Philosophy
When I think about what my beliefs are in teaching what comes to mind is the many fond memories of my teachers and mentors. I feel my passion for teaching is deeply rooted in my past and will forever fuel my desire to pass on what I was given. I was lucky to have inspirational teachers: their ideas and ideals shaped my musical thinking and world. I am also grateful for those teachers whose ideas I felt were, at times, in discord with mine, because that has proven to be as valuable. These experiences continue to influence my philosophy as a teacher.
Creating a nurturing learning environment while catering to the needs of the individual student is one of the essential elements of my teaching. I believe, among many factors, an ideal learning environment constitutes of establishing a relationship of trust where the student feels safe to try new things and have a safety net when failing. Creating a stimulating and inviting environment on the part of the teacher can help greatly with these goals. This will allow students to have courage to express from the depths of their own personal experience, which is ultimately my goal. I believe, helping students learn about themselves, while transforming from instrument operators to artists is the best gift a teacher can give.
The importance of teaching critical thinking cannot be overstated. Teaching students how to think not what to think is what facilitates personal truth, an invaluable asset in arts. Critical thinking is one of the tools we use to make sense of the world around us. From everything we hear, see, feel, smell, taste, everything that is suggested to us by others, we have to find out how it makes sense to us. Critical thinking will allow us to discover how we think and feel about matters and also help us understand others' standpoints, thus enhancing empathy. I believe the importance of learning empathy is crucial, especially in a profession that recreates someone else's works.
Art education, especially music, takes a special place in this. Music and the performance of it, occupies itself at some point or level with examined, questioned, interrogated beliefs. Handed down beliefs can sound convincing at first, but usually fail to leave a lasting impression as they are not internalized by the performer. The teacher's role in this is to guide the student towards examining their prior knowledge by asking questions.
It is important to provide an environment for the student where risk taking is encouraged, tailored to the student's individual needs and goals at that time regardless of their age, level or ability. In this way, music education can contribute to an examined self-expression, a proper assessment of one’s strengths and weaknesses and a healthy attitude towards hard to reach goals.
Creating a nurturing learning environment while catering to the needs of the individual student is one of the essential elements of my teaching. I believe, among many factors, an ideal learning environment constitutes of establishing a relationship of trust where the student feels safe to try new things and have a safety net when failing. Creating a stimulating and inviting environment on the part of the teacher can help greatly with these goals. This will allow students to have courage to express from the depths of their own personal experience, which is ultimately my goal. I believe, helping students learn about themselves, while transforming from instrument operators to artists is the best gift a teacher can give.
The importance of teaching critical thinking cannot be overstated. Teaching students how to think not what to think is what facilitates personal truth, an invaluable asset in arts. Critical thinking is one of the tools we use to make sense of the world around us. From everything we hear, see, feel, smell, taste, everything that is suggested to us by others, we have to find out how it makes sense to us. Critical thinking will allow us to discover how we think and feel about matters and also help us understand others' standpoints, thus enhancing empathy. I believe the importance of learning empathy is crucial, especially in a profession that recreates someone else's works.
Art education, especially music, takes a special place in this. Music and the performance of it, occupies itself at some point or level with examined, questioned, interrogated beliefs. Handed down beliefs can sound convincing at first, but usually fail to leave a lasting impression as they are not internalized by the performer. The teacher's role in this is to guide the student towards examining their prior knowledge by asking questions.
It is important to provide an environment for the student where risk taking is encouraged, tailored to the student's individual needs and goals at that time regardless of their age, level or ability. In this way, music education can contribute to an examined self-expression, a proper assessment of one’s strengths and weaknesses and a healthy attitude towards hard to reach goals.