Standard 3: The teacher of PK-12 music has skills in reading and writing music.

Reading and writing music is one of the most foundational aspects there is to being a

musician and a music educator. Just as young students learn to read written language, we too

must be able to teach our students the written language of music. As a future teacher, I have

completed all the necessary requirements to be more than proficient in the aural and notational

skills that are expected for creating music. I have the skills that are needed to teach my students

the fundamentals of music from whole notes to complex chordal structure and everything in

between. I can give examples of music from sight both vocally and instrumentally, and I can

develop and use many different forms of evaluation for my students musical reading and writing.

I love to integrate both technology and music together, because we live in a world where

technology is a must. Students will learn how to use technology in a safe and mature manner to

develop their digital citizenship while simultaneously learning about music.

For my students, reading and writing music is a core part of learning how music functions

in everyday life. Especially in westernized band and choral music, students have to be able to

read what they are performing. In 5th grade band, the first thing music educators teach beginning

band students is how to play their first notes because it's so crucial to the success of the ensemble

from there on. The more a student learns to read and write music and aurally understand music

the faster they will develop as a well rounded musician. For elementary students it is a little less

necessary just because they can still play instruments, sing, and get a quality music education

while learning from ear first then looking at the music. Elementary music lays the foundation for

aurally understanding music. It gives them a more solid understanding of how to translate music

from what they are hearing to how they can do it themselves. Its when we can add reading

music proficiently that the student truly can begin to approach music more independently.