AboutSue Catchpole Expertise I can answer questions on teaching Curriculum music (not specialist instrumental teaching)with children age 3 - 11. For example how to teach beat and rhythm; keeping control in instrumental lessons! Composition, listening skills etc. Because of the unique nature of my job, moving from school to school and without many of the professional commitments of the usual Primary teacher, many of the more general questions about educational practice are outside my scope. I prefer to answer questions purely about the teaching of Music.
Experience I was a Primary class teacher for nine years then became a Music specialist doing freelance teaching in schools for two years and then joining the Curriculum Support Team as part of the schools Music service in Sandwell, West Midlands where I teach approximately a thousand children every week in seven different schools. I completed an intensive training programme run by the Voices Foundation (the aural approach to Music Education) and have led many training sessions for Primary non-specialist teachers. I am an experienced musician and play piano to diploma standard, accordion in a semi-professional barn dance band, Recorder and Clarinet. I am assistant director of Music at an annual weeklong residential Circle-Dance event, Music director of one of the 4 yearly Lichfield Mystery Plays and own my own Music Publishing Company.
Organizations Musician's Union, General Teaching Council, National Accordion Organisation, Carl Orff Association (Primary Music Education); English Folk Dance and Song Society.
Publications I am just completing a publication called 'Stamp and Play' introducing a new method of recording children's composition work.
Education/Credentials Certificate of Education (Music specialist); A.L.C.M. (Piano performance, history, theory and composition); Grade 8 Music Theory; Grade 5 Clarinet; Grade 4 Piano Accordion; Advanced Certificate Trio Sonata Performance (Recorder).
Question Hello Sue how are you? There is a specific question that I would like to ask you see. I am a native English speaker and I am teaching intermediate and advanced English to non-speakers. Could you please give me some tips and techniques on how to generally improve my effectiveness in and outside of the classroom and how can I effectively control a classroom situation and organize the situation so that I can both protect myself and gain the respect and trust of the students and administration alike? Thanks Paul.
Answer Hi Paul,
Sorry, I can't really help you with this one. Because I visit lots of schools rather than being based in one class or even one school, the issues you are asking about don't really apply to me. The classroom teacher deals with discipline etc. I purely walk in, teach for half an hour, then get in my car and drive to the next school.
Sorry I can't be of more help.
Best wishes,
Sue
