While the students of The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao were still enjoying the last moments of their holiday, the teachers had already returned to campus for pre-term training, fully recharging their batteries and preparing for the new academic year ahead.

Setting Sail and Painting a New Blueprint 

Ms. Zheng Ran, Head of School, along with heads of departments, reflected on the past academic year with the aid of data. Highlights included the first Music Education Development Forum, which attracted numerous experts to the school, and the successful hosting of woodwind, violin/classical guitar, cello, and percussion workshops, all of which furthered the development of our academic and professional programs. The introduction of over 20 chamber music groups, 28 lunchtime concerts, and over 20 offers from prestigious universities for our second graduating class were among the school’s many achievements. With these successes in mind, the school is now poised to embark on another hopeful and exciting academic year. 

Professor Xu Fei, Head of the Keyboard Department, shared the impressive figures from last semester, including 23 departmental concerts, 7 masterclasses, and 12 themed performances. This year, the Keyboard Department is planning to form a teacher-student dual keyboard ensemble. Piano students, are you ready to become part of this group?

This academic year, all departments will continue to innovate. More experts will be invited to teach, with the Cello Department continuing its in-house expert courses, the Chinese Language Department launching interdisciplinary teaching, and the General Musicianship Department selecting students for the choral performance team. Are you ready for the new challenges that await? 

All teachers studied The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao Teacher Handbook and selected individuals shared their insights. What do you think your teachers might say when they take the stage as presenters during training? Let’s listen to a few of their thoughts:

"When both the students and I feel exhausted yet fulfilled at the end of a class, I know I’ve taught a successful lesson. Achieving this intensity requires clear short-, medium-, and long-term plans for each student."

— Tymur Melnyk, Associate Professor of Violin, Deputy Head of Violin Department

"In training, I constantly felt the importance of a student-centered approach, which has always been our educational philosophy. As teachers, we must focus on students’ learning conditions and characteristics to help them become ‘capable learners,’ not just learners who ‘master content.’"

— Wei Na, English Department Lead

"For a student who likes and trusts themselves, a teacher’s influence is profound. Teaching is not just about imparting knowledge or life lessons but also about subtly guiding students to become healthy, optimistic individuals who can think critically and protect themselves."

— Ding Zuo, Co-teacher and Secretary, Cello Departme

"The teacher handbook resonates with my experience from frontline teaching, offering a high-level summary that brings clarity to my understanding of my role."

— Dong Lei, Core Musicianship Teacher, General Musicianship Department

Learning from External Expertise

The comprehensive teacher training program also covered topics such as professional ethics, school-family communication, Project-Based Learning (PBL), interdisciplinary projects, and teacher mental health. External experts were invited to share their experiences, enhancing teachers’ communication skills, teaching abilities, and personal development. Teachers were also divided into groups to experience PBL classroom scenarios from a student’s perspective, gaining deeper insight into the true benefits of PBL.

Refining Research and Enhancing Quality

All departments focused on developing individualized learning plans (ILPs) for students. The ILP lead teachers, guided by departmental syllabi, will create plans that include short-, medium-, and long-term goals, taking into account students’ external experiences such as participation in concerts and competitions. These plans will serve as each student’s unique roadmap for professional growth in the new academic year. Teachers from the Academic Division collaboratively studied curriculum standards, shared experiences, and moved forward together.

With new dreams and renewed energy, the teachers have completed their week of tailored training. Students, are you fully charged and ready to start the new academic year alongside your fully energized teachers?