Nikola, a year 10 student from Launceston City Campus, is currently making the most of an internship at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music in Hobart. In this spotlight story we're delighted to share a report from Nikola and her Advisor Garry.
Nikola
I’m at my second day at the Hobart conservatorium of Music and it has been really cool.
I wondered how they fit everything in into one small blue building. When you enter the building there is a recital hall to your left and if you want to go up stairs there is an option of going up the stairs or lifts. You’re better off going up the stairs because the lift takes a while to come down. I have definitely burned off my chocolate honeycomb!
I have received my lanyard and now I can access other rooms and hallways where you need to swipe a security sensor. It reminds me of Doctor Who when I do that and so sometimes during my breaks I swipe a sensor to access a hallway because I think it’s cool when I do that.
I especially like the recital hall and can definitely see myself performing there one day.
Today I had a Harmony and Analysis class learning about rondo form (long story) and have been to other classes such as Audio Post Production and Studio Musicianship. The last class I had for today was Chamber Music Performance Class and got to see a flute, French horn, clarinet and oboe player as a small ensemble.
I have taken photos of the conservatorium today and I will show you them when I come back from school.
I could go on and on about what has happened in the last two days but I’ll be writing pages and pages more. So I just highlighted a few...
Garry
Yesterday Nikola (Grade 10) started her "Learning through Internship" at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music for a week. Her heart's desire is to be a flautist in a Symphony Orchestra for a profession. She practices daily, sits exams, plays with at least 2 University bands, has private lessons with a teacher as well as making the most of extra opportunities to become an "expert" at her passion. She never stops "seeing herself" doing that which she is passionate about.
Now through hard work, putting herself out there and taking a chance she is surrounded for a week by people who will encourage her, being tutored by people just as passionate, committed and hard working.
In what other school could you be truly be immersed in the passion of your life, to really see, learn and understand if this was/is the profession for you.
In a little over a week a second Grade 10 girl will fly to New Zealand to begin her Internship at The Wellington Zoo. Same deal as Nikola, different passion, very similar characteristics and actions. Two stories out of dozens that I could tell you about, everything from beauty therapists, apprentice sparkies, medical admin, applied health, nurses, film production and editing, artists, childcare, old aged care, storemen and parts servicemen, biologists, digital artist, computer programmer, apprentice builder and nuclear science engineer, all the passions of students that I and other Teacher/Advisors work with on a daily basis, each as important and as valued by themselves, their peers and Learning Communities.
Big Picture Education Australia: more than just a model, a good idea or a good research project. A REALITY for young people with a passion to learn, take risks and excel!!
