 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2011-04-30 18:47
Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone had some advice to impart on me. I've always had private students in the past, but I recently applied to teach as part of a music school and was lucky enough to get an interview. I've never interviewed for a teaching job, so I'm not sure what I'll be asked or what to tell them. What's important, what's not?
Thanks in advance!
T
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Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2011-04-30 19:14
For every job I've ever gone for there's always been an observed lesson. The tendency in this lesson is to pick up on a loads of different things and try to squeeze lots and lots into a very short space of time - to show you know your stuff.
In reality, what has always worked for me is to pick one or maybe two things and work on that/those in more detail. I remember one lesson in particular I was presented with a student who didn't tongue at all - simply because it has never been mentioned to them. I explained how and why we tongue - and the feedback I received afterwards from the panel was that it was good to see some detailed, disciplined work even in something as short as an observed lesson.
Obvious things are also easily overlooked when you're under this kind of pressure - don't forget to introduce yourself to your pupil, ask them a bit about their playing history, finish with something along the lines of 'I hope to see you again so we can work on this further'.
In terms of the interview - it's always safe to bet in this country that any decent teaching role will have had many, many applicants and those who are being interviewed are all well qualified and experienced, so it becomes less about those things and more about standing out from that crowd. My teaching has been described as somewhat 'off the wall' at times, but it creates enthusiasm in my pupils and that's a key part of the audition process. It's less important that you went to x conservatoire or studied with y teacher, and more important that you can show your pupils progress and LOVE their lessons. I was once asked to tell the panel about a pupil that I felt I particularly helped - and I've used that ever since. Tell them about goals achieved, comments made by pupils, comments made by parents. Show that you're not just an able clarinet player, but an inspiring teacher.
Good luck.
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2011-05-01 09:49
Just to make it clear, this is an interview, at this stage there is no observed teaching and no playing involved.
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2011-05-01 10:10
Oh Tim, you still post here haha.. I just logged on randomly for the first time in probably years, and there you were. Good luck
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