My Philosophy of Music Education
As a music teacher, it is my belief that all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, physical or intellectual ability, should be offered the opportunity to discover and explore their innate potential as musicians, and to increase these natural capacities through formal music instruction. In my opinion, the goal of music education is not only to form an appreciation of the music of others, but also encourage children to shape their own unique musical identity, through academic study and performance opportunities. Music education should be guided by the purpose of crafting independent musicians, capable of performing, evaluating, and creating music.
The first question that I considered as I considered my own philosophies, was, “Why? What is the purpose of teaching music?” By sharing music with others, it is possible to make others as passionate about it as I am. Even if a student cannot play very well, it is still important to help him to understand and appreciate music and its importance in his life. Another purpose of teaching music is to give students something they can succeed at through practice, which provides them with a sense of purpose and pride.
Additionally, music is very important in the overall educational system. Music programs are essential because they help students to develop skills such as time management, communication, patience, and perseverance. Also, for many students, music helps them to express themselves in ways that sitting in a classroom all day never could. Music classes can also be considered a healthy break from academics in a school day. In general, the purpose of music education is to teach a universal language to students that they will be able to use no matter where they are, for the rest of their lives.
Since the success of a music teacher lies in their ability to reach their students, the manner in which music is taught is quite significant. Music should be taught with passion, vigor, and life. If a student realizes how passionate a teacher is about their subject matter, they may begin to wonder why and have more interest in the subject.
Although it is important to stay on task while teaching in a music classroom, I also think that it is important to show an organic side to yourself. Taking a short break from a rehearsal to tell a story about high school choir or a music professor in college can be a way to connect with students by making them realize how much music has impacted their teacher’s life.
Whenever my college professors took the chance to share a little story with us, I felt more connected with them and showed more trust towards them. I admired them for sharing a part of his history with us, and I aspire to become a teacher with which my students can trust in and inspires them to share my stories in the future. Overall, I believe that the most effective way to teach music is for the teacher to share their passion with their students and reach them by connecting with them on their level.
Music connects children with the past, the present, and the future and gives them something in which to take pride. Music is all around us and it should be analyzed, interpreted, internalized, and appreciated. As Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche once said, “without music, life would be a mistake.” After all, it would be a shame to deprive children of something that builds character and changes lives the way that music does.