Are you a Commuter Monster?

Over the past month or so I’ve started a new job in a different city from where I live. I’ve joined the rat race and got myself a daily commute. All of humanity passes before me in that hour and a half. It’s in part frustrating, comedy gold and actually quite nice to sit in peace and quiet on the train for an hour each day and have a bit of me time. Although perhaps not so nice for my bank balance – commuter boredom almost always leads to internet shopping.

Anyway, it quickly became apparent that there are two types of commuter in this world: terrible people who make the journey so much worse for everyone else and angels of kindness who are surely an urban myth, they are so infrequently spotted in the wild.

You are a Commuter Monster is you do any of the following things. If you read through this and experience the creeping shame of realisation then you’re right to be cringing at yourself, everyone on the bus/train hates you, you know. Change immediately!

Slow Phone Walkers

I loathe slow walkers (unless it’s because the person is old/infirm – I’m not totally heartless). Those people that approach navigating a busy pavement/concourse like it’s a Sunday stroll down the river. Move! Or worse, those people who seem so completely unaware of their surrounding and everyone else’s sense of urgency that they keep randomly stopping or veering off in all directions. But the absolute worst of these slow walking monsters, the lowest of the low, are the phone walkers. People who shuffle around staring at their screens and then have the cheek to look offended when they walk into people/things/fall down stairs. Nothing is so important that you have to use your phone while walking. Put it in your pocket and walk like a normal person you tech addicted freakshow.

Ticket Machine Dalliers

A relative of the slow walker yet more awful because being stuck behind a ticket machine dallier can lead you to miss your connection completely. I have timed my journey to perfection and you dithering with your coins and taking ages to decide which ticket you’d like is going to ruin it all. Thanks.

People Who Stand on the Left

Also people who stand two abreast. Always leave a passage clear for the likes of me, people who always seem to be 5 minutes later than planned in life and ergo always slightly harassed and in a rush. Get out my way and leave me to run in a panic for my train in peace. I never understand how some people don’t know this rule. It’s written on every escalator in every train station everywhere in the world. Yet still people ignore it. The ultimate monsters are those people who can sense you leaping up behind them doing that weird antsy dance which signals you’d really appreciate it if you could get by, maybe you even do that wee cough which signals the extreme urgency of the situation, but still they don’t move. Unbelievable.

People who Don’t Thank the Bus Driver

This is practically civic law! Rude.

So, we’ve survived the walk to the station, circumnavigating slow phone walkers, scowling at the heathens who ignored the bus driver and dancing around people who stand on the left. Now it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy a tranquil hour on the train. Unless you are haunted by any of these creatures:

Space Invaders

See also Manspreaders. My carriage is empty, yet you’ve chosen to sit right next to me. Why??? I definitely do not want to talk to you. Go away.

Manspreaders

I’m spending my whole journey practically squashed into the wall, desperately trying to avoid human contact as your wide open thighs creep uncomfortably closer and closer to mine. Please, for the love of God, sit on this train properly and not as if you’re on your couch eating takeaway in your pants.

Lurkers

Or Shoulder-Surfers as they are known in the professional world. Not quite as bad as Space Invaders or Manspreaders, they sit neatly and quietly beside you or behind you and seem to be minding their own business, until the realisation dawns that they’re actually engrossed in reading your paper or checking your social media over your shoulder like big creeps.

Noisy Neighbours

The most common Commuter Monster. There are lots of these people, varying in degrees of terrible. Mildly annoying are those who have awful taste in ringtones. Then we have the people who listen to their music too loudly through horrible tinny earphones and everyone else has to listen to the noise. Next level are the ones who FaceTime/listen to music/watch YouTube without earphones in at all. What is wrong with you!? (Actually, I find FaceTiming for a casual conversation weird anyway, why can we not just hold our phone to our ears like the good old days?) We move into intolerable territory when noise and poor hygiene team up for full horror – looking at you loud chewers, sprayers and people who cough without covering their mouths.

Newspaper Pinchers

If you get on the train first thing in the morning, don’t pocket the Metro. You’re supposed to leave it for the next poor soul. There’s hours of peak time ahead of you yet pal, a whole day of commuters in misery to come. Do the decent thing and leave a paper for someone to read when their battery has died, there’s no-one to shoulder surf and maybe a weapon to bat off manspreaders would be useful. I don’t care how much you want to finish that sudoku, the only time it’s acceptable to pocket the paper is at the end of the evening peak time, 6.30pm at least.

Of course, there are angels of the commute out there too, those who, like fairy godmothers and spirit animals, only appear when you need them the most. And when they do your whole day is made.

Self Aware Saviours

The people who notice you’re in a hurry and move out the way/let you go ahead of them in the ticket queue/choose a sensible seat on the train and just sit quietly. They even move to the vestibule to take a phonecall. Be more like these people.

Spending less to spend a penny

If you need to go during your commute you’ve got some tough choices ahead of you my friend. Can you face the thought of the train loo? (that answer is always no) Can you hold it in until you get there? Or do you have 30p change to spend spending a penny? I completely grudge having to spend 30p to pee, yet have the bladder of a granny. I’m always thankful for the person in the queue before me who didn’t have the right change and just put 2x20p coins in. 10p discount for me!

Day-ticket Delights

Picture the scene, you’re standing at a bus stop in the wind and rain, raking around in your purse to find the correct change for the fare. It’s late, you’re starving and can’t wait to get home. Your bus pulls up and the passengers stream off, you all studiously avoid eye contact with each other. Suddenly someone holds something out to you – they’re finished with their day ticket and want you to have a free bus ride home. Of all the people in the queue they chose you. You are blessed in this moment. Enjoy the freebie. I’ve started seeing this at train station ticket machines too – either people giving away tickets they don’t want or leaving out tickets which people might have forgotten to pick up incase they might come back for them. Lovely 🙂

So. There we have it. It’s a Sunday night as I type this – all across the land households are full of people with The Fear. It’s the first day of the working week tomorrow, you probably have at least one meeting you don’t want to go to this week, you’re already panicking about opening your inbox in the morning morning and not even the penultimate episode of Bodyguard can distract you tonight. Good luck tomorrow everyone, it’s a jungle out there!

Jen xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Decade in Dubai

Today was the first working day of academic session 2017 – 2018. It marks the start of my 10th year here in Dubai. Whaaaat!? Not sure where the time has gone – it feels as if it’s taken a lifetime and the blink of an eye.

What was initially intended to be a year long, carefree jaunt to the sun to chase a boy, get a job and have a laugh has somehow turned into a decade here. In the passing years the jaunt turned into what spookily looks like settling down; the boy has become my husband, the job has become a fulfilling and varied career. Sure, you’re less likely to find me at the club or bingeing on brunch at the weekends, but the sun is still shining just the same!

I had a meeting today with a lady who’s new to Dubai. We talked about all the great things this city has to offer, and some of the challenges that come with living here too. It got me thinking about what I’ve gained from Dubai over this past decade, the good and the bad.

Personal Growth

I arrived in Dubai aged 22, and so I’ve really done most of my growing up here. It’s a city forever associated with firsts for me – the big and the small. My first proper job, first proper salary, and first proper adult home. But also where I first learned to use chopsticks, went to the top of a skyscraper, and drank a mojito. I learned who I am here, I learned how to be a teacher, how to be a wife, and how to be a friend, daughter, and sister to people far far away.

Professional Development

10 years, 1 company, 5 different jobs. I transitioned from receptionist to member of the management team via communications, piano and brass teaching. Short courses, competitions, web design, copy, PR materials, exams, accompaniment, ensemble directing, arranging….you name it, I’ve probably been asked to do it here in Dubai. It’s a city full of opportunities if you can make the effort to grab them and run with it. And not be afraid to try something new or unexpected. Working life is never boring here!

Broader Horizons

1 company, approx. 30 staff, approx. 14 different nationalities. There’s so much exposure to new things here. Whether it’s art and culture, food and drink, language, literature, fashion, or philosophy, it’s amazing to live side by side with so many interesting people and gain insight from those who are different from me. To give you an idea, only 11% of the population are Emirati, the rest are from everywhere. And it teaches us that fundamentally people are all the same. We all have the same hopes, fears, loves and dreams. The hatred and violence we witness in the world today comes from ignorance. If the whole world was as cosmopolitan as Dubai, maybe we would learn that there’s no real need for so much mistrust and fear?

Financial Security

Despite what you’ve read, Dubai isn’t the tax free haven it once was. They find plenty ways to take your money and VAT is coming soon. But, I think we’ve managed to make it work for us. It’s really tough at first because it’s so expensive to set yourself up here but if you can stick with it and resist the urge to spend all your money on beach clubs, sky bars, or hotels, you’ll find it’s worth it. Top tip – don’t move apartment every year: rent control is your friend!

The Travel Bug

It’s inevitable really. We’re slap bang in the middle of the globe, and DXB International is a major hub – it surpassed Heathrow as world’s busiest international airport in 2015. You can fly pretty much anywhere. It’s been a wonderful chance to visit places that are otherwise too far away or too expensive to get to from Scotland. Had I not lived in Dubai I’d never have had the opportunity to volunteer annually in Cambodia, which we’ve been lucky enough to do for the past 4 years. I’d have never have enjoyed a cocktail on a helipad on top of a tower in Kuala Lumpur, wandered the streets of Ho Chi Min City, visited the temples of Bangkok or eaten Hawker food in Singapore. I’d never have fulfilled a lifelong dream to visit Hong Kong, sipped tea in Sri Lanka, watched two lovely friends get married in India or slept in an overwater villa in the Maldives. I’d never have played my horn in Bahrain or Oman and I’d never have looked into a lion’s eyes on safari in Kenya. I think this is the best of what Dubai has given me; a chance to explore more of the world than I’d ever have imagined possible. It’s my ambition to visit all 7 continents before I die. Thanks to Dubai I’m 4 down!

Vitamin D

There’s a picture of Neil and I in the early days that makes me laugh whenever I look at it. We’re 19 and 20 and in some club in Edinburgh, more than slightly worse for wear. Neil hates it because we look so peely-wally. It’s only taken a decade, but now my skin will go from white to beige in the sun rather than the direct route to lobster red. I’ve definitely lost the peely-wally translucent tint. And thanks to the desert, gone is the misery of long, dark, winter nights, endless grey days, and the permanent sniffles. It’s been so gorgeous to live somewhere hot, where the sun shines all the time and you never have to pack a brolly and dress for all 4 seasons in a day. But please don’t ask why I don’t have a tan when you see me. I have this thing called a job which keeps me indoors for most of the week. Where’s yours!?

A Taste of Luxury

This is both a positive and a negative I think. Dubai in many ways is a city of excess. It’s not all glitz and glam of course, but if that’s your thing you can be very comfortable here. And why not make hay while the sun shines? Treat Yo Self is my motto. I think it’s important not to lose grip on reality though and recognise your luxuries for what they are. Hot air balloons, yachts, fine dining and champagne are all lovely, but I wouldn’t really miss it if I left Dubai tomorrow. I am a bit concerned about how much I have come to depend on my cleaner though. I haven’t cleaned my own toilet in at least 5 years. If and when I ever leave Dubai, I’m not looking forward to donning my marigolds!

Hayfever

It turns out that if you move away to a barren desert landscape, your senses can’t cope with the explosion of greenery that assault your nose on return to Scotland. An antihistamine a day keeps the spores away.

Modern Exhaustion

It’s a city that never sleeps and everyone is here to work. There’s always a buzz and everyone is “on” all the time, aways networking, seeing and being seen, trading on everyone else at work, in social situations, with friends and with new people.  A musician’s life is hectic anyway, but it’s another level here. Creating a fulfilling work/life balance is hard. I always think I’m fine when I’m here, it’s not till I fly out of Dubai that I realise how exhausting that is. Exciting, but exhausting. It’s rare to find silence here too, especially for a music teacher! Whether it’s instruments, clicking keyboards, chatter, traffic, or the constant buzz of the AC. It’s difficult to find true peace.

Weight Gain

The Dubai Stone is real. There’s a wealth of amazing restaurants to experience, takeaway is super cheap, and over indulging at Friday brunch is a rite of passage. It’s hard to get any natural exercise too – it’s not a city built for pedestrians and its so stupendously hot that it’s tough exercising for most of the year. It takes a real effort to keep fit here. An effort that I don’t naturally have!

A permanently shiny face.

humidity. Oh, the humidity.

Mad Patriotism

No-one is a prouder Scot than an expat Scot! I’m obsessed with Scottish scenery accounts on insta, speak broader scots than ever (it’s so much more fun when no-one else understands what you’re saying), cry at Scotland on TV or in film, and have a new and profound appreciation for Dougie McLean. I eat more haggis now than I ever did, even though it’s about 20 quid for a bog standard Macsweens.

So, there’s the best and worst of my Dubai. I’m so grateful for the opportunities and experiences I’ve had here and, although it’s hard to be away from my family and friends, I wouldn’t change it. Whenever I think about the snap decisions, chance and circumstance that led me here, I want to keep being brave, continue to go with the flow and always, always chose adventure.

Accomplishments. Why don’t more women boast positively?

I’m on my summer holidays at the minute and working in education means I get a nice big chunk of time off in which to rest, get a bit of a life and reflect on myself. Lucky me! And before any of you non teachers have a casual grumble about how much holiday time teachers get, I say this – it’s not our fault that society expects our young minds to take a well earned rest over the summer months rather than work their poor wee brains into mush, and if they can’t learn, I can’t work. It’s for the kids. And you’ve got to take what you can get in this world. I wouldn’t grudge it on any of you. Unless you earn over 50K a year, own your own home and have all your evenings and weekends free. I hate you.

Because I live my life by the academic year, the summer holidays are an ideal time to stop and reflect. Kind of like the new calendar year for those of you who haven’t been institutionalised into the education system. During my mammoth 10 weeks off (mwah hah hah hah. Hah) I’ve been broadening my horizons (going on holidays); taking stock of where I am and where I’d like to be in my personal and professional life (drinking loads of wine and moaning at my friends); and planning on how to get there in the year ahead (drinking loads of wine and concocting mad schemes with said friends).

When taking stock of this year’s achievements I gave myself a pat on the back. It’s been a hugely challenging year in which I dealt with the massive and sudden health crisis of a family member at home and a lot of stress during a busy year at work. Perhaps I didn’t deal with it all as well as I could or should, but I dealt with it anyway and I’m proud of that. I managed to meet all my deadlines, all my projects were a success and nobody died. I mean, it was touch and go, but nobody died. Now that the dust has settled I can look back and find some positives from the whole thing. I learned how strong I am, how determined I am and how much I can juggle at once. I am doubly thankful for my wonderful family and friends and how much they support me, and for all our good health.

I’ve also been able to take a good look at myself and try to make some changes to the qualities that aren’t so positive. I’m too much of a perfectionist, I find it difficult to ask for help, I make snap judgements, I worry constantly and needlessly, I panic quickly and so my brain sometimes feels foggy and I find it difficult to see the wood for the trees. I have a tendency to overthink things and can never just go with the flow, I’m not confident in myself and I don’t believe I can do it. Whatever “it” is. I’m hugely afraid of failure.

The universe obviously decided that I’d been coasting along a little too comfortably and decided to shake things up a bit. It feels like I reached a watershed moment this year and that in itself is liberating. To be frank, if I can handle this year, I can handle anything! So even though it’s been tough, I’d still say it’s been a good year. Nay, a great year.

So, we can all agree that I am strong and clever and amazing. And so are you! And so is everyone, because no-one has an easy life and we all have problems and we shouldn’t judge anyone because it’s hard to tell what any of us are ever really going through inside. But just when I was having a bask in my own greatness, a wee voice in my head said “alright hen, simmer doon, you’re nothing special. No-one likes a boaster. ” And then I saw this video by Mayim Bialik, asking society to stop referring to women as girls because it diminishes our achievements and contributes to the imbalance of men and women in society. She recommends that you google the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis to find out more about how language influences culture. Do it. And also watch the video.

Guys, it woke me up to a lot of things. The fact that I just referred to you all collectively with masculine terminology is just the tip of the iceberg. As is the fact that I was about to use the word girls rather than women in the title of this blog even though I just watched the video. That’s how deeply ingrained all this shiz is.

It got me thinking about women and what we broadcast as our proudest achievements. And basically the trend at the moment is clearly Hot Mess. Think about it. How many of you are single and have ever proudly referred to yourself as Bridget Jones, or perhaps more recently Amy Schumer in the first half of Trainwreck? How many of you are parents and proudly identify as Slummy Mummies? Hell, even I write proudly about how I’m a Lazy Girl in this blog. Now, this is all clearly a much needed reaction against the exhausting, overwhelming and unrealistic pressures placed on women in all areas of our lives. Look amazing! Climb the career ladder! Find a partner! Raise perfect children! Don’t be “promiscuous”, don’t be uncouth, don’t be a slob. Never complain. And so we rightly defy our critics and embrace our imperfections. I wouldn’t want to change that. I’m also not implying that identifying with any of these characters a negative thing, but it certainly doesn’t fit the standards of perfection that we seem to be expected to live up to.

But, do we women do ourselves an injustice because we brag so openly about our shortcomings but are far more modest about our successes? Where’s the other side of the coin? When was the last time you noticed a woman publicly acknowledging her strengths without being judged as smug, selfish, bossy or cold? Think of a strong, accomplished woman in the spotlight and think about public perception of her. Is it mainly positive or mainly negative? Is she controversial? Now think of an accomplished man and do the same.

I think I’m definitely guilty of falling into the trap of being too hard on myself and broadcasting the bad stuff over the good. Earlier I could easily list 9 of my shortcomings, but only 3 of my strengths. In previous blog entries I have boasted about how I am a terrible cook, a slob, and unreasonable to my husband. So now I’m going to rebalance the scales. I’m going to shamelessly celebrate 10 of my biggest achievements and things that I feel proud about. It might be bragging. And you’re going to try and read them without feeling anything negative towards me.

• I graduated with first class honours from university and worked super hard for it.
• I have a successful career in music education, working my way up from a receptionist position to a member of the management team at the music school where I work in 7 years. I am now Manager of Workshops and Educational Events.
• I am an excellent multitasker. My managerial role saw me oversee 22 workshops last year. I also introduced a music competition from scratch for 130 entrants, sourcing and signing off on all aspects – paperwork, scheduling, staffing, materials, printing, catering, guests and prizes! I even dabbled in design – creating the entry brochure, the programmes and the certificates from scratch and designing the trophies and medals. On top of all this I lead a weekly brass ensemble for 20 primary school kids and teach 30 students a week, always doing my best to provide them with a broad and immersive musical experience.
• I never forget that I was born a musician and keep up my performance as much as possible. My french horn and I are still active in the local music scene!
• In my spare time I am the Course Director of the Arabian Youth Orchestra, organising rehearsal venue, staff, equipment, concerts, catering, hosting and transport for 60 kids at our annual week long course. And I tutor the horn section too. This year we welcomed musicians from the BBC Symphony Orchestra for a workshop and were invited by the UAE Ministry of Culture and the British Council to perform a concert as part of the 2017 UK UAE Year of Collaborative Culture celebrations.
• I am happily married and never take my relationship for granted.
• I am financially secure and own my own home.
• I can afford to live a comfortable life, have nice things and travel.
• I do my best to be kind and put a bit back into the world by volunteering annually with a children’s charity, the wonderful Green Gecko Project, donating elsewhere when I can and always recycling.
• I try to invest in my relationships and be there for my loved ones when they need me. I try to be kind, non judgemental and to give my time and lend my ear. I’m not sure I’m always successful, but I always try.

Enjoying our earned successes is nothing to be ashamed of. And success is doubly sweet when we can own our negatives and relax about them, or change them if we like. Success means different things to different people; let’s all celebrate our achievements. I’d love for you to tell me what you’re most proud of. Maybe you’re a parent, maybe you’ve overcome an illness, maybe you’ve recognised an area for change and are working through it, maybe you’ve helped someone, maybe you’ve rescued an animal, maybe you’ve met an ambition. Shout about it! Let’s be proud of all sides of ourselves.

 

 

Effective Working Relationships in Teaching

I’m an instrumental teacher here in Dubai. I’ve just finished my 9th year here, teaching brass at Centre for Musical Arts and peripatetically. I’ve been with CMA for that entire 9 years and in my current combination of 3 schools since 2010. This year, for the first time ever, I’m experiencing the Dubai Exodus – I’m losing 11 of my 36 weekly students to other countries, either through graduation from school or relocation abroad. That’s almost a third of my current student body. A third! I’ve been working with 5 of them for 6+ years, so it’s definitely feeling like the end of an era, which got me thinking to what I’ve learned about teaching and effective working relationships in that time.

The end of year exodus of expat families is fairly common in Dubai and sometimes it’s more extreme than others – the majority are here dependent on one parent’s working visa (usually Dad’s), and if the work goes, the family go too. We seem to be in a bit of a slump in the main employment sectors again because many families seem to be losing security or beginning to feel the pinch.

Even with job security, some families choose not to remain in Dubai to complete their child’s education, preferring to move back home at strategic times; most commonly before GCSEs or A Levels to gain Home Status for university. For expat families all education is private and while there are many excellent schools and opportunities here, it’s too much of a financial stretch for some, and others simply prefer to stick with an education system they already know.

There’s also the same natural turnover of students here as there is anywhere. There are always some leavers at the end of each academic session as kids graduate or decide they aren’t motivated enough or too busy for brass playing.

The difference with class teachers and instrumental teachers though, is that a child will often work with a classroom teacher for a year or two tops whereas there’s no real end point for instrumental lessons – it’s a skill that we can continue to develop for life. I have students I started off in Year 4 still with me in Year 10. Working together for that length of time creates a special and unique working relationship that must be cultivated and reassessed continually over the years.

So, what does this mean for teachers and their students? I truly believe that embracing student led learning is the best way to guarantee success for anyone learning a musical instrument. For students to learn well, especially in a one to one setting, they must feel empowered to take the lead, make their own choices and take risks. I think that’s especially true for extra curricular activities such as instrumental lessons, where students are freely choosing to take part (well, for the most part anyway – I definitely have some who are there under duress, but it’s my job to try and help them find some enjoyment somewhere!) And since the learning outcomes, possibilities and targets are so fabulously varied and infinite when learning a musical instrument, it makes sense for the student to take charge and gain what they want out of lessons.

That doesn’t mean weak, or patchy teaching though. My pet hate is when parents say to me, “oh, she only wants to learn for fun,” which usually translates as, “expect this child to do no work.” Playing an instrument is only fun when the time to really master the craft has been put in. Aspirations only come true through hard work and planning. No-one dreams of running a marathon and expects to avoid any training, and music is the same. And FYI parents, “he doesn’t want to do exams” doesn’t mean he’ll escape scales and technical practice. Any teacher with professional pride and the best interests of the student at heart will create a technically proficient musician; without the foundations of strong technique it’s impossible to build a repertoire of the student’s choice. And parents are encouraging this with their philosophy that music is just fun and doesn’t need to be taken seriously. It’s ludicrous! To yield results means to work. This is a fact of all life. No time? No lessons!

Anyway, rant over, but we can all agree that teaching is generally more productive when the student is engaged and on board. To take the lead a child must feel understood and safe, which requires trust. But how to build up trust quickly when you may only work together for a very short period of time?

I think the answer is making a real effort to get to know each student as an individual and always remembering to empathise with them. Attending an instrumental lesson is an intense experience for a child – they are very rarely in a one on one situation with any adult other than immediate family, so it can take a while to feel comfortable in that situation. We are also in a culture where children feel extreme pressure to perform, do their best, keep up with national averages and league tables. Many students are terrified of making mistakes – but lessons are all about making mistakes, trial and error. For a student to really relax and embrace the idea that learning an instrument comes through doing, and it won’t always be perfect, they must feel able to trust their teacher. And if their teacher remains somehow unapproachable or distant, the student remains cautious and unlikely to try.

If we as teachers don’t get to know our students, lessons become too much about us and our expectations and not about addressing their needs. We must always be able to see a bigger picture and take into account the child’s ideas and opinions. We must be prepared to present ourselves in different ways to get the best out of different students – one size doesn’t fit all. The teacher’s role is that of ultimate juggler, finding a way to balance what the student wants, with what they need; knowing when to compromise and when to persevere; knowing their strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes, learning styles, and personality traits. We must be strict in our expectations, yet flexible in our approach; we must be honest but not cruel, tactful but not false. We must perpetually expect the unexpected yet be prepared to deal with it when it comes; and we must continually reflect while looking forward, encouraging our students to do the same.

We instrumental staff teach technique, musicality, creativity, problem solving, confidence, organisation, responsibility, team work, independence, liability…the list is endless. And if you are lucky enough here in Dubai that both teacher and student stick around long enough to build up that relationship of trust, it’s such a pleasure. It’s been wonderful for me to get to know these 5 young musicians over our years together and watch them grow as brass players and as people. And I’m enjoying my continued work with the students who have been with me a little less time, but are staying on in Dubai. I’ve worked with them so long that we’ve developed a short hand which almost sounds like speaking in code to the outside observer; an intrinsic understanding is there. It’s so fulfilling to encourage and provide musical and personal achievements, to be involved in their growth of character, and to develop a productive, fulfilling relationship that is truthful, inspirational and effective.

So, I’ve said my goodbyes to those 11 students, the spaces they left on my timetable have been filled back up with a bunch of new recruits and it’s time to start the whole learning journey all over again. But isn’t that amazing? My favourite thing is to meet a new student – who knows what this 7 year old at their first lesson could achieve? Who will they become? What will we both learn? And if I’m still there when that 7 year old is 18 and about to finish their school career having found some of that out, I feel like I’ve made a wee difference to someone else and made the world a little bit more of a musical place.