Music to our ears: interview with Mr. Joe Scott

Joe Scott, Head of Junior Music, BA (hons.), PGCE

As a teenager I studied at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester on bass trombone and jazz piano. After that, I studied music for 3 years at the University of Cambridge before moving to Cardiff to continue my studies. I received my teaching qualification (PGCE) at the University of Buckingham.

(Source:www.huffingtonpost.co.uk)

Before becoming a teacher I worked as a freelance bass trombonist in various musical theatres and orchestras in London and Cambridge. I am proud to have worked at Haileybury Astana since the opening of the school in 2011.

The most exciting thing about being a music teacher at Haileybury Astana is working with so many talented and interesting children. I know that there are many children here who will enjoy making music for their whole lives, and this school experience is just the beginning. The most special moments are when children show me the songs that they have written at home and performances that they want to share. Some children don’t contribute fully to music lessons from the outset, but when they do suddenly start singing and playing with enthusiasm it is a very magical moment.

All teachers want to make a difference to the lives of the children and create memories that will last for ever. If the children are still making music in 20 years time, and have fond memories of their school music lessons, I will feel that I have made a significant contribution.

I joined Haileybury Astana School because I thought that it would be an exciting adventure to teach so far away from home. It is nice to get away from the rainy weather and receive a regular dose of sunshine.

In addition to teaching music I have been a class teacher in Year 1 and Year 4.

The key ingredient in succeeding in studies is practice. In primary school it is not necessary to practice for a very long time each day, just 10-15 minutes on a regular basis can lead to great results and provide a strong foundation. It is very useful when the child has a target to motivate them – many children bring their instruments to lessons to play in front of their friends and we have regular ‘Performance Platform’ concerts in school. A little bit of healthy bribery can be helpful for parents when the child needs an extra stimulus! I like to give stickers, but there are many more possibilities. Some people claim that to become a fully proficient musician takes about 10,000 hours of practice. This sounds like a lot, but if you like making music and have the determination to succeed it is a very enjoyable and worthwhile journey.

I run a Junior and Senior singing groups on Mondays and Thursdays. On Wednesday and Friday I teach Junior Recorder Club and Orchestra. In the mornings I help children who are interested in music theory and aural training. This is something that I want to expand next year with the help of our excellent peripatetic music staff.

("Flashlight" performed by the students of Mr Scot's "Singing" ССA)

Kazakhstan is a wonderful country and Astana feels like a very safe place to live. I particularly like the fact that it is not so busy compared to other major cities, but of course the roads can sometimes be a little bit hectic.