Kia ora, here’s a little about my career in music teaching.
I trained as a Secondary Teacher at the Auckland College of Education in 1990. Music and English Literature were my main specialties.
My first two years teaching were extremely challenging at an all-boys school in Whangarei. There were fights in the playground and bullying in the classroom. I thought, what have I done to deserve this? The stress was huge and at the end of two years I was burnt out.
I came home to Coromandel to recover! Then from 1993 – 1996 I taught part-time at Coromandel Area School and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Harataunga in Kennedy Bay. It was great to be back home in the Coromandel!
1997 saw me back in the city of Auckland, where my son attended secondary school. I enjoyed working as the music specialist teacher at Ponsonby Primary School and Southern Cross Campus middle school in Mangere.
Then I returned to home in the Coromandel to re-charge my batteries and re-connect with the whanau and whenua.
2004 – 2008 saw me back in the city, this time as Head of Music at Kelston Girls College. That was fun as the girls were so vibrant and musical, with beautiful singing voices. When I arrived, the music department was very small with a brass band but no guitars or choir. I introduced music technology with composing software, guitars and ukuleles. After three years the department was busting at the seams and I was getting worn out again.
I studied for a Graduate Diploma in Education Technology, thinking this might open up new work horizons for me. Sure enough in 2006, I secured a contract with a company as an ‘implementation consultant’ setting up school websites. The internet was having a huge impact and there were many changes happening in education. However my door to this new career in ICT was short-lived as the company went bust. So back to relief teaching.
Relief teaching had its pluses and minuses! I had to have my wits about me and deal with unsettled children who would like to ‘hassle’ the relief teacher. But my musical angels came to the rescue and bringing my guitar to each class worked a treat.
By this time my son had left home for University and there was no need for me to stay in the city. My Coromandel home that I missed terribly, was calling me. Then when my rented city house got broken into, that was the last straw and I was ‘out of there’ , desparately looking for a teaching position anywhere out of Auckland.
Luck was on my side and I secured a position as Head of Music at Mercury Bay Area School, in the pretty Coromandel coastal town of Whitianga, only 90 minutes drive from my home. Those years were very happy and fulfilling. A new Music Department was being built and the facilities were the best I had experienced. Not to mention the very supportive Principal who understood the importance of the Arts in education, the wonderful itinerant music teachers and the talented students. But again after a few years I was getting a bit worn-out and was approaching the so-called ‘retirement’ age of 65.
So back home I came again, to my charming house that I have built with my own hands and the help of many others.
All that diverse music teaching experience has been a most psychologically enriching career. Knowing that my mahi has touched the lives of thousands of young people in beneficial ways. Music as the universal language, with so many learning pathways possible, so good for self-esteem, mental health, and for those who get passionate and hooked on music – good for their career pathways.
I have always loved this Shakespearian quote:
” If music be the food of love, play on!”
Academic Qualifications
- BA English Literature & Psychology, 1971, Auckland University.
- C.of P. MA papers Psychology, 1974, Auckland University.
- Certificate in Adult Education, 1995, Waikato Polytech.
- Graduate Diploma in Education Technology, 2005, Unitech.
- C of P. Diploma of Applied Writing papers, 2011. NorthTec.
- Certificate in Celebrant Studies, 2013, Auckland Celebrant School.
- Diploma in Celebrant Studies 2021, Auckland Celebrant School.
Watersong Studio 