update

In the past month I have provided cover in Edinburgh at The Royal Mile Mile Primary School (P5/6) and The Fort Primary School (P6/7) in Leith. The former is at the heart of the Old Town and just a stone’s throw from The Scottish Parliament and Moray House, where I did my PGDE not very long ago.  It was an odd feeling to be back in the area.

Thanks to everyone at the schools for helping my days to go so smoothly.

I am now also on the Borders and Midlothian Primary Teachers Supply lists.

Autumn Diary 2008

It is October Break in East Lothian this week, but from next week up to Christmas I will be delivering Notes on a Story and Strolling on Song every Monday and Tuesday and some Wednesdays. There are also some dates at the end of January that have been confirmed.

There are a variety of schools and classes organised, from small village schools to larger ones and with quite a wide demographic. Small P1-3 classes doing Notes on a Story will represent a different challenge to that of P5s doing Strolling on Song.

I have learned so much about music-making in schools since my last workshop and I am looking forward to the music-making immensely.

Code of Practice

I have signed up for the MusicLeader Code of Practice, which is a code designed to promote quality in the teaching of music. It is voluntary and not legally binding, but makes good sense as it incorporates the elements of good practice that all music teachers should employ.

According to the web site:

The Code of Practice for Music Practitioners sets out the six key professional principles that all music practitioners should ahere to in order to deliver safe, responsible and quality work to those that hire their services.

The Code is not a quality assurance but an assurance of quality – and therefore is the practitioner’s responsibility.

I am enjoying finding out where music is taking me. I have had a number of enquiries about resuming my adult flute group in Edinburgh and am exploring this as well. Monthly workshops with guest teachers is something that appeals.

Image by susie1912 via Flickr, released under Creative Commons licence.

Tags: East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, music workshops, MusicLeader, supply teaching

I am on the Primary teaching supply list for Edinburgh and am waiting to hear confirmation for other authorities.

Tags: Edinburgh, Primary, supply teaching