My Teaching Philosophy
My role as an educator is to create a culture where students feel welcomed and inspired, are encouraged to foster independent creativity, strengthen their critical and analytical thinking, and recognize their personal values and beliefs. By creating such a culture, students will feel as if they are able to share their skills and knowledge outside of the classroom. It is imperative for such a culture to be recognized, so that once graduated, students will continue to share their gift of music as involved members of society.
It is important that students from all backgrounds of life receive an education that is centered around them. As an educator, I will provide a well rounded education for each student I have the privilege of teaching. I will do so by taking the time to learn from my students so that I may teach them to the best of my abilities and their capabilities. In the curriculum, students will be given the opportunity to work with one another, so that they may teach and learn from those who are both similar to and different from them. This will occur through daily participation in music rehearsal, weekly sectionals, chamber groups, and technique classes that provide students an education centered around their needs.
No matter the profession or role my students will someday have in society, it is my duty to encourage them to learn and appreciate all cultures. Because music is prominent in almost every part of the world, students will learn to become familiar with these cultures as they play or sing pieces of music composed by musicians all over. Students in choir will learn to sing in different languages, allowing them to make connections across the lands. Students in band and orchestra will learn the history behind the pieces of music they play, which will grow their knowledge and history on one’s culture. Music education encourages students to be appreciative and understanding of every culture, so that they may have a deeper connection with the world around them.
Music education provides students a world where they can let their creativity flow and collaborate with others to create something only heard within. With my guidance, students will learn how to interpret and form personal meanings about the world around them. As students analyze and perform pieces of music, they will learn to form personal connections through critical thinking that goes beyond the surface. Students will also be able to reinforce the skills they have learned from other classes. In relation to world history, students will play music from around the world, science as they learn how music is produced and how we affect the way our instruments sound, math as students learn how to read and form rhythms, foreign language as students sing and learn to read in different languages, English and language arts as students learn how to phrase structures like a sentence, physical education as students properly warm-up and participate in the marching band, and more.
My utmost goal is to create passionate, life-long learners and appreciators of the arts. My goal is not to create professional musicians, but rather individuals who will understand the importance and benefits of music in one’s life. I will encourage my students to actively hold music in their life whether that is listening to music, performing with a local group, or occasionally attending musical performances. By encouraging my students to find and appreciate music in their life, I hope that they too will go out into the world and encourage others to do the same.