It's true that the friends of our youth are the ones that stick the longest, but this week, I have experienced the joy and wonder of new friendships with unexpected individuals.
I am just so grateful that it is still possible to share deeply of one's life with a near-stranger without the benefit of age or phase-in-life similarities, and I plan to savour this connection for as long as both of us want it.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Outcome of The Audition
Got The Call today while in the midst of enjoying the company of my friends at home.
It began with "Unfortunately..."
I tried to find a thread of disappointment or rejection somewhere within - but couldn't find any.
Honestly, I was just relieved.
I've been having second and third thoughts the further I got along in the recruitment process, and wondering what would happen if I really had to make my way to and from classes in winter when I can't see well enough to drive.
I am glad I tried, and that I got as far as I did. Now I can go all out with my ONE Group business and make 2010 my year of success. Yeah! :-)
It began with "Unfortunately..."
I tried to find a thread of disappointment or rejection somewhere within - but couldn't find any.
Honestly, I was just relieved.
I've been having second and third thoughts the further I got along in the recruitment process, and wondering what would happen if I really had to make my way to and from classes in winter when I can't see well enough to drive.
I am glad I tried, and that I got as far as I did. Now I can go all out with my ONE Group business and make 2010 my year of success. Yeah! :-)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The 15-second Commercial
Have been listening to Michael Oliver's MiSales audio CDs in the car.
Today, I did my first 15-second commercial at the gym.
Chatting with a newbie to the Body Vive class, I was asked what I do for a living.
I did almost word-for-word as suggested by MO. That is, put my business front and center by positioning it in terms of how what I do benefits people.
"You know how lots of popular brands of skincare and cosmetics contain harmful chemicals that get absorbed into our skin? I help people by distributing skincare and cosmetics that are certified organic and contain no harmful chemicals. Completely natural."
"Really? What is the brand called?"
That opened the way for me to say "Miessence".
"I think I've heard of the name before," said my conversation partner.
She then shared that she uses Paula's Choice, which I've read about before.
We didn't get to chat much after that as the class started, but I've learned enough that I know how to take up the conversation when we next meet.
This isn't too hard. I think I can do this Natural Selling type of conversation every day. :-)
Today, I did my first 15-second commercial at the gym.
Chatting with a newbie to the Body Vive class, I was asked what I do for a living.
I did almost word-for-word as suggested by MO. That is, put my business front and center by positioning it in terms of how what I do benefits people.
"You know how lots of popular brands of skincare and cosmetics contain harmful chemicals that get absorbed into our skin? I help people by distributing skincare and cosmetics that are certified organic and contain no harmful chemicals. Completely natural."
"Really? What is the brand called?"
That opened the way for me to say "Miessence".
"I think I've heard of the name before," said my conversation partner.
She then shared that she uses Paula's Choice, which I've read about before.
We didn't get to chat much after that as the class started, but I've learned enough that I know how to take up the conversation when we next meet.
This isn't too hard. I think I can do this Natural Selling type of conversation every day. :-)
The Audition
Monday's teacher audition @ Malvern was a highly interesting experience.
My first challenge was getting everyone out of the house on time so that I could make it for the 8.13 train.
I was so stressed by anxiety that I woke at 1 am and didn't get to sleep till it was almost time for the alarm to go off.
So I started the morning looking tired and disheveled.
But I did it.
Beth was the first one in her class (and the whole of her year) to reach school, and I had the luxury of staying with her for 10 min till it was time to go.
I even had 20 min to spare after getting off at Malvern station. I stood at the corner of Station Place trying to work out which direction was Glenferrie Rd. Once I got my bearings, everything went really smoothly.
What really impressed me about Malvern was the number and variety of shops near the train station. Cafes, bakeries, shoe stores, boutiques, greengrocer, Vinnie's, recycled children's clothing, hairdresser, beauty salon...
Even the locals look different from the people I encounter where I live. For one, there didn't seem to be as many elderly. And the older ones were highly mobile and in good health. No one was in a gopher or wheelchair. The younger ones looked trim and healthy as they went by, their purchases tucked under one arm or a cup of takeaway coffee in hand.
Back to the audition.
I met Robyn (senior instructor) on my way in, and she asked me to pick up an availability form and pointed me to a room where I could rehearse before the audition.
The piano was LOUD.
It took me a while to figure out how to mute it to an acceptable volume so I wouldn't interrupt the conversations that were going on all around.
Then it was time to go in.
My interviewing panel was made up of Robyn and Rose, the regional coordinator who was also MC for this year's Annual Concert.
They took pains to be friendly and really put me at ease, but there was no getting away from performance nerves.
My prepared pieces went rather badly, and I rued not having spent more time the day before polishing them. It had been a busy weekend and I had let practice time slip away from me.
The sight singing and sight playing went quite well, except my voice was thin and soft. I was also told my personality is on the quiet side. As I explained to hubby later, that's just the way I am and I can't really help my voice or my personality being the way it is. If Yamaha considers that a minus point, then too bad. He agreed with my perspective. I think he was pleasantly surprised that I'm not stressing about how my weaknesses might be taken against me.
When I first applied for the position, I had my Plan B all worked out. Meaning that if I don't get accepted for a teaching position (Plan A), I will focus my energies on my organics business. So it's not like everything is hanging on this job application. This approach has really helped me relax and be honest with my interviewers. I told them about my night vision problems, because teachers are expected to teach from 4-7.30 pm on a week night, which can be terrible in winter when it gets dark by 5. I would have to find alternative transport since I can't drive at night.
I am now waiting to hear from Yamaha. If they say "You're in!", I will have to start organizing after-school care for my child. If they say "Sorry", I'll say "No worries, mate!" and get on with my organics business and my writing.
Life is so much easier when you are clear about what you want to do.
My first challenge was getting everyone out of the house on time so that I could make it for the 8.13 train.
I was so stressed by anxiety that I woke at 1 am and didn't get to sleep till it was almost time for the alarm to go off.
So I started the morning looking tired and disheveled.
But I did it.
Beth was the first one in her class (and the whole of her year) to reach school, and I had the luxury of staying with her for 10 min till it was time to go.
I even had 20 min to spare after getting off at Malvern station. I stood at the corner of Station Place trying to work out which direction was Glenferrie Rd. Once I got my bearings, everything went really smoothly.
What really impressed me about Malvern was the number and variety of shops near the train station. Cafes, bakeries, shoe stores, boutiques, greengrocer, Vinnie's, recycled children's clothing, hairdresser, beauty salon...
Even the locals look different from the people I encounter where I live. For one, there didn't seem to be as many elderly. And the older ones were highly mobile and in good health. No one was in a gopher or wheelchair. The younger ones looked trim and healthy as they went by, their purchases tucked under one arm or a cup of takeaway coffee in hand.
Back to the audition.
I met Robyn (senior instructor) on my way in, and she asked me to pick up an availability form and pointed me to a room where I could rehearse before the audition.
The piano was LOUD.
It took me a while to figure out how to mute it to an acceptable volume so I wouldn't interrupt the conversations that were going on all around.
Then it was time to go in.
My interviewing panel was made up of Robyn and Rose, the regional coordinator who was also MC for this year's Annual Concert.
They took pains to be friendly and really put me at ease, but there was no getting away from performance nerves.
My prepared pieces went rather badly, and I rued not having spent more time the day before polishing them. It had been a busy weekend and I had let practice time slip away from me.
The sight singing and sight playing went quite well, except my voice was thin and soft. I was also told my personality is on the quiet side. As I explained to hubby later, that's just the way I am and I can't really help my voice or my personality being the way it is. If Yamaha considers that a minus point, then too bad. He agreed with my perspective. I think he was pleasantly surprised that I'm not stressing about how my weaknesses might be taken against me.
When I first applied for the position, I had my Plan B all worked out. Meaning that if I don't get accepted for a teaching position (Plan A), I will focus my energies on my organics business. So it's not like everything is hanging on this job application. This approach has really helped me relax and be honest with my interviewers. I told them about my night vision problems, because teachers are expected to teach from 4-7.30 pm on a week night, which can be terrible in winter when it gets dark by 5. I would have to find alternative transport since I can't drive at night.
I am now waiting to hear from Yamaha. If they say "You're in!", I will have to start organizing after-school care for my child. If they say "Sorry", I'll say "No worries, mate!" and get on with my organics business and my writing.
Life is so much easier when you are clear about what you want to do.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
The Next Step
I have now made it through the Group Interview and completed two class observations.
The next step is to book myself in for the audition, which I've just done.
It's going to be pretty interesting, just to detach myself mentally and see how far I can go with this.
As former Olympian and Masters athlete Helen Searle says, "The way I see it, that great MD in the sky gives you the genes and the gifts and it's up to you which way you use them."
The next step is to book myself in for the audition, which I've just done.
It's going to be pretty interesting, just to detach myself mentally and see how far I can go with this.
As former Olympian and Masters athlete Helen Searle says, "The way I see it, that great MD in the sky gives you the genes and the gifts and it's up to you which way you use them."
Monday, November 02, 2009
A Big Decision To Make
To teach-in-a-classroom-setting or not, that is the question.
I have now cleared the initial phone screen, the group interview and completed the two class observations for littlies and primary-school-aged children.
Now I have to decide if I want to proceed to audition stage.
If I say yes, there is much more than playing a few prepared pieces and singing my way through the 30-minute audition.
If I make it through, I have to sign an agreement, pay a training fee and attend a series of training seminars to get ready for the start of school term in 2010.
It's the seminars that make me think: this is too hard.
They're full-day, take place somewhere far from where I live, and will require efficient organization of after-school care for my kids. The very first seminar coincides with Beth's School Presentation Night and I am most reluctant to do anything that would jeopardize my attendance at this very important school function.
There's also the tricky issue of teaching on weekdays. I'll have to organize for hubby to work from home so he can pick up the girls from school and daycare. And during the three months from April-July, I'll be totally (night)blind after 5 pm and have to rely on someone (hubby, hopefully) to ferry me to and from classes.
A couple more things.
Am I comfortable being teacher/entertainer/role model to a group of kids and managing their parents?
Or would I be better sticking to private tuition?
How will I sustain teaching back-to-back classes when I can't project my voice properly and tend to go hoarse from singing from the throat?
The odds seem pretty daunting.
At the core of it, I have to ask myself whether group teaching is the best way for me to share and impart my love and knowledge of music to young children.
I have till Wed to decide.
I have now cleared the initial phone screen, the group interview and completed the two class observations for littlies and primary-school-aged children.
Now I have to decide if I want to proceed to audition stage.
If I say yes, there is much more than playing a few prepared pieces and singing my way through the 30-minute audition.
If I make it through, I have to sign an agreement, pay a training fee and attend a series of training seminars to get ready for the start of school term in 2010.
It's the seminars that make me think: this is too hard.
They're full-day, take place somewhere far from where I live, and will require efficient organization of after-school care for my kids. The very first seminar coincides with Beth's School Presentation Night and I am most reluctant to do anything that would jeopardize my attendance at this very important school function.
There's also the tricky issue of teaching on weekdays. I'll have to organize for hubby to work from home so he can pick up the girls from school and daycare. And during the three months from April-July, I'll be totally (night)blind after 5 pm and have to rely on someone (hubby, hopefully) to ferry me to and from classes.
A couple more things.
Am I comfortable being teacher/entertainer/role model to a group of kids and managing their parents?
Or would I be better sticking to private tuition?
How will I sustain teaching back-to-back classes when I can't project my voice properly and tend to go hoarse from singing from the throat?
The odds seem pretty daunting.
At the core of it, I have to ask myself whether group teaching is the best way for me to share and impart my love and knowledge of music to young children.
I have till Wed to decide.
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