Tuesday, December 30, 2014

My New Years Resolutions!

Thanks for inspiring this Blog Post Mrs Miracle - for as you can see, one of my resolutions is to Blog more - so I am already on my way!
Mrs Miracle's 2015 New Year's Resolutions!


My first go at a Linky Party so wish me luck please.

Personal: The work/life balance thing is always tricky. How to be the best teacher as well as the efficient house keeper (I'm afraid I am an epic fail on that one!), a fabulous Mum and a caring, generous partner? How? I guess I will just work at it, trying to be 'present' when I am with my family instead of thinking of all the things that I should be doing. If I can do that I know it will help.

Professional: That is an easy one. Next month I am flying to the USA, first time visitor, to present at the Georgia State Conference http://www.gmea.org/in-service-conference/ . Oh just a bit excited. I will meet so many other music teachers, get so many ideas, make so many new contacts...just buzzing with the thrill. But wait, there's more! I am then going back to attend the OAKE conference http://www.oake.org/conferences/  and present a session there as well. I love working with Music Teachers, and this year will be no different, I will still love working with Music Teachers, just adding some Americans to my Network of FABULOUS Music Educators.

Classroom: After working for 33 years (on and off - with other bits and pieces thrown in the mix) in Primary schools (4 to 12 year olds) I am moving to Secondary School (12-17 year olds). All I can say is WISH ME LUCK! Seriously though, I am looking forward to the challenge and also looking forward to working with my colleague and friend Linda Mackay.

Blog/TPT: Not sure if I will start a TPT store..... I have my precious web site www.crescendo.com.au that I slave over (with free downloads but so much more for an annual membership) so I might stay focused on that. The NEW site will be launched on January 6th and I am so looking forward to it. It has been a long time in the making with loads of new features but I will blog more about that later. I plan to Blog more frequently - and make connections with other Music Educators just like this! (Again - New Years Resolutions already being realised and it isn't even the 1st yet!)

Just for me: Less Stress! Says it all really. I just want to keep doing what I am doing, just get better at turning off my brain from time to time to properly relax. I am sure many of you out there know exactly how I feel. It is one of the dangers of our profession. We care too much, we work too hard and we can't switch off!

To all my Crescendo Music Education Followers, to all my colleagues and friends, and to all of you I have yet to meet, have a fabulous New Year's Eve Celebration and I hope that 2015 has some wonderful surprises in store for you.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Fabulous Australian Choral Composer Mark Puddy. If you do not know of his work, then pop in and have a look. http://www.markpuddy.com/www/home/
Which one of his pieces do you love?