Your standards determine your results! | Director of Music, Mr Derek Rose
Is it possible for any student to perform at the highest standard and have an appreciation and drive for excellence?
It is important that students come out of any program experience having an appreciation for excellence, digging in and tearing apart the process, utilising step by step methodical work, and understanding the value in their pursuit. With a drive to be stronger, improve, and become more caring and understanding of others and the world around them. If they come out with this skill set, they are going to be good at everything. They can go into any career, understand how to go from point A to point B, and know how success looks and feels. No one can take that confidence from a student who knows how to do that - Rachel Maxwell
Rachel Maxwell is a music educator at Traughber High School in Oswego Illinois who believes excellence is possible for any student. In an article published by the Instrumentalist Rachel discusses how she has developed 'excellence' in her program through 'inclusivity'.
In her experience nothing comes without hard work, we must work with our students until students get things exactly right. This may mean breaking concepts down, teaching them and repeating instruction, modelling the outcome, and encouraging every student to learn and improve. Her challenge to all educators is not to give too little attention to the students who are not at the top, especially, in the middle years. Not every student will be or can be a standout, but students can develop, improve, and become a strong foundation of any program both within and out of music. The developmental changes between Year 5 to Year 12 are monumental, prejudgment can be a costly exercise for the student, the program, and the teacher. She explains:
If we truly believe that music education is good for every student, then it is going to be especially good for those younger students, those who may struggle for various reasons…. I think every student deserves an outstanding experience. I do not want anyone to feel like they never got a chance to shine or were never pushed to achieve.
Music might be the only time a student is on a team where such success can be celebrated!
She described how in her three decades as an educator she has witnessed students achieving more than most people thought they could. She is a strong believer that:
Your Standards Determine Your Results
Her challenge to us is to set our goals beyond what we believe is possible.
Everybody will come along, not every student will get there at the same time or in the same way but believe in your students. Some students will link arms toward success, others will need ongoing encouragement. Invariably, they will realise that success is far more fun than they thought it would be once they get there…. Students like to be successful, they like to be affirmed and part of something positive.
I set tough standards and have high expectations because I see greatness in you, you can do this, even if you don’t believe it.
Queensland Catholic Schools and Colleges Music Festival (QCMF)
The depth and breadth of our Terrace Music program is vast, from the beginning student in Year 5 to our scholarly Year 12 performers.
Next week the QCMF Festival provides that opportunity for our students on all levels of their musical journey to perform and experience success!
The performance experience is both an endpoint and a new beginning. The end of a journey of preparation for our grand finale performance, and the dawn of a new beginning of what we strive to achieve moving forward.
I invite the Terrace community to come and support our musicians as they represent the College at Villa Nova College from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 August. Further details are available on the College app.
I would like to thank the College Music staff for all they continue to do to support the young musical minds at Terrace.
Music and sport partnering together
This term has seen the return of our home games to Tennyson and with that the Terrace Drumline. The Drumline is to be congratulated on their successful performances at the 1st XV Rugby home games. Equally, the Sousa Army has returned for their second season in support of our 1st V Basketball team. Gaining in strength and number, our Sousa Army boys are to be commended on how they have performed and represented the College.
