My Life In Music
Hello and Thank You for visiting my website!
With this page I hope to share with you more of myself and my personal reasons for deciding to become an Music/English educator.
There were several factors that set me on my chosen path.
MUSIC
The first reason that came to mind was that I simply love teaching music. I first realized this when I was a Junior in High School. I was part of a Cadet Teaching program, and I had 11 private students. Seven flutes, three violins and one viola. Because of my schedule, I had Wednesday evenings almost completely free and taught most of my students between 4:00 and 8:30. After about two weeks I realized that Wednesday had become my new favorite day of the week, completely outstripping Friday in the race for my affections. I could not wait to see if all my students had practiced and watch them make even the smallest progress. I loved the unique problems they all brought to me, challenging me to find new ways of teaching and ways of encouraging them. I learned just as many things, if not more from cadet teaching as my students learned from me.
The second reason I choose Music Education was because it provides a unique opportunity to really get to know my students over a period of three or four years. I believe this factor fosters an exceptionally strong, safe and nurturing learning environment for all types of students.
The third reason - My High School band was a particularly close group of students. We constantly referred to band as a “family” and created an exceptional support network. Like a family we did not always like each other, but we always cared for each other, whether it was giving advice and guidance when requested or simply listening to each other and providing a shoulder to cry on. Incoming freshmen were immediately absorbed into the group and accepted, no matter how different they were. As a teacher I want to create the same type of supportive network in my classes.
The Fourth and most important reason - My friend has a younger brother who started High School and joined band after I had already graduated. About a month after school started, I saw him at a concert and asked him whether he liked band or not. He replied, “My band friends are like a light in the darkness.” I was shocked and moved so deeply that it was everything I could do not to cry, because he found the words I could not. In one simple sentence this boy had summarized how I felt about music, how I felt toward my friends and why I wanted to become a Music Educator in the first place. I want to make my student’s lives easier and provide an outlet where they can learn to express themselves through music and find true friendship along the way. It is essential that students, particularly adolescents find someplace where they “fit in” and are accepted for who they are. I was extremely lucky to have this experience; I want to recreate it and secure a niche for students who are socially awkward and lost, as I was.
ENGLISH
My reasons for obtaining an English minor are somewhat less sentimental. I love reading. I love writing. I love talking about what I've read. Teaching English gives me the opportunity to really get to know my students and give them an opportunity to experience life through literature. Opening the door to new and exciting ideas, people and places and helping them realize their potential and place in the world.
With this page I hope to share with you more of myself and my personal reasons for deciding to become an Music/English educator.
There were several factors that set me on my chosen path.
MUSIC
The first reason that came to mind was that I simply love teaching music. I first realized this when I was a Junior in High School. I was part of a Cadet Teaching program, and I had 11 private students. Seven flutes, three violins and one viola. Because of my schedule, I had Wednesday evenings almost completely free and taught most of my students between 4:00 and 8:30. After about two weeks I realized that Wednesday had become my new favorite day of the week, completely outstripping Friday in the race for my affections. I could not wait to see if all my students had practiced and watch them make even the smallest progress. I loved the unique problems they all brought to me, challenging me to find new ways of teaching and ways of encouraging them. I learned just as many things, if not more from cadet teaching as my students learned from me.
The second reason I choose Music Education was because it provides a unique opportunity to really get to know my students over a period of three or four years. I believe this factor fosters an exceptionally strong, safe and nurturing learning environment for all types of students.
The third reason - My High School band was a particularly close group of students. We constantly referred to band as a “family” and created an exceptional support network. Like a family we did not always like each other, but we always cared for each other, whether it was giving advice and guidance when requested or simply listening to each other and providing a shoulder to cry on. Incoming freshmen were immediately absorbed into the group and accepted, no matter how different they were. As a teacher I want to create the same type of supportive network in my classes.
The Fourth and most important reason - My friend has a younger brother who started High School and joined band after I had already graduated. About a month after school started, I saw him at a concert and asked him whether he liked band or not. He replied, “My band friends are like a light in the darkness.” I was shocked and moved so deeply that it was everything I could do not to cry, because he found the words I could not. In one simple sentence this boy had summarized how I felt about music, how I felt toward my friends and why I wanted to become a Music Educator in the first place. I want to make my student’s lives easier and provide an outlet where they can learn to express themselves through music and find true friendship along the way. It is essential that students, particularly adolescents find someplace where they “fit in” and are accepted for who they are. I was extremely lucky to have this experience; I want to recreate it and secure a niche for students who are socially awkward and lost, as I was.
ENGLISH
My reasons for obtaining an English minor are somewhat less sentimental. I love reading. I love writing. I love talking about what I've read. Teaching English gives me the opportunity to really get to know my students and give them an opportunity to experience life through literature. Opening the door to new and exciting ideas, people and places and helping them realize their potential and place in the world.