1. My Collaborative and Contextual Project.
Welcome to my presentation. I will be talking about my collaborative and contextual project. If you have any questions, please ask me at the end.
By Jacob Tromans

2. What is it?
My project is based in St John Hunt Community Sports College
I'm collaborating with the music teacher
Teaching sixth form students
Career experience for myself
The project that I have taken on is based in a local secondary School, called St john hunt community sports college . For my project, I will be collaborating with Jason Clevereley who is the music teacher of the school, I decided on having my project at a school as becoming a music teacher is what I aim to do after university.
The way that I found my collaborator, was through work that I did last year with Jason. I have already helped out in the music department at the school before, And I thought it would be a good chance to get more involved in the actual teaching side of lessons by taking my university project there. I contacted jason earlier this year to inform him that I would like to do my project at the school. After suggesting my project to him he accepted and looked forward to it.
My project is an 8 week long project, where I teach sixth form students all about music technology and how to use technology to record songs to a good standard using software on Macs, such as Logic Pro and Garage Band.
The way that I am doing this is by splitting the class into bands, ranging from rock bands, to acoustic bands and solo performers. The songs that they will be recording will be chosen by themselves, although I will get to confirm them whether they are appropriate and challenging enough for them to do.
I’ll then give them basic technology lessons, in which I will teach them how to use microphones, whether that be miking up drums, guitar amps, and vocals, How to plug them in and use the desk, and how to open up a project within the music programms on the computers. I’ll also teach them different techniques when using these microphones, For example different techniques on how to mic up the drums, such as the glynn john technique.
For my project I decided on a day in the week in which am free to schedule for my project. The day that we decided would be Wednesday mornings. Before we scheduled a day for my project, I did not know what class I would be teaching, and due to the day which we decided on, it worked out that I would be teaching sixth form students. This worked out well as they are older, I can go more in depth with teaching them.
Once each student has recorded their tracks in the studio, I will make sure they are involved as much as possible in the whole process, so that they can learn how to set up the recording, record the tracks, and how to add EQ and effects after there music has been. On the last day of my project, I will make sure that everyone gets their recordings put on to CD’S, So that they can take them home and have a copy of them.
Although I have come from outside of the school to do my project, My project will be helping them work towards completing one of their music technology assessments, in which they have to record songs and submit them with a written up evaluation. I will have to make sure that each of my lessons that I teach correspond with the assessment criteria for their assessments.

3. Aims/ Out comes Students Mine Teachers Pass qualification
Teaching experience
Problems
As I am doing my project in a school, My main objective will be to get the students work all completed in the allocated time to make sure that they pass their coursework in which I am helping them complete. The way I am going to achieve this is by planning out my lessons ahead of time, So that I stick to a time schedule and get everything that I need to teach across to the students.
The music teacher’s aim for my project will be to support me throughout each week and make sure that if I need any help, then I can just ask as this will be my first proper teaching role in a school. The way that we’ll make sure this is put in place, is by Mr Cleverely being in the class rooms at all times, so that if I ever need him, I can get his attention. He will be assisting me in my project, by checking each students work when I am in the studio recording.
My outcome for this project, is to have a good insight on what teaching music at a secondary school is like, And of course to put on the best project I can.
I also aim to make sure that my students will be enjoying my project, and that at the same time they will come out with an understanding of music technology and have the knowledge they need to pass their assignment.
The students aims will be to get a song recorded to a quality they are happy with, and to be able to come into the studio any other time, knowing at least the basics on how to record, if they ever need to.
Although I am feeling pretty confident with my project, there are a few problems which may occur, Such as student behaviour. This may cause problems if certain students become difficult to deal with.
To over come this problem, I have spoken to the music teacher and he has told me about schools detention and warning policies, which I have been given permission to use if need be.
Another problem that I had originally was, I was going to create a big band using the whole class to record. But after speaking to Mr Cleverely, He told me that it is quite common that unfortunately someone might not turn up on the day of recording. With this being said, I decided to change my recording idea of having a big band, into having the students in smaller bands instead. Meaning that I would have lots of recordings rather than one big one.
I decided on this as if someone didn’t turn up who was important, it could jeopardized other peoples marks on their work, For example if we could not of completed the recording due to a musician not turning up who has a lead role in the recording.

4. timeline 8 weeks In total 1 – Introduction 2 - Basic music tech lesson
3 – Students chose their songs
4 – Start recording
5 – Continue recording
6 – Large band recorded in main room
7 – Get paper work done for assessment
8 – Recordings on CD’s, Close project
My project will take place every Wednesday morning for 8 weeks from 9:00am till 12:00. Within these 8 weeks, I will teach the students basic music technology knowledge on how to go into a studio and record music, whether it be just vocals, vocals and an instrument or a recording of a full band.
Here is a quick example of one of the recordings I completed this week.
Over the 8 weeks, Every student would of chosen a song and had it recorded with me in the studio. Once all of the songs are recorded and mastered. I will get the students to complete the paperwork for the assessment. I will then check with Mr Cleverely if all of the paperwork is correct and then get it all sent off so that they can pass their music technology qualification
I will also make sure that the recordings are accessible to the students, so that they can have a copy of their recordings to take home.

5. Similar work / Theorists / Ethos
Research before my project.
School’s ethos / code of conduct
Why this approach?
Teaching research
Before I started the project, I did some research into music teaching to make sure I knew a bit more about what it was going to be like. Part of my research also included looking back through some of my old videos of my music performances in secondary school. The reason I did this was to check what my musical ability was like at this age. I felt that this was important, as coming from studying music at university, the standard of playing will be a lot less advanced in a school. Researching into my old videos really helped me to get an understanding of the level of playing the students will have. It will also help me understand the level of playing required for the assessment criteria.
As my project is based in a school, I understood that their was a certain set of rules and ethos that I had to follow, So before my sessions I did some research around the schools website, where I found their ethos and their code of conduct, Which states the expectation of the students, in all areas. For example, how they should be praised with their work, whether that be, written or verbal feed back, certificates or postcards home. I also had to read and understand the consequences for the students if they did not complete their work.
I decided upon this kind of practical project when working with the students, as I wanted to do something in which they would enjoy, for example at the end of my project, I will feel proud to of done it but also the students will have enjoyed it as they will all have CD’s to take home with their recordings on.
To keep the students interested, I also allowed them to chose their own music that they are going to record.
I feel that my approach with this will make it a lot more enjoyable, as we will both get something out of this, rather than setting a project which is all written, this is mainly practical.
For my teaching I have researched into different teaching methods, and come up with five principles of pedagogy to stick to when teaching, these are:
Motivation; I have to keep motivated with the lessons to ensure the students feel motivated too.
Explanation; I have to always make sure the students know what they’re doing, so that no one is left behind, or is wasting time
Instructing activity; I have to ensure that each student knows their next steps in their work.
Criticism; Students should be able to give and take constructive criticism to help them better their work
Role model; Teachers should always set a good example to their students.

6. I’m looking forward to watching my project develop
I’m looking forward to watching my project develop! Thanks for listening!
Thank you for listening to my presentation, I’m looking forward to my project unfolding.