Why do I want to be a teacher?
I had to answer this for a teaching statement last year and had no idea what to say.
I have wanted to become a music teacher since around year 5 where I wanted to be able to teach young kids how to play a musical instrument. Throughout high school I have had music teachers that I have really loved as well as those that I haven’t enjoyed their classes or teaching style as much. I would love to be able to explain difficult musical concepts (especially those that I didn’t understand at first) clearly to a class in a way that they can understand easily. I want to be able to share my passion for music with kids and be a class that everyone can enjoy and escape from the stress of everyday life. I would also like to be able to help out with a schools band and encourage students to try and learn an instrument.
Love this! Good luck :) It's a great profession. You've definitely chosen the right path based on that 8)Thanks!! :D
hi katie!! so happy to see you're writing a uni journal - i would love to hear about your course!Thanks!! :D I should be at o-week-but not sure what days or anything though and if i'll bother going to some of the talks.
i think a few of us from AN are going to UNSW, so you won't be alone. :-) are you going to o-week??
We should organise an AN UNSW o-week meet up closer to the end of Feb! :)Easy.
We should organise an AN UNSW o-week meet up closer to the end of Feb! :)
Easy.
Also a good opportunity to discuss the AN band.
Can’t wait to read your future updates Katie! I really enjoyed your HSC journey journal :)Thanks!! Can't wait to read yours as well! :D
I’m not 100% sure but I think my friend is doing the same course as you at UNSW!
As someone who is doing a very similar course to you, This is the journal I am really looking forward to!Thanks!! You should start one as well (would love to read it)! :D
Can't wait to see further posts!
yay!!! congrats katie, so so so well deserved. :-)
YAYAYAYAYAY!! You're outstanding!!
Very hearty congratulations. :)
I then went to an education and music lecture! After the education lecture they had free food and some games by the education society. I got to talk to some other education students and they seemed pretty nice. There is also another Caitlin doing exactly the same course as me!!
Bumped into Fantasticbeasts this morning and went to an essay lecture with them which was really boring (cool seeing her though)!!
As part of my course (for per lab 1) you need to be a part of the uni’s ensembles. I signed up to Wind Symphony which is on Tuesdays from 4-6. It should be really fun and looks cool! It’s a little annoying though because it’s on the same night as Girl’s Brigade (a Christian youth group) and I lead the year 3 group with a few of my friends so I’ll be late for that each week.
I then went to an education and music lecture! After the education lecture they had free food and some games by the education society. I got to talk to some other education students and they seemed pretty nice. There is also another Caitlin doing exactly the same course as me!!
I’m also thinking of doing volunteering at the uni. I need to do volunteering as part of my Queens Award for Girls Brigade (2hrs a week for 6-10 months) and some of the ones at uni seem fun! I’m not exactly too sure what ones I want to do yet though.
I just did the uni libraries compulsory ELISE quiz and got 100% which is good!
I’m finding the travel into uni really exhausting-at the moment it’s been 1 1/2-2 hours each way (a train and then a bus)!
O-week day 2:
Bumped into Fantasticbeasts this morning and went to an essay lecture with them which was really boring (cool seeing her though)!!
I then went to an education and music lecture! After the education lecture they had free food and some games by the education society. I got to talk to some other education students and they seemed pretty nice. There is also another Caitlin doing exactly the same course as me!!
I’m also thinking of doing volunteering at the uni. I need to do volunteering as part of my Queens Award for Girls Brigade (2hrs a week for 6-10 months) and some of the ones at uni seem fun! I’m not exactly too sure what ones I want to do yet though.
That's actually pretty awesome! Most importantly, do your timetables meet-up?I'm pretty sure we are doing exactly the same units! Not too sure about studio/tute times though. (I've had a Caitlin in my class since primary) :)
Boring lecture? Clearly not run by us ;)Definitely wasn't Atar Notes quality ;)
So glad you are enjoying yourself!! You'll adjust to the commute, it takes a bit but eventually you'll find it really useful time for some catch up work! Or sleep ;)
so proud that we stayed for almost an hour in that lecture, i don't know we did it. good to see you again today!Great to see you today!! Felt bad for being on my phone during the lecture but it just wasn't interesting/engaging!
that's so cool!
there was one pretty good one closer to the beginning of the main walkway, but i can't remember what it's called hahaha
31/3/18For some reason the video didn't work :(( Was so looking forward to watch your vlog!
Weeks 4 & 5
Decided to try the vlog format today!!My First Ever Vlog!!
Omg you went to the Arts Camp? One of my friends went there as well! (well, I'm assuming this because her shirt said Arts Camp 2018 lol) Judging from her snapchat stories, it looked really fun. I think part of the experience in camps in general is how bad the food is xD (never been to a camp where the food was amazing).More on Arts society camp!I went to camp feeling really nervous as I didn’t really know too many people who were going and what the camp was going to be like. There were 125 other first years, around 20 leaders and other executive members there. Everybody was doing a subject under the faculty of arts and social sciences so it was very varied (e.g media, education, music, criminology, arts). Therefore, there were only three other people doing a music degree there.
The camp was sport themed for this year, and we also had a sports themed Saturday night party where everyone dressed up. We were split into 10 different groups, and did majority of the activities in our teams, (mine was the Beasty Bears). Each team made up a war cry and at the end of the camp there was a competition for 1st, 2nd and 3rd with prizes (We actually got 1st).
The camp mostly consisted of group games and activities in your teams. Some of them were really messy (like sock wrestling on soapy mats, or water fights), while others were based on communication within your teams. We also had a camp dance that we would do whenever we heard the song (‘forget you’). During the camp, we had pale blue camp shirts that we would wear for the majority of the time.
On the Saturday morning, they woke us up at 7am to do a sports themed bootcamp! :( On the Friday night, we had a trivia night in our groups with games in between the questions. Then, on the Saturday night, we had a sports themed party. I’m not a party person (& don’t drink much) so I didn’t really like the party as it was mainly alcohol and dancing and seen by some people as an excuse to get drunk. However, I did talk to a few friends afterwards which was really nice, and helped another friend who was drunk. We ended up going to bed really late both nights and were exhausted by the Sunday.
The camp food (especially the dinners and breakfasts) wasn’t actually really good though, so it was good to go home to nicer food :) .
Overall, I made quite a few friends at camp which was really good!! :D

For some reason the video didn't work :(( Was so looking forward to watch your blog!First time using YouTube!! I think I had it on private (where only I could view it) -should be working now!! :D
Omg you went to the Arts Camp? One of my friends went there as well! (well, I'm assuming this because her shirt said Arts Camp 2018 lol) Judging from her snapchat stories, it looked really fun. I think part of the experience in camps in general is how bad the good is xD (never been to a camp where the food was amazing).Wow! :) What was your friend's name?
31/3/18Love the phone going off at 4:22 Katie. Pls add it to more of the vlogs
Weeks 4 & 5
Decided to try the vlog format today!!My First Ever Vlog!!More on Arts society camp!I went to camp feeling really nervous as I didn’t really know too many people who were going and what the camp was going to be like. There were 125 other first years, around 20 leaders and other executive members there. Everybody was doing a subject under the faculty of arts and social sciences so it was very varied (e.g media, education, music, criminology, arts). Therefore, there were only three other people doing a music degree there.
The camp was sport themed for this year, and we also had a sports themed Saturday night party where everyone dressed up. We were split into 10 different groups, and did majority of the activities in our teams, (mine was the Beasty Bears). Each team made up a war cry and at the end of the camp there was a competition for 1st, 2nd and 3rd with prizes (We actually got 1st).
The camp mostly consisted of group games and activities in your teams. Some of them were really messy (like sock wrestling on soapy mats, or water fights), while others were based on communication within your teams. We also had a camp dance that we would do whenever we heard the song (‘forget you’). During the camp, we had pale blue camp shirts that we would wear for the majority of the time.
On the Saturday morning, they woke us up at 7am to do a sports themed bootcamp! :( On the Friday night, we had a trivia night in our groups with games in between the questions. Then, on the Saturday night, we had a sports themed party. I’m not a party person (& don’t drink much) so I didn’t really like the party as it was mainly alcohol and dancing and seen by some people as an excuse to get drunk. However, I did talk to a few friends afterwards which was really nice, and helped another friend who was drunk. We ended up going to bed really late both nights and were exhausted by the Sunday.
The camp food (especially the dinners and breakfasts) wasn’t actually really good though, so it was good to go home to nicer food :) .
Overall, I made quite a few friends at camp which was really good!! :D

First time using YouTube!! I think I had it on private (where only I could view it) -should be working now!! :DYep, the link works now!
Wow! :) What was your friend's name?Michelle was my friend's name! (Pretty sure she studies Media specialising in PR and advertising at UNSW).
Love the phone going off at 4:22 Katie. Pls add it to more of the vlogsWas actually one of our group chats ;) (filmed it a few times and it was the only half-decent video)!!
Yep, the link works now!The theory lectures are so boring (and I have to do 3 more of these units!)
And I agree with you on music theory- theory is so boring; I would fall asleep whenever my piano teacher would get me to do an exercise on theory!
Michelle was my friend's name! (Pretty sure she studies Media specialising in PR and advertising at UNSW).
Michelle was actually in the same room as me!! :DOmg wow, didn't expect you to know her considering that there are 100+ other people! What a small world :D
12/4/18Mid-Sem BreakDidn’t actually get as much done this week as I had wanted to. I spent a lot more time procrastinating then doing any assessments or studying. I started one of my assessments but only did around 230 words out of the 500.
I ended up going to the SOAP (Wind symph/orchestra’s society) bushwalk to Bundeena and it was pretty good. My peer mentor is the president of the society and she led the walk so I knew her and another first year fairly well but met three other people in the ensembles. It was an 8km return walk to wedding cake rock and a beach. We went swimming afterwards at both the beach at the walk (which had a really bad undertow though) and the beach at Bundeena (which was a lot calmer). Here’s a link to some pictures of the day!
We had Greek Easter at my cousin’s house on Sunday and it was a great day with some really good Greek food (I like the pastitso- Greek lasagne, and souvlaki).Hope everybody had a great week!! :DWeek 6!Monday
I started with my music reinvented lecture today that was mainly on the music of Stravinsky and Bartok. I prefer this lecture to some of my others as we listen to lots of different musical excerpts throughout and it isn’t just the lecturer talking about stuff on the PowerPoint. I had to do an assignment for this unit that was due today (Thursday) which was a mini 400-500-word bio on Debussy’s early life and how this affected his subsequent musical compositions.
In the tute, straight after the lecture we talked about a listening test we have coming up and did a bit of practise for it. For this test, we need to be able to recognise any piece from our listening list (of 17 pieces that are 20min long) and write the name of the piece, movement, composer, genre, and 25 words about technique/historical significance of the piece. I’ve made a table with some of my friends so we can do this easier but it sounds like a lot of work.
Afterwards, I had the theory lecture and while I understood some of it (on some of the minor keys/chords), it’s still not very interesting. It’s also one of the classes I wish was recorded so I could go over what I didn’t understand well the first time (but It’s one of my 2 courses that isn’t).
Tuesday/Wednesday
I started with my education lecture at 12, and really just zoned out .. almost the whole time. I’m hoping that the education units next sem are a lot better because this one is just really slow and boring. I was honestly just switching through tabs for around 85% of the time. The tute on Wed wasn’t any better and we spent almost all the time going over 5 definitions from the lecture & textbook. I got my marks back for the article analysis today (Tuesday) though and ironically it’s been my best mark at uni so far (80%)!
Thursday
Today, I started with the aural choir (singing). We mainly just did warm ups, and then some pieces with four-part harmony. The pieces themselves aren’t very exciting but it does sound pretty good with us all together. It’s my second last week of peer mentoring so after the studio, we all met up at Cuco Cubana to have lunch together! We doing trivia against the other groups next week and having a breakfast the week after. Then, I had my theory tute, which was revision on what we had done in the last two lectures (on suspensions, and minor scales/chords). We have a test for this in my tute next week that I really need to study for.
Also, just checked and I think I have to be at uni all five days next sem :'(.
Wind Sympth concert
Tomorrow, I have my first concert for the Wind symphony, called Suites and Treats. It’s at Clancy auditorium (where we normally rehearse) at uni from 7. The orchestras playing the 1st half and then were playing the 2nd. I’m also ushering with some of my 3rd clarinet friends at the start of the concert, basically just handing out programs and making sure everyone has a ticket. It should be heaps of fun!! :D
I skipped out on half of my education lecture this week because I had lunch with my little brother after he had a doctor’s appointment at the kid’s hospital. The lectures are still really boring and half of the time he reads off the slides so I’m not really missing much. We have someone from the department of education coming next week so that might be more interesting.
31/3/18
Weeks 4 & 5
Decided to try the vlog format today!!My First Ever Vlog!!More on Arts society camp!I went to camp feeling really nervous as I didn’t really know too many people who were going and what the camp was going to be like. There were 125 other first years, around 20 leaders and other executive members there. Everybody was doing a subject under the faculty of arts and social sciences so it was very varied (e.g media, education, music, criminology, arts). Therefore, there were only three other people doing a music degree there.
The camp was sport themed for this year, and we also had a sports themed Saturday night party where everyone dressed up. We were split into 10 different groups, and did majority of the activities in our teams, (mine was the Beasty Bears). Each team made up a war cry and at the end of the camp there was a competition for 1st, 2nd and 3rd with prizes (We actually got 1st).
The camp mostly consisted of group games and activities in your teams. Some of them were really messy (like sock wrestling on soapy mats, or water fights), while others were based on communication within your teams. We also had a camp dance that we would do whenever we heard the song (‘forget you’). During the camp, we had pale blue camp shirts that we would wear for the majority of the time.
On the Saturday morning, they woke us up at 7am to do a sports themed bootcamp! :( On the Friday night, we had a trivia night in our groups with games in between the questions. Then, on the Saturday night, we had a sports themed party. I’m not a party person (& don’t drink much) so I didn’t really like the party as it was mainly alcohol and dancing and seen by some people as an excuse to get drunk. However, I did talk to a few friends afterwards which was really nice, and helped another friend who was drunk. We ended up going to bed really late both nights and were exhausted by the Sunday.
The camp food (especially the dinners and breakfasts) wasn’t actually really good though, so it was good to go home to nicer food :) .
Overall, I made quite a few friends at camp which was really good!! :D

I hope your brother is okay!!Thanks!! :)
Good luck with your performances, and your concerts, and your interview - Wow, you're so busy!! ;D
Only just catching up, but love the vlog!Thanks!! Might do another vlog for the next two weeks! ;D
Turnitin's so whack with the bibliography haha. I remember doing that once and being like ?!?!?!?!
Forum meet-up yaasssasssssss.Still all for an interstate meet-up!! :D
Still all for an interstate meet-up!! :D
Do you recommend going to the balls? I have Law ball but I am unsure if I should go!Arts Ball was really expensive ($140ish!!) but the food was amazing and I did have a great night with my friends. It was a lot fancier then my year 12 formal which was kinda weird but the music was good and it was a fun night. I'm also looking at going to the Music Ball towards the end of September (which is cheaper!) and it will have my friends from Wind Sympth and class which should be really fun! ;D
I know you say you don't know where you want to work, but - any general ideas? Like, what sort of area would you be leaning toward?I started my last job when I was 15 and it's the only job I've had-most of the time it's been really good :).
I started my last job when I was 15 and it's the only job I've had-most of the time it's been really good :).
I have a certificate 2 in hospitality from last year so I could probably work at a cafe/restaurant. Otherwise, I did really enjoy working with kids so if I can find something fun (that isn't party hosting) that would be great! ;D
- I’m thinking about going on exchange at the end of 3rd year. I’ve been looking at it recently and it sounds so exciting!! I've never been overseas before so it would be really fun! I would need to save up a huge amount for it though!
THIS. Yes yes yes!!! I'm planning on going at the same time as you -- where are you thinking of going and for how long? Start saving now as well, but there are a ton of government and uni schemes to help you out so don't worry too much!Not too sure yet-definitely needs to be English speaking though! I have a friend that does music and is on exchange this sem so I was going to talk to her about it and also go to the exchange expo in April and then decide. Will probably be there for around 4-6 months-enough time for a semester and to travel afterwards. If we end up close, we should meet up during exchange. :D
23/2/19
Week 1
I’m at uni 4 days a week this term: I have Thursdays off but on Mondays and Fridays I only have class from 9-10:30 which is really annoying.
Yep, so far I have a Bible study on Mondays from 11-12, and then on Friday I've booked a practise room from 10:30-12. Then when I have more assessments and stuff I might stay back later to work on them.
That certainly sounds annoying. Is there anything beneficial you can do at uni on those days to make it less bad? (eg study groups)
The concerto sounds fantastic! :) Would definitely be a lot of practice as well (at least relative to if I were to attempt a piece like that when I was doing sax)The concertos really nice!! I'm learning the first two movements this term/for grade 8 and then adding the last movement later. It's 20 minutes long which is going to be really long to play without breaks for my exam though.
It'll be interesting to see how well the pedagogy stream complements the education side of your degree and if many people in that stream are also doing the double degree. Hopefully you can find some good peers through that :)
:( Good luck with the job search - hopefully things pick up for you soon!Thanks!! :)
I know you're not pursuing this stream, but what is "sonic arts", exactly?I think sonic arts is more towards recording and producing music and how to use all the electronic stuff. This has more info :)
Congrats!!With trimesters now, UNSW has 3 10 week terms. So now we have 30 weeks of class instead of 26 but all the class content is squeezed into 10 week terms.
Do you usually only have 10 weeks a semester or is this an early finish?
Do you know what type of lesson you'd like to run? I imagine it could be pretty frustrating having ideas and wanting to step in but being unable to :/Haven't got any strong ideas but I've been at placement for 5 weeks/10 days now and it's starting to get annoying not being able to do much. Would prefer to be able to plan/teach something small for years 7-9. It's been a bit disappointing because when I did work experience in year 10, because I knew the teacher I got to run two different classes (kindy and yr 1) and I've done less now in 2nd year uni.
I'm glad to hear that music studio teaching has been really good :DI'm really excited for the other 2 pedagogy classes in this stream next year!! :D
It has such a strong impact having a small, tight-knit cohort. Have you decreased in size much or is this all you started with?
Haven't got any strong ideas but I've been at placement for 5 weeks/10 days now and it's starting to get annoying not being able to do much. Would prefer to be able to plan/teach something small for years 7-9. It's been a bit disappointing because when I did work experience in year 10, because I knew the teacher I got to run two different classes (kindy and yr 1) and I've done less now in 2nd year uni.That does sound super frustrating, or at the least, boring. Will you get any opportunities to write up some lesson plans and run any classes before placement ends? ;D
I'm really excited for the other 2 pedagogy classes in this stream next year!! :D
That does sound super frustrating, or at the least, boring. Will you get any opportunities to write up some lesson plans and run any classes before placement ends? ;DNo, this placements just meant to be a 15 day observation. I go on 2 more placements in 4th year which I can plan/teach lessons. :)
What's your Friday class?They're music masterclasses for my performance lab course-when the uni gets someone in to talk/perform. Its run 3 times during the term and we have to go to at least 4 in the year.
Good luck with your assignments!
With the practical stuff in the Edu classes (like practising how to introduce yourself etc.), what's the sentiment usually like? Is it like a "oh gee, here we go again - how awkward" kinda vibe, or more a "this is awesome, we're learning how to do stuff!" kinda thing?I think it's a bit of both. Like it's really cool that I will do it at placement next year/its actually useful but it's also kinda've awkward as well. We were meant to be giving each other feedback and it was either "sounds good", or "you've got a good teacher voice". I think because some people are going on the longer placements this year it is taken a bit more seriously but it's still pretty awkward as well.