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25.06.20 – Darrell & Eileen Priestley & Jessica Laughton
We just wanted to wing a quick hello to all you lovely mustic students and your families. And also, share a word with you about something we think is very important – People!
As England eases out of lockdown, it’s good to take stock. It’s now the height of summer, and quite wonderful to be outside, but if you like us have been following the science you will know that this freedom does not come without risk. There is a reason that NMA has chosen not to reopen yet, though we are busily preparing for that day. Simply, we prefer to monitor the effect of what’s happening, and any effect on the transmission rate and infections before committing ourselves.
When we do reopen our door for the first time, we may likely be looking at a slow, phased process which allows us to check how well it is going, so we can tweak things easily if necessary. Our duty of care to you means that we will prioritise getting things right over doing anything in a hurry. Of course, we’re people too and so we are having as hard a time as anyone maintaining the social distancing from family, but we understand just why it has to be done. Our grand daughter is now ten months old, and our grandons son not far off four, and my wife and daughter are finding distancing particularely tough, but just like everyone else we haven’t been doing all this for nothing.
Our hope is that Christmas this year will see us all able to mix again, as in other years, but what we all do now will set the scene for the Christmas ahead. It will be a very poigniant time for many, but it would be quite tragic if at least we are not able to share it as in years gone by. This is why we are all quite right to be cautious, and remain vigilant. The changes we are making at NMA will help us all maintain distance, so that we can soon resume lessons safely. And that is something we are looking forward to very, very much indeed.
Hope to see you soon! -Darrell, Eileen, Jessica and the team.
25.06.20 – Darrell Priestley
Not a lot to report this week, as we are taking a week’s holiday. Of course, in 2020, holidays take on a different shape. The intention was to get in some much needed garden time. I’m not sure quite what happened, but so far we have seen a lot more of NMA headquarters than of our garden. But what can you do?
We have been putting time into getting the NMA headquarters ready for reopening. And of course, once you start a job, you sort of have to follow through. There’s definitely a lot still to do, but making progress is it’s own sweet reward, and we are progressing in the right direction.
I’ll be back teaching online again next week. For now, I wish you well, and hope you have been able to enjoy some of the lovely weather this week.
18.06.20 – Darrell Priestley
A lot has been said lately in the media, and in general conversation, about schools. To open, or not to open. To send or not to send your children. It comes down to risk; our perception of risk, and what can be done to mitigate it. Undoubtedly, the children are missing out on the benefits of education, of structure, of socialising and routine. We all hope that the children can return to regular school attendence and learning very soon, whether through adaptation, innovation, or best of all because the risk can be seen to have passed.
I heard a doctor in Scotland speaking on the radio on Wednesday about his three children, who look as if they will have had 20 weeks off before they resume schooling in August. He was full of praise for all of his children’s teachers, but freely pointed out that not one of his children has had any spoken contact with a teacher so far during lockdown. And then there’s you.
Like quite a number of parents, you may have prioritised music lessons for your child during this difficult period we are living through. We know that, sadly, this has not been possible for all, which is why we have also had free online check in visits available throughout for anyone wanting or needing them. If you have been able to keep up with lessons, you may have been rewarded by seeing your child make remarkable progress, against all the odds. It’s a thing! Amazing, really, because delivering live music lessons online is quite difficult. A school teacher interviewed on channel 4 news on Wednesday did a good job of listing the types of things that will always be easier to achieve when teaching in person, and I noted and agreed with each of the points he made; clearly, he had experience of providing live lessons online.
And yet. Despite any communication difficulties, students have mostly adjusted (we teachers too!), and have made us proud. I have seen several examples of students who have progressed more during lockdown than in the previous 12 months. All of this has been made possible by You! Amidst the turmoil, music lessons may well have seemed like a luxury. On the evidence, though, I would call it a sound investment, and I intend no pun.
If I could, I would like to go back in time and thank my long departed parents for all they did for me. I think I may have been a challenge, but they rose to it! I would thank my mum for sitting me on her knee so often as a toddler, and cajoling me until I learned to read. It gave me a big advantage when I started school. She frequently reminded me of the need to work hard and study; “Work like a stag” she would say, whenever she thought I might be slipping. And I would thank my dad for twisting my arm to take up music lessons, (I was at first reluctant), for driving me to Castleford every week, and finding just the right combo of psychology, incentives and just plain craftiness to get me practicing and making constant progress. I would like to thank them both for all the sacrifices, too; we didn’t have a fancy lifestyle, with few holidays, in fact the first time I went abroad I was 27 and a father myself. But thanks to them, I never lacked for my education, and all the time I was growing up, I never missed a music lesson.
You may think that parenting is all in a day’s work, but it is one of the hardest, and at the same time the most wonderful things any human being can do for another. So, if I may, I would like to acknowledge now the sacrifices you have made as a parent for your children, at all stages of their lives, both before and during the pandemic. Your children will reflect on this in the years to come, and it will warm their hearts whenever they think of it.
On behalf of the children: Thank You!
16.06.20 – Darrell Priestley
Hi everyone. We have all had some tough challenges, but it will pay us all long term to keep our heads and think things through carefully. This is exactly what we do here at the Northern Music Academy, and you should not be expecting any rash moves from us.
Some of our students have been asking when they can return to lessons in person. We are delighted, and we feel just the same way. However, caution is the byword, and although we believe that we are moving in that direction, we judge it still to be a little early.
However, because so much has changed, and as part of our ongoing risk management, we believe it will be necessary to rework the timetable when we reopen. We all want the lessons, it’s a way of life. So, while there may well be changes, we will find a way to make it work.
I will be the first to say that teaching online has many challenges compared with teaching live, and it can be much harder from the teacher’s point of view. However, even while the sound can so often be less than perfect, one thing it has done is to make us all use our ears very much more than usual, and I’ve noticed quite a few students have really benefited from this.
Really looking forward to seeing you again, but we will of course let you know when that is possible. Remember too, just visit this blog to stay up to date with any developments. In the meantime, take care out there!