People have always been at the center of my philosophy of teaching. While I want my students to foster a lifetime love of music, the content will never be as important as the well-being of my students. Per Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, if I can reassure my students that they are in a safe environment where I care for them as people rather than what they can do, I believe I can create a classroom built around trust and respect inevitably contributing to a positive, productive classroom experience. As a result, I incorporate social-emotional learning into lessons, ensure classroom management procedures are followed to keep students safe, and I foster a supportive, loving classroom environment. It is only when students know they are safe that they can learn.
Students should be the leaders of their own learning. They are the inventors, producers, and critics of music. In the classroom, I act as a facilitator and approach music with a constructivist approach. I ask higher-order questions to get students to think deeply about the content they’re learning. It is important to me to probe students and lead them to the answer as it helps them retain the content in a more personal way. Once the students have discussed and formed their own definitions and opinions on the content, we can then actively engage in activities to further mold their understanding of the concept. A student-centered approach persuades children to be invested in their own education ultimately leading to higher achievement.
I believe in a culture of growth and excellence. As such, I have high expectations for my students and set goals that actively push them to critically think and actively work. I’ll never expect that a student is perfect, but I will always expect that they aspire to learn and grow more. To encourage this achievement, I believe in meeting students where they are academically. As elementary educators, we are met with students with various learning styles and capabilities. Using visual, aural, and kinesthetic teaching aids helps me convey content in a diverse way. Furthermore, I employ peer learning as a tool to aid students who do not understand the material as well as solidify it and provide leadership opportunities for those that do.
I believe that students are more devoted to their education when it is relevant to them. In my own music education experience, I felt a large focus was on performance, and while this is a critical part of music education, I aspire to give my students the knowledge I desired to learn but never had access to: music theory, composition, technology, music history, theater, popular music. By incorporating this type of content into lessons, students can have a well-rounded curriculum that can cater to their interests ultimately encouraging them to further their education.
Music is intrinsically human. We study music because it is human voice, belief, and action. While I recognize that not all of my students will grow up to be actively involved in music, it is my hope that I can give my students tools to figure out problems, foster a love of learning, and have a life-long appreciation of music.
The classroom is like a garden. There are all sorts of children that have different learning needs, and if those needs are met, they will bloom. As such, I want to create a classroom that has a calm, garden like feels. Furtrhermore, I want to provide a classroom library where students can read more about what we're learning, and fill my walls with educational and motivational posters.
I know why music is important to me. Throughout my decade of involvement in the activity, it has helped hone my creativity, sharpened my problem-solving skills, and made me more confident. However, explaining to others why it should be important to them has always perplexed me. What could I possibly say that would sway someone to care for something they haven’t experienced, especially when deep love of music typically stems from your involvement in it? It wasn’t until December of 2021 that I could clearly see the importance of music.
I sat studying for an upcoming final listening to the same music playlist I always had when a song I was unfamiliar with started to play. The piece was called “Let My Love Be Heard” by Jake Runestad. The song is dedicated to Nohemi Gonzalez, a member of the Bob Cole Conservatory Chamber Choir who died in a terrorist attack in France. The attack took the lives of over 130 people. The choir learned and recorded this song in one sitting. When you listen to the recording, you can feel the heartache the choir feels as they yearn for the presence of their lost friend. The result is hauntingly beautiful and incredibly moving. As moving as this was, it couldn’t have prepared me for the following day. Arielle Fortenberry, an Alumni of West Monroe High School who played clarinet and bass drum in our band, died of cancer. Losing someone so young emoted a profound grief not only within our band, but West Monroe as a community as well. This moment remains surreal and shocking in my memory because until we encounter moments such as these, we think of ourselves as invincible. It had never crossed my mind that Arielle wouldn’t survive.
As I processed this grief, I reminisced on my time in high school: the mornings I spent in the band room laughing with friends, the tedious after-school rehearsals, the long, scorching days of band camp. I treasure those days as I remember being part of something much bigger than myself and the friendships I made in my time there. It is then I realized why music is so important. Grief. Joy. Anger. Love. They're intertwined with life. Not only does music provide a conduit to experience and express those emotions, but it provides a community to experience it with. I have travelled across the country to perform for thousands of people. I have been able to advocate for my community in the house of education. I have met my best friends through music. I have learned about history and contributed to tradition. I have been a part of a team and been a leader. I have been the music maker that moved people to tears and the audience member that was touched with music. Music has fostered my best memories and been a sanctuary during my worst. The music community has made me a better person, and if I can provide my students with those same opportunities and experiences, I believe we can set them up for a more successful future.
It is my goal to foster a community in my classroom, school, and locality that provides children with the opportunity to learn the intricacies of music, but also shares why music is important culturally and personally. Music connects us to the people around us and allows us to attach memories and feelings to the music we hear. Arielle and Nohemi’s stories are not unique, but the music and memories dedicated to their lives are. We can honor them and their memory through music, and it’s important that we teach the next generation this too.