What a trip!

Wow!!!! I have had a crazy and inspiring week. I jetsetted to Melbourne for the second rehearsal with the Territorial Bigband. This is so fun to play in and I'm really enjoying the challenges that come with it as well as the friendship and laughs that happen along the way. I then jetsetted again early on the Sunday morning to Sydney for the Mtec2011 Conference. This was my first ever trip to Sydney and as soon as I touched down and walked out of the airport arrival area, I found myself suddenly buzzing with the high that is Sydney. I got lost in the street tyring to find where I was staying but after doing a couple of walk pasts, I noticed the sign and dumped my stuff. I then shot into the city, discovered my natural compass was working great and found myself looking at the opera house and harbour bridge in no time... Then it was on the ferrie to Manley and dinner and then home. Monday was pretty much 7am to 11pm hanging with the Mtec2011 people and I am happy that I was about to get 6 hours or so sleep a night even if my body clock was waking me up at 5am. Mtec is truly something that has inspired me on many levels. It presented a few challenges in both my teaching life and my life as a musician that I have been able to seek advice but also focus on the things I do well. I have decided that in a couple of future blogs I might share my philosphy of teaching, learning and education. It is something that before this conference I always felt was just something I should keep to myself, however it has created in me a feeling of need to share these with people as we all try and survive in this maze that is teaching and inspiring young people to make something good out of wherever they come from in life. Last night I made a decision which at the time seemed great, but afterwards although noble was probably very dangerous. Without thinking I stepped up to a person smashing a vending machine and calmly spoke to them about the actions they were commiting. I know in hindsight looking at the situation, just how close I came to being labelled a victim, but I believe it is important to although with compassion, keep people accountable of their actions. I do not know what happened to this person after they swore at me and the train guards and then went off into the night, however I hope that they can look at themselves and see that at least for that moment someone cared enough to try and assist them to make a wise choice. Others there made what I'm sure they believed to be a wise choice by not getting involved but a line was crossed and instinct took over. This trip is nearly at an end. As I write this, I am in the Qantas flyer area of the terminal with my trusty instruments sitting quietly next to me. I have a brain full of stories, experiences, questions and most of all insights into what this world of education has to offer.