Mr and Mrs K's New Journey to a Debt Free Life.

AlexLK

Iwillsucceed wrote: »

Alex!

I really don't know what to do! I have an 'amazing idea'! So I hired a life coach whom I will be seeing the whole week! I just need some pointers and clarifications! Also experiencing first hand what is like to be a life coach as I am interested in this area to hopefully enhance my own career in the future!

Along my day job, I was giving privately Spanish lessons plus just like most in this forum I also benefit from a passive income...
However, I want to concentrate now on what I always wanted to do ! I am positive if I put my mind on it and don't loose faith all will work out.

Alex, fees are fees... You pay £60 to your counsellor, you were charging £25 I was charging the same for Spanish... It is what we see we are worth at the end of the day and just like you said 'within reason' of course.

Tomorrow I have an early start, so I am off to bed!
Night, night to all!

Sounds like an exciting time for you. Good luck with everything.

mum2one

fc123 wrote: »

I am OK, got bad problems with my mother's illness (as it's terminal and has no cure) but we live each day as it comes for that is all we can do really.
Work is full on for us this time of year and worse for me after Xmas (starts 27th Dec) as I have a trade show to prep for so it's 100% concentration.


I think the idea of the shared lessons is for the kids to try an instrument out without the pressure on the parents to sign up for 10 lessons X £30 plus renting an instrument...and then discover that the child is tone deaf or not dextrous enough to play and wants to quit after 2 lessons.


I am guessing that if one of the 6 kids shows flair and interest, then it can be changed to an individual lesson.


So, not a waste of time really....just enabling young kids (she is 8) to try things out and discard them or take the playing further.


I went to primary school in the olden days+ we al played recorders and had a Recorder Orchestra (we were actually called the orchestra ) and when you got really good, you got to play a giant recorder and stand at the end.....which is where I ended up by the time I was 10. I think there were 4 sizes.
We all played in perfect harmony too....4 layers of recorder tune!

Sorry to hear about your mum.

Thank you for bringing back some good memories, the recorder that was the hey day of my primary school, we use to play in the assembly on a Friday morning, - starting off with the little recorder, then it was the treble, that always use to confuse me as the notes were different, then back to the tenor and the same format at the small one. Use to love it, then at secondary school, music lessons were a waste of time, mainly singing.

Then our last year we performed with other local schools at the town theatre, seemed all fun in those days.

At DD's school, (last yr of primary) at her school before they had an outsider from the local music service come in and teach, she tried Flute, couldn't do, then went to Clarinet, then ended up with Ukerleyay (excuse spelling), this school they had a different music sector, and DD now playing trumpet, don't know what happen at secondary school. xx

mum2one

Alex - That is brilliant news about Little K going up a class at nursery, he really seems to have come on leaps and bounds.

Def sounds a good idea to build up the music, when you write about it, your passion just flies off the page, - those results from the pupils exams are brilliant.

How are you getting on with the orchestra?? x

maman

I just had to 'delurk' (is that a word?) to clear up how state primary schools work. Briefly, they are staffed on a ratio of approximately 1 teacher to 30 pupils so any music offered in the main curriculum has to be group teaching. So mostly it's making music (percussion), or singing or musical appreciation. There are fewer and fewer schools with pianists so lots of accompaniment comes from CDs. In many schools, teachers will give up time in lunch breaks or after school to take an extra-curricular club like a choir or recorder group. Provision is patchy as many schools have no specialist music teachers, it's just good luck if there's someone musical on the staff. In some Local Authorities there are peripatetic instrument teachers that schools buy in either from their own funds or by asking parents to pay. It tends to be the schools in more affluent areas that do this and in some areas the peripatetics don't exist.


Music is on the National Curriculum but compared with cramming for tests it takes a back seat along with most 'soft' subjects. It's self perpetuating as with the interest in music so low then becoming a music teacher in a school isn't a good career with prospects. It's a sad situation but that's the way it is.


Back to lurking.


P.S. Love your diary, good to hear you sounding so positive today.:)

PinotGrigio41

Hi Alex,

I haven't caught up with your diary for a few days and as it moves so quickly I have just cottoned onto the tail end of the Music tuition conversation.

Not sure if I have the correct end of the stick as I have only skim read but for what its worth, I thought I would give my two penneth on the state education in the music dept at my girls school.

IT is absolutely nothing like it was in my day. I took O Level Music and found it so incredibly boring.

At the girls school it is all about having fun and for me that's what music is all about. In Year 7 they learn some basic reading of music, have a go at the guitar and keyboard I believe. They have the opportunity to work within a band and compose their own pieces of music which they perform to the rest of the class and a whole host of things. They offer some instrument tuition, the lesser played instruments ie woodwind for free, only for about 15 mins a week but as a taster for the children. There are a whole host of other instruments and again Vocal Coaching which is paid for termly and provided by an outside tutor. Thery have an amazing drum group, jazz band, rock bands and kids that have put together their own groups. They are positively encouraged to make use of the music room in their lunch hours and break times. the teachers play alongside the children in some of the bands. Music Shows are held three times a year with other smaller events throughtout. They also have a Music Tour whereby they take the children away for a week, last year was Dublin, this year Italy. Obviously this has to be paid for, but the fun they have is amazing. The children have to perform in different venues. My DD1 sang in a concert hall one night and in a open air park on a beautiful summers day to a crowd of a few thousand. It is amazing. They have have incredibly enthusiastic staff but also teachers from outside the school who come in and encourage the children. Sadly the funding for that department is lacking.

Sorry if I have rambled. I love music and although my girls sing , not play an instrument to see the fun all of the kids involved have is amazing.

Right now I have gone off on a tangent I will say goodbye for now !! xxx

AlexLK

mum2one wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your mum.

Thank you for bringing back some good memories, the recorder that was the hey day of my primary school, we use to play in the assembly on a Friday morning, - starting off with the little recorder, then it was the treble, that always use to confuse me as the notes were different, then back to the tenor and the same format at the small one. Use to love it, then at secondary school, music lessons were a waste of time, mainly singing.

Then our last year we performed with other local schools at the town theatre, seemed all fun in those days.

At DD's school, (last yr of primary) at her school before they had an outsider from the local music service come in and teach, she tried Flute, couldn't do, then went to Clarinet, then ended up with Ukerleyay (excuse spelling), this school they had a different music sector, and DD now playing trumpet, don't know what happen at secondary school. xx

Glad my diary has brought back some good memories!

Seems a completely different musical culture - I can remember a few kids who tried quite a few instruments but it wasn't exactly the "done thing". My violin teacher refused to teach children who'd tried more than two other instruments before coming to him, as he deemed them to not be "serious".

mum2one wrote: »

Alex - That is brilliant news about Little K going up a class at nursery, he really seems to have come on leaps and bounds.

Def sounds a good idea to build up the music, when you write about it, your passion just flies off the page, - those results from the pupils exams are brilliant.

How are you getting on with the orchestra?? x

He does seem happier as of late. I feel bad for not really letting him spend time with other children before. He was fascinated and it was my fault he didn't go to nursery earlier.

Thank you, I have a lot of interests, music is certainly one of them.

Regarding orchestra: not very well, I left as a permanent member early on, though I do get the opportunity to play with them when they are short on numbers which suits me at the moment. To be honest, I struggled to cope with it.

maman wrote: »

I just had to 'delurk' (is that a word?) to clear up how state primary schools work. Briefly, they are staffed on a ratio of approximately 1 teacher to 30 pupils so any music offered in the main curriculum has to be group teaching. So mostly it's making music (percussion), or singing or musical appreciation. There are fewer and fewer schools with pianists so lots of accompaniment comes from CDs. In many schools, teachers will give up time in lunch breaks or after school to take an extra-curricular club like a choir or recorder group. Provision is patchy as many schools have no specialist music teachers, it's just good luck if there's someone musical on the staff. In some Local Authorities there are peripatetic instrument teachers that schools buy in either from their own funds or by asking parents to pay. It tends to be the schools in more affluent areas that do this and in some areas the peripatetics don't exist.

Music is on the National Curriculum but compared with cramming for tests it takes a back seat along with most 'soft' subjects. It's self perpetuating as with the interest in music so low then becoming a music teacher in a school isn't a good career with prospects. It's a sad situation but that's the way it is.

Back to lurking.

P.S. Love your diary, good to hear you sounding so positive today.:)

Thank you for the clarification.

My wife went to a state school, though due to me saying things in the past she doesn't really like to talk about it to me. Not something I'm particularly proud of now.

mum2one

AlexLK wrote: »

Glad my diary has brought back some good memories!


He does seem happier as of late. I feel bad for not really letting him spend time with other children before. He was fascinated and it was my fault he didn't go to nursery earlier.

There is nothing to feel bad about, most children don't go to nursery till there places are funded, our education authority was the term after their 3rd birthday, so if anything you should be proud of yourself for Little K going before he was 3, some people have to put their children in nursery from 6 weeks due to work commitments, but think of the positives that you have achieved together.

Thank you, I have a lot of interests, music is certainly one of them.
Yes, and some of them are expensive;)

Regarding orchestra: not very well, I left as a permanent member early on, though I do get the opportunity to play with them when they are short on numbers which suits me at the moment. To be honest, I struggled to cope with it.

With the changes in the business, jumping onto the debt free wanabee band wagon, the music lessons, family time, then its understandable something would have to give at least you gave it a go, you got the experience and this way you get the best of both worlds - so do they, so I see it as a win win all round.


My wife went to a state school, though due to me saying things in the past she doesn't really like to talk about it to me. Not something I'm particularly proud of now.

Your doing brilliantly with everything, is it parents for Xmas.... xx

AlexLK

My son's funded places start in January. There are lots more over 3's at nursery so makes sense some don't go until the funded places started. It is my fault he didn't go earlier though.

:rotfl: Why, of course. Besides if you knew how much money's worth I've got in musical instruments you wouldn't say that hobby was particularly cheap either.

Thank you for spinning a positive on something I see as one of my latest failings - orchestra.

Yes, we are going to my parents' for Christmas day until 4.00pm, then going to Mrs. K.'s. Something my parents are a bit jealous of but my wife has not seen her parents on Christmas day for the past four years.

bess1234_2

Little k has always had everything he has ever needed. So glad your beating yourself up over imaginary failings, must of run out of real things to beat yourself up with. Onwards and upwards !

I agree with mum 2one about the orchestra. Sounds a perfect compromise, you changed your entire life within a matter of week , and the only bit you over stretched was the permanent orchestra place. That's seriously impressive work Alex.

Mrs k family gets the scrag end of one Christmas Day in five years. Jeez louise! How are you going to show mrs k that you realise she is a diamond, has has put up with all sorts thse last five years, for love of you. How are you going to spoil her this Christmas? And Yes it probably will involve a present, but I'm more interested in what you can do. Like the thought and effort for little k's birthday. Please don't think I'm suggesting you buy her a new car. She has been very quiet on the spending front lately?

But you have done great so far . What an autumn you have had!

AlexLK

bess1234 wrote: »

Little k has always had everything he has ever needed. So glad your beating yourself up over imaginary failings, must of run out of real things to beat yourself up with. Onwards and upwards !

I agree with mum 2one about the orchestra. Sounds a perfect compromise, you changed your entire life within a matter of week , and the only bit you over stretched was the permanent orchestra place. That's seriously impressive work Alex.

Well, when you put it like that ... .

In all honesty, I'm still finding things very difficult so far as having and keeping to a spending budget goes amongst other things. However, I knew it had to happen before my marriage broke down once and for all.

bess1234 wrote: »

Mrs k family gets the scrag end of one Christmas Day in five years. Jeez louise! How are you going to show mrs k that you realise she is a diamond, has has put up with all sorts thse last five years, for love of you. How are you going to spoil her this Christmas? And Yes it probably will involve a present, but I'm more interested in what you can do. Like the thought and effort for little k's birthday. Please don't think I'm suggesting you buy her a new car. She has been very quiet on the spending front lately?

But you have done great so far . What an autumn you have had!

The in laws have other children and always an action packed Christmas, whereas my parents would be alone. Usually we stay at their house Christmas night.

In regards to my wife I'm not sure though agree with you that she's a diamond. She has recently been on board so far as the spending goes and has been concentrating on building her relationship with our son, so not had much time to spend money. Admitted, she hasn't got on so well with taking her own lunch to work, that only happens one day per week.

Thank you, I suppose really it's no wonder I'm tired all the time as of late.