I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to be working with the students at Hugh John Macdonald. Throughout my education, I was blessed with having so many wonderful teachers and mentors, and now I can only hope to inspire these kids as much as I have been.

The task at hand is not an easy one. Most of the kids we are working with have no musical training whatsoever, so we are starting from the very beginning. At times it can feel a little daunting trying to teach all of the instruments at once, but I am starting to see some definite progress.

There is a core group of students that stay after school on their own time to get as much practice and learning in as possible. They are like sponges soaking up all the information we can give out. By 5:30, I am usually exhausted, though it seems that they could continue for much longer.

There is a steep learning curve when it comes to teaching a whole band of beginners but I think we are starting to get a handle on it. The students continue to become more enthusiastic and focused with each passing class. I truly care for their well-being and success and will continue to try to inspire them as much as I can.