Teaching Philosophy

"A kid playing air guitar will play with a smile on their face. After the first lesson, it goes away, and sometimes we spend the rest of our lives trying to get that smile back." - Victor Wooten

Self expression has always been such an important part of the human experience through whatever medium they see fit. It has existed for as long as we have been on this earth. And in some way, shape or form, so has music. This, to me raises the question: Why should these exist separately? We are all born with a creative drive, and what often happens is we are taught out of that as we go through school and life. Rules, procedures, this one-size-fits-all approach to everything we do makes robots out of us all. We lose that part of us that wants to discover. We lose that part of us that makes us human. Don't misunderstand, learning the conventions of music, or any other skillset, is important. But, there comes a time where breaking one or many of them will create something much more meaningful.

I believe that music is an outlet of enjoyment. Music is one of the only activities humans take part in that requires 100% of the brain. It is also one of the only subjects taught that encompasses all other disciplines (math, history, language,science, physiological, etc.). I want my students to understand that music brings all these disciplines together to make the most beautiful sounds the mind can imagine through a vast selection of repertoire that makes the knowledge they retain valuable and applicable.

I believe that music is an outlet of expression. As James Rhodes said in a 2016 Ted Talk, “Music is a language we don’t know, but are all fluent in.” Music has a way of being more than its face value. At first, it’s dots on a page with objective information (tempo, key, dynamics, etc.). But, what it becomes is a living, breathing love letter of the human condition. Music is a subject that students often engage with informally outside of our classroom as a means of putting words to feelings they can’t describe. Using this informal engagement to show how this can be accomplished without words through repertoire that requires different means of expression using various techniques will enhance their musical understanding and a greater appreciation for things they already enjoy.

I believe that music brings us together. Using music as a form of solace and solidarity is a tale as old as time. Some that come to mind is Bob Geldof’s “Live Aid” concert on July 13, 1985 as a fundraiser for the famine in Ethiopia, the performance of Beethoven’s 9th symphony at the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, as well as the singing of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” during the Yankees - Red Sox baseball game following the Boston bombing that claimed many innocent lives. The significance of music in our lives can not be understated, and is sometimes the only way our emotions can truly be expressed in unity. Understanding that music requires many minds to be one, united in a single goal is crucial to a meaningful learning experience.

I believe in the pursuit of lifelong learning. The way this was presented to me as a child was that “every day is a school day.” I viewed learning and school as a 9-5, something to be feared and dreaded. But I later saw it as a constant opportunity to grow in knowledge and understanding of how our environment works. I do not view myself as a master of anything, especially as an educator. Rather, I am a continuous learner right along with any students I may have. 

Music is a science. Music is mathematical. Music is a foreign language. Music is history. Music is physical education. Music develops insight and demands research.

Music is all these things, but most of all, music is art. 

"Every child is an artist until you tell them they're not." - John Lennon