music education teaching philosophy 

Below you will find my philosophy of education. This is how I view a successful music classroom and how I envision my teaching inside my own classroom.

As a music teacher, I will have many objectives such as encouraging the history of music, good self-esteem, good audiation, rhythms and overall substantial technique and musicianship. However, my biggest objective is to encourage all students to enjoy music. 

  Inside my primary classroom, I hope to include Orff and Kodaly theories. I would love to utilize Orff instruments, but also use boomwhackers in the classroom. Technology has advanced in ways that can help with this. Songs that students recognize can be played with these boomwhackers which will encourage a strong engagement. Students have this engagement as well as learn rhythms, pitches and how to work inside an ensemble. This is a wonderful way for Orff to shine in the classroom. With Kodaly, I would utilize body solfege and teach rounds and canons that will have students utilize the voices they currently have while also preparing them with the voices they may have after puberty. I hope to continue to add other theories as well as continue my journey with Orff and Kodaly as I am and will always be a life-long learner. 

In my secondary classroom, I plan to rely on a foundation which I will create that will include great sight reading and music theory. The level and complexity will depend on their grade, which choir, and overall curiosity and engagement. A choir will go far with a great foundation that allows them to understand and create music on their own.  A great choir also does not seek validation but rather seeks to make art with their music which will be our united purpose inside the classroom. I will also make great strides with teaching vocal technique as a group as well as individually. My secondary choirs will learn diverse music that will encourage students to learn about theory inside the music as well as its history. This will be seen in the music extracurriculars as well. 

  In all classrooms, I would utilize collaborative and independent curiosity learning inside of my classroom. I find joy in students discovering subjects inside of music. Because of this, I would encourage a monthly assignment for both primary and secondary classrooms that has students find something regarding a song or instrument that we are learning during this month. This could be related to the historical period, the composer, the techniques, or simply the origin of the topic. Each student would learn and share something that was not taught in class. This project can fluctuate through all grade levels. With this idea, I am hoping to have students gain a passion and spark of curiosity regarding music. 

  I also will spark a passion for music by experimenting with diverse types of music no matter the grade level. This can include music that is not Western. This can include music revolving around the pentatonic scale, different genres, or music that includes origins from other cultures or countries.  This overall will include historical pieces that changed music such as atonal music.

  Overall, I hope to build connections with my students and create an open and honest relationship with everyone in the community. I am willing to try new things and take risks inside the classroom if it means the students will enjoy and experience something new. With this being said, I will be having a student centered classroom. This classroom is continuously evolving and changing and will always be inclusive. Each day will involve the same routines but will include so many diverse topics such as learning the foundations of music, learning music to play, and an overall appreciation of all types of music.