Remote Learning 2.1!
Minutes of Meeting
Thursday 27 August 2020
Online SEVR Music Teachers and Coordinators’ Meeting
1:00 – 2:00pm
Welcome:
Present: SEVR Coordinators: Dmitry Serebrianik, Megan Waugh, Martin West and Barbara Kerr 40+ SEVR Music Teachers
Refer to “SEVR Music Remote Teaching 2.1 Survey”
Discussion to follow on 4 of these points
Engagement:
Difficulties of online learning
Year 7's had far fewer face to face lessons than online
Ensemble rehearsal difficulties
Cancellation of events such as concerts, tours, camps
2nd remote learning technically easier but perhaps more difficult in terms of
motivation
Strategies to increase engagement
Recording projects Audacity, Accapela
School leadership hoping for visible product to showcase music
Online performances
Contribution and discussion followed with a number of teachers making a contribution on
their school strategies
Retention:
Some drop off of student numbers during 2nd remote period
Some drop off of students before entering remote learning
Contribution and discussion followed involving many teachers
Retention generally good
Important to remind students remote learning won’t last forever, we will be back at school again
Important to be proactive, talk about performances and events on return to school
Important to give students a goal; recording or online performance, creative recording project
Give students the tools to allow them to drive their own learning and creativity,
introduce them to recording software
Virtual Soirees for soloists to make up for difficulty for online ensemble performance
Ensembles and Performance:
Thanks for great response to survey
Most schools indicating they are not running ensembles during this remote period
Others have continued to run them and comment on usefulness and success of
maintaining student connectedness, motivation and engagement
Of those running ensembles, success reported with very large junior concert bands to small combos and flute ensembles
Importance of recording projects, virtual performances, having a goal
Bandlab, Soundtrap, Audacity useful recording software
Contribution and discussion followed with a number of teachers making a contribution on their schools’ strategies
Flipgrid submission of recording tasks
Running sectional rehearsals
Usefulness of Break Out Rooms in Zoom
Attendance marked, expectation that students will attend
Importance to allow for music student advocacy, great opportunity for students to make a rich contribution and drive their own learning
Online rehearsals conducted both during school time and outside school hours
Times adjusted to suit ensemble requirements and respond to online fatigue
Warm up, blow, recording to clicktracks, playing with accompaniment, really worthwhile
Recruitment:
Traditional try out nights and face to face recruitment events may not be possible for 2021
Important to consider alternative online and recorded options
Contribution and discussion followed, many teachers participating
Video option, student films put together with information for parents and students
Underline idea “Music is Good for You”
Recorded performances for feeder primary schools
Schools with compulsory Year 7 programs in a good position for 2021 but important for others to be proactive, drive recruitment, think it through now
Important to capture those students not thinking about studying IM, reach out
Rich online promotion
Consider recent draconian NSW ED guidelines, no group singing or blowing instruments rehearsals
More Timbre testing, Selmer testing
Jupiter band instrument Tryout kits
Student performances great demonstration, Year 7 the best!
Really important for new students to hear instruments being played by other students
Really important to get information to parents, actively find new students