Philosophy Statement

I believe that music is a catalyst through which students can learn skills that go beyond the music classroom. Students in my classroom will learn more than just musical skills and ideas. They will learn to self-reflect on their mistakes to find solutions, that making mistakes is expected and respected, and that mistakes are opportunities to try again, but wiser the next time. Students will also learn kindness and respect for one another in my classroom. Opportunities will always be taken for students to recognize each other for a job well done. Every student contributes to the classroom in their own unique way, and this individuality will be celebrated in my classroom. My classroom will always be a safe space for students of all ability levels; it will be a place to learn and grow through our mistakes and a place where kindness is shown and individuality is celebrated.

I believe music education provides the opportunity to grow and learn academically in more than just music. Music teaches literacy: notes on the page are translated into fingerings, rhythms, pitches, and sounds. Music is a science experiment: the longer the instrument is made to be, the lower the pitch. Music is mathematics: measures are split into beats just as a whole is split into fractions. Music is a foreign language: piano and forte, both Italian words, tell a musician to play loudly or softly. Music is, by its very nature, a cross-curricular discipline. I will teach my students to be better learners by teaching a drive to learn, giving the confidence to know that mistakes are okay to make, and that curiosity and personal growth are what really matter. Each student can learn and improve themselves through music in these ways and thus become better learners and better people.

I believe the role of music education is twofold: to teach to the hearts of my individual students and to teach teamwork and unity as a group. Music offers a distinguished opportunity to practice and achieve in both of these areas. The music classroom is unique in that there are two separate contexts within the day that offer an opportunity to teach: in the classroom during normal classroom time and throughout the day in music lessons. Within my music classroom, the atmosphere will be fun, but hardworking; every student is of value, contributes to the group, and has an important role to play in the success of the group and rehearses with these ideas in mind. I believe that, with a motivated leader, the students in my classroom will learn the importance of contributing to the group as a whole through their individual effort and the fantastic results that working together as a member of the team can and will produce. Furthermore, lessons with each of my students throughout the day are exemplary opportunities for individual growth. My students will prosper musically through individualized instruction and learn important life skills, such as time management, responsibility, and scheduling when attending lessons. Lessons are also an opportunity for students to learn about how their individual work contributes to the success of the group as a whole. In these ways, I will use individual lessons with my students to teach musically and to teach to the heart. Certainly, through both classroom work and individual lessons I will use every opportunity to teach to the hearts of my students. I believe by teaching to the heart of each student, I will be able to make a greater impact that goes far beyond the music that we make.