We are the Music Department

Last week I went back to my old high school, The McAuley Catholic High School. More specifically, I went back to the Music Department I loved so much when I was younger and took part in their annual 'Orchestra Course'.

The 'Orchestral Course' is one week, close to the end of the school year, in which students who take part in the Senior Orchestra during the year are invited to spend the week out of lessons, but instead working on several pieces of music and going out on trips.

I remember the first time I was asked if I wanted to take part in the course. I was so nervous but at the same time felt so privileged and from then on I haven't missed one. I know what you're thinking. Caitlin, you haven't been a McAuley student for 4 years but luckily for me McAuley Alumni are invited to come back should they be free and want to, so of course I am always there. Since leaving McAuley I have always made sure not to miss this week because I want to try to give back to the department which helped develop my passion for music.

The 'Orchestral Course' was also the first opportunity I got to try conducting. An opportunity which, looking back was probably the start of me realising what it was I wanted to do. It made me love conducting, even though it was stressful and came with a lot of pressure. So I am more than grateful for that. This year I had Mr A chose 'Game of Thrones' for me to conduct. This proved a bit of a challenge at the start as I have never seen this extremely popular show but as I listened to it more and more and rehearsed it every day I ended up enjoying the challenge and the kids made it sound as epic as I wanted it to be. And before you ask, yes I do conduct with a pencil rather than a stick. It might look weird but it works for me so that's what I like to use.

I also love going back because of the teachers. They were always the heart and soul of the department and they were more than teachers, they were your friend. If you had any problems, you could always talk to them about it. There was always some kind of banter going on that would make you laugh no matter how much crap had gone on that day. The music department was the ray of sunshine in, what could be on some days, the most gloomy situations. It was the place in school that I actually felt like I belonged.

Mr A is the most talented musician I have ever known. He always knows what something is supposed to sound like even when the page looks like a sea of semiquavers and accidentals. He has such a way with words and he could always explain things in a way which was just so easily understandable.

Mrs O was the first music teacher I had who actually seemed like they liked music. The way she taught us made us want to learn more. Her enthusiasm for various things was kind of infectious. This enthusiasm for things was usually brought out during the 'Orchestral Course' as she got to conduct pieces from things which she loved, such as Dr Who. I hope I will always have this enthusiasm for music.

Mrs B was unfortunately the one Music teacher who I never had for Music classes but she was the very first Saxophone teacher I had and she also let me do some work experience with her back when I was in Sixth Form as a teaching assistant. It was in this work experience that I got to learn about teaching in a hands on experience and she also told me a lot about Liverpool as this was also the city she went to University to do Music. I still go to her to ask about all things Liverpool related if I get stuck.

There is a saying at McAuley which encompasses the community feel of the school and that is 'We are McAuley' but in truth, I think that it needs adjusting, for me the saying will always be 'We are the Music Department'. This can only be proven by the fact that every year past students who found a home in the McAuley Music Department come back and once again become a part of the McAuley Orchestra.