Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Its my belief as a music educator that all students, regardless of substantiating factors,
should have access to a proper music education. They should have the opportunity to discover
and explore their innate ability to create music independently and collaboratively as I shape them
encouraged to shape their own creative musical identity through the study and performance of
music. Its my goal as a teacher to provide a safe environment for students to explore music at
their own pace and to take risks in order to learn and grow as a musician. Its crucial for students
to understand that mistake will happen, and they will be forgiven and learned upon. My music
classroom will be a place of musical excellence, but also will prepare students to be functioning
All children are capable of learning music, regardless of their culture, socio-economic
status, or any other diversity. All students bring their own personality and backgrounds into the
classroom. Its my job as their teacher to call upon their strengths and shape their weaknesses
into learning experiences that will enhance their music education. All students will be
encouraged to create, perform, and analyze music no matter their physical, cognative, or
behavioral limitations. With adaptations and modifications to instruction and the use of
differentiated instruction techniques, all students will have the same equal opportunity to actively
engage in music within the walls of my classroom. A student-centered classroom will allow the
students a sense of autonomy to make their own musical choices.1 My role as a mediator or
facilitator will show my students that I am a lifelong learner. I believe that allowing students to
make their own choices, their own mistakes, and learning from their experiences as a musician
will better shape them and prepare them for their musical journey. Its my goal to engage
1
Ernst, Karl D., Ed.: Gary, Charles L., Ed. Music in General Education.
students in socio-emotional learning. Music engages so many parts of our physical being
including our emotions. As adolescents and teenagers, many students arent sure how to deal
with what they feel within. Socio-emotional learning can help students process their emotions
and convert those feelings into music. Students that can identify their feelings and express them
in a healthy, autonomous manner are more apt to be successful not only in class but also in
everyday life.
Music exists in every culture. Its an essential factor that brings together people that may
not otherwise ever come into contact. Teaching music to any student willing to learn will engage
them in cultural perspectives that will shape and change the way they see the world. Studying the
music of cultures outside our own and outside Westernized music can allow student to
understand and appreciate cultures they may know nothing about. The study of other musical
cultures also gives students the perspective of how music functions outside of Standard Band
Literature. There is so much to be learned about how music shapes the lives of people all over
the world, and yet students know very little about it. Its my goal as a music educator to share all
kinds of musical culture to my students and explore the realm of musical possibilities available
to them.
Students need music education through their elementary, junior high, and high school
years. Too often, I hear students say Im not musical I cant sing and the list of I cant
goes on and on. Music education provides as outlet for all musical styles, not just band or choir.
Theres so many facets of music to be explored within the context of music education. Music
technology is an ever growing musical outlet that students are engaged with almost every day
when they listen to pop music. Students can be taught how to create their own music through the
use of technology. They can be taught how to produce, mix, and design their own music only
using software such as Garageband. Music education isnt limiting, it's ever growing. As a music
educator, its my job to adapt to the growing trends of music and use them to teach my students
the music that affects their everyday lives, not inhibit them. Its my job to pull out their creative
processes through whatever outlet of music calls to them. All students are innately musical. All
students can be actively engaged through music. Its up to me as the music educator to facilitate
Through teaching, I look forward to my journey as a lifelong learner. I want to learn from
my students as much as they learn from me. They all are unique individuals that bring so much
to the classroom that can be used to shape creative, independent musicians. All my students
wont be professional musicians, and thats okay. My goal as a music educator is to give my
student the best music education possible, and give them the tools to become intelligent
consumers of music. As long as my students can go into society with an appreciation and
understanding how music functions in their everyday lives, Ill know I have done my job.