2-2 Application of Content

The candidate understands how to engage learners through interdisciplinary lessons that utilize concept
based teaching and authentic learning experiences to engage students in effective communication,
collaboration, outside resources, reading, technology, and in critical and creative thinking.

As an educator, I firmly hold to the idea that I am not just responsible for furthering a child’s
music education, but rather I am responsible to supporting and enriching all aspects of their
lives. Other subject areas are no exception to this idea. Music is extremely versatile. Because
we all connect to it to some degree, music has the capacity to reflect virtually any concept or
idea. I possess the skillset needed to implement these other concepts into my lesson planning.
Within music, context is crucial to understanding a composition. Knowing the history of the
piece, why it was written, who the composer was and what the culture was while writing the
piece, etc. Is vital to a high-level performance. These things tie into many areas including, but
not limited to literature, history, science, etc.

My desire and ability to know and understand the context of music will greatly benefit the
students in my classroom. The ability to connect a new idea with a familiar one is extremely
effective for raising student retention levels. By implementing cross-curricular content, students
are able to connect a new concept with one they have already discussed elsewhere. This
requires a very collaborative atmosphere between the music classroom and all other subjects.
My desire to build relationships with all members of my future work community will serve to
make such collaborations more easily available.