Hello all, I attended the CT ABRSM taster morning today and am very interested in the course.

Has anyone been on this course? What did you think honestly? Residential or part time? Any ideas regarding sponsorship?

Would love to do it and will be asking the school I work part time at and looking into places from the Rhine Gold book for funding too. But would just really like some honest feedback from people who have experienced the course first hand.

Many thanks and hope you're all enjoying being back after the summer!!!

DO IT!

I did mine in Bedford in 1999-2000 and found nearly all of it very beneficial. My mentor and course leader were both very good and had lots of experience and suggestions.

Talking with fellow teachers on the course was very helpful too.

Completing the projects and assessments helped you to really consider why you teach the way you do.

GO FOR IT!

Hello. I tried the CT taster day and was going to do it, then I discovered the MTPP (Music Teaching in Professional Pratice) - a distance learning course at Reading Uni and decided to do that instead. It's the same cost but far more in depth. You are supposed to have a degree since it's post grad - but I think they're flexible about it - experience can be substitued for qualifications - do check it out. www.soews.rdg.ac.uk/mtpp

It's transforming my teaching by the week!

Barcarolle is right: the MTPP is "more in depth" than the CT course. The CT was good for me five years ago. I'm now saving up to start the MTPP in two/three years time. It's endorsed by the ISM.

It's wonderful that there are courses to take which enable an instrumental teacher to continue their own professional development.

Hi JohnS I'm glad you're going to do the MTPP - it really has transformed the way I'm doing things and is continually forcing me to think about how to teach in a more musical way - and this goes one for two years - my poor students! And we don't get onto the truly practical side of things until next year! Did you know that you can pay per module?

I don't know about the other course but yes I'd say the CT course is brilliant - you learn as much from the other teachers doing the course as you do from the mentors and course leaders, and of course the mentors come and observe you teaching in your own environment - I can't speak for the MTPP course but may investigate that myself anyway!!!

I did the 2004-5 CT course and would thoroughly recommend it - it's very hands-on, although you do have to put in a lot of time on the written assignments too. One of the best aspects of it is meeting and making friends with other teachers and exchanging ideas, also having your lessons assessed four times during the year (even if it is a bit nerve-racking). I'd say go for it.