Philosophy of Music Education, Charlotte Wood

Students rely on educators for guidance as they grow and develop, and it is crucial for

teachers to plant seeds of information in their students that will continue to grow long after the

children leave the classroom. Children are in the classroom to learn how to learn, and to learn

how to teach themselves after they no longer have access to an educator. As a music educator, I

aim to teach students to become musicians with the desire to grow beyond their classroom

experiences, by instilling a love of music through educational and inspirational activities.

Responsible educators instill a vast amount of knowledge in their students, and must

recognize that National Standards are guidelines and not limitations. As a teacher, I want share

as much knowledge as possible with my students so that they have the most opportunities to

learn. Listening, playing, and analyzing repertoire brings great joy to students and teachers,

helping students to acquire the skills that they may take outside of the classroom to establish a

mentality for lifelong learning. Composing and performing music gives students a creative outlet

that they different classroom environment, and the exposure to these skills is necessary for the

development of a musical and creative child.

Music education should expose students to repertoire and material promoting a diverse

education. While students and teachers may favor certain works or composers or authors,

composing and learning world music allows students to explore beyond their current

environment. Including works by minorities, songs from different cultures, or music from a

different time period provides students a diverse lens with which to look at the world through,

setting them up for a lifetime of cultural competence. Equally important is the advocacy of

education. I make sure that every student can learn and grow in my classroom, and I make the

effort to include students who may not have had musical opportunities in the past. The doors of
the classroom should always be open to all students who wish to learn from our personal

experience as educators.

Musical independence encourages students to correct themselves, to make musical

decisions, and to develop individual interpretations and opinions about the music. Music teachers

work to ensure that students acquire the skills of musical independence and continue to grow and

develop these skills as musicians, improving the quality of their musical experiences. These

experiences allow students to become effective problem solvers, strong personal critics, and

gives them the ability to develop their own musical taste.

Music education involves developing interpersonal skills. I encourage students to work

together, solve problems, and build a community to develop a collaborative environment, while

still understanding their individual roles as students in a music classroom. Group work and

partnering up is a wonderful way to get students to communicate more effectively with one

another, while also developing an environment where students benefit from shared learning.

Fostering an environment where students feel safe and comfortable making music, taking risks,

and belonging to a community lives at the heart of music education.