My teaching philosophy is based on the idea that educators have the power to fill students with knowledge to become a better version of themselves and impact the world around them. The needs of students are quite diverse; however, the educator must attend to all students' needs to increase the intake of knowledge, happiness, and success in their classroom.
As a result of my instruction students will demonstrate and understand healthy posture from frequent and repetitive instruction on foundational technique. They will also understand how to appropriately warm up before rehearsals and practice sessions from numerous warmups we will use in class and during rehearsals. My students will all become musically literate through instruction, regular homework assignments, and assessment, resulting in the ability to sight read and explore repertoire. They will become accomplished musicians by learning essential intonation skills through ear training and nurturing group singing skills, resulting in performances that demonstrate consistent and beautifully refined intonation and groupwork. Students will develop listening skills, such as precise intonation, excellent balance, phrase shaping, and impeccable timing. These awareness and recognition abilities will be nurtured in the classroom by recording and listening back, discussions on musicality, and making connections between the music and the students. My students will understand these technical concepts from aural, visual, kinesthetic, and verbal perspectives integrated into my instruction in the classroom.
My teaching will result in the integration of technique, music history, and music theory into students’ musicianship. When we begin new pieces of music, we will begin with instruction about the composer’s life elements, such as their personal, social, and political circumstances and what may have influenced the work. We will look at the score and recognize the form, key signature, and time signature of the piece. Finally, we will take previously learned skills and implement them into the new repertoire. Students will use optimal practice time to have highly focused practice sessions from discussions in the classroom about specific sections to be practiced, what to watch or listen for, how many repetitions of a challenging phrase are required, and specific exercises and variations. My students will become more aware of the connection between music and personal expression from classroom discussions on how our music relates to an emotion or circumstance attributed to the composer or the students. They will foster student independence by being able to self-critique and problem solve based on rehearsal and practice techniques demonstrated in class and practice rubrics. Students will understand and demonstrate professionalism in potential masterclasses, performances, and ensemble rehearsals through instruction and guidelines on what is appropriate and respectful and what is not. Through this all, students will demonstrate integrated musicianship consisting of technique, knowledge, and expression.
Teaching music is both exciting and demanding and my intentions are that my instructional strategies and goals serve all students well. My students will leave the classroom with a love for classical music, learning, and thinking. I sincerely intend to make all students feel safe, loved, and excited to learn and express themselves in my classroom. I want my students to know they had a passionate, knowledgeable, and exciting teacher who brought enthusiasm to the classroom.
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