I don’t often like to write about gigs I’m going to do… I much prefer to speak of them once they’ve happened. Or, in this case, as they’re currently happening.
I got a phone call in August to see if I would be interested in coming in for an interview for Randolph Academy (http://www.randolphacademy.com/). They needed a Musical Director for one of their fourth-term cabaret courses, beginning in September. I figured there wouldn’t be any harm in going in for an interview, so I said sure, I’d love to come in! (Keep in mind, I haven’t had a consistent teaching gig in probably 10 years…)
I do the occasional coaching or private lesson here and there, but this was a consistent time commitment as well as guaranteed employment for 8 hours a week. I liked what they were telling me about the position, and told them I was interested in it. I guess they liked what they saw in me and offered me the gig!
Since then, my Thursdays and Fridays from 11 am to 3 pm have been taken up by working through an immense amount of material with some extremely talented and motivated young people. I’m having a lot of fun working with them, and am learning more about movement and dance than I thought imaginable. Working with Ray Hogg (http://www.rayhogg.com/Home.html) has been a singular experience as well, as he is incredibly gifted in working with the students, inspiring them to move and really learn their parts. He’s taken the approach of this being a real-world gig and there is only so much time to prepare everything. I think the students are getting a valuable lesson in how things work, as well as the specifics of each piece (which demand something different of everyone).
I’m also learning more about the tools that I use on the gig, namely my iPad and the various programs/accesories that come with it… but that’s something for another blog!
In short, my September was amazing, with all kinds of new experiences with teaching and music directing. It’s pushed me to be more prepared with the music and to learn how to effectively communicate with people who have a broad level of musical knowledge and experience.
I had a little bit of experience with that last bit, courtesy of my weekly accompaniment gig with Newchoir (http://newchoir.ca/), but I’m also learning that every little bit of experience helps you in everything else you do. As I’m quite fond of saying: “Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.”
Not to say that I’m making a whole lot of bad judgment, mind you… but I can see where (and how) things go awry a lot easier now!
I’m definitely looking forward to the cabaret class’s performance at the end of November, and hope the experience leads to more of the same, whether it be music directing or teaching!