Final Reflection-creativity

The time has come for my final reflection and i think i have achieved most of the aims i set for myself at the beginning of grade 12. I will assess what i have done regarding each criterion and each component of CAS.

Creativity:

Regarding playing the piano, i have an increased awareness of my strengths and weaknesses as i know that i am good at tone and fingering but i am also aware that i need to improve sight reading and speed and rhythm. With sightreading i think i have fully achieved my goal as i sat the exam in march and i was happy with the paper, i had no surprises and i am currently awaiting my results.

Piano concert: i played well in the concert and did not make any mistakes. I was proud of this achievement as i had put alot of time practising at home. I was commited to all the practices, so again i think this is an aim i achieved. Another Skill i developed here was staying calm in front of an audience and not panicking!

Also in the piano concert was a dance that we had to do with all the children in it. This collaborative activity benefitted me as i had to work with another person and accomodate that person's strengths and weaknesses. Although my dance partner was very good, i often had to dance with others for practice and this made me more patient as they often had no idea what they were doing. The new skill i developed is learning the jive steps and the basic step so now i can add that to my list of dancing techniques i have learnt.

Regarding playing the guitar, i do not think i have fulfilled this task. Although i have learnt a few more chords and am able to play very simple songs i do not think i have made much progress so i think my levels of commitment and perseverence in this task were poor and i am thoroughly disappointed with myself.

Regarding choir, i think i fulfilled my aims as i learnt how to control my voice and work collaboratively with others. I thik this was a new challenge for me as i had not sung in 4 years so i was unsure about how my voice would sound. I attended many practices, much more than my friends and i think my perseverence in this area is also something to be proud of for me.
Concert at food and fun fair: I think this was another goal i achieved as i had to sing for an audeince again. Again, collaboration was necessary as we sang without music so our voices needed to be perfectly in key and in harmony with the other voices.

Sacred Hearts for Little Hearts

(thats me on the right in green)





About a month and a half ago, the nuns at the convent i teach english at every saturday told me that the classes at the convent would be stopping but clases on a larger scale would be starting at a larger church in Rajagiriya (about 5 minutes away from the original location).

It is called sacred heart to little hearts as the church is called Sacred Heart Church. It is a programme for children of low income families who cannot afford tuition and are weak in their academics. It is from 2.30 to 5.30 every saturday and there are 3 45 minute blocks. They learn enlgish, maths and either sinhalese or tamil depending on which language is their first and which they are educated in.

I go for 2 hours and teach english for both periods. I help to teach grades 7,8,9 and 10 in the first period, a class of around 18 and grade 5 and 6 in the 2nd period. the second classes is a little smaller.


The skills i have developed doing this service are speaking in sinhalese more which was one of my initial goals and learning to be patient with younger children. Additionally i have realized that i need to work on the way i explain certain concepts and this is an area i need to work on if my teaching is to be effective.
This service has really shown me how much of an impact i can have on other people. With a little time and effort it is possible to really impact the education of young children. I have been consistently committed to this programme so i think i have achieved that goal. This also links to being aware of the problems facing portions of our community which must be addressed. Not only has this service made me aware of the problems these children face but it has made me appreciate what i have and made me want to help them.

Zumba

My cousin introduced me to Zumba, (a south american style of dance) as she had a DVD and told me that it was a good work out. As i have not done any exercise for a while, i decided to do some.

On days that i have time, i do it for an hour and as it really tires me i feel much healthier after i finish!




I think the skill i haev developed by doing this is discipline. Even when i am in pain and feel like stopping, i force myself to carry on until the routine has finished. After having to force myself a few times, i get to the point where i don't have to think about what i'm doing and i dance without thinking. would like to apply this discipline to all other areas of my life as i am too relaxed and disorganised about everything e.g. doing assignments on time and i think the key to solving that problem is through discipline.
So not only am i gettin exercise, but i am also learning to descipline my self.

Piano

Practical: Although i officially stopped playing the piano (having lessons) i have continued to play at home. I found that i learn better on my own and the only aspect of playing piece of music that i need help with is the tone.

I have also improved in sight reading -ALOT! Before i started playing on my own at home, my sight reading was abysmal. Now i can easily read pieces on my old exam books.

I have learnt a few new pieces, namely the first and second movements of the moonlight sonata, Tristesse and i am starting to learn the Hungarian dance and swan lake.

Moonlight sonata 2nd movement:





















I am very happy with my progress.


Me playing the piano:



















Theory:

I had my theory exam 5 days ago and i am satisfied with my effort. I thjink i should have spent more time learning the italian terms as i learnt them in the car on the way to the exam so i was disappointed at my lack of organisation.

BUT i am happy it is over as i prefer playing and can concentrate on that now.