Evan Bossenbroek

12/11/20

I believe that learning occurs through the combination of initial engagement with material

and the subsequent repeated interaction with that material in various contexts. Learning is a

holistic process, you cannot learn just one thing in isolation. There is a complex, tangled web of

subject areas that interact with each other and impact each other in profound ways. When you

learn something in class you are not just learning Spanish, Physics or Music. You are learning

about the social impacts these things have, how other people think about these things, how to

work hard and how to interact with others among an infinite number of other possibilities.

I find that students learn the best when they have some ownership over their education

and they discover that they are their own best teacher. The teacher is an enabler of learning, not

the sole source of knowledge. A teacher’s role in student’s learning is to present material in a

way that is digestible and to provide a variety of different ways to engage with that material.

Teachers must inspire students to take the first step in their own development and to guide them

along their journey, aiding in their discoveries. It is always crucial that the teacher examines the

content being taught to the class and how they are engaging with each individual. Having a

system that works well for the whole class is important, but it is also necessary to be able to

tweak your approach when working with an individual. Continual self-evaluation and adjustment

are imperative to being an impactful teacher.

Musicians have to live in a dichotomy where they produce an inherently social art in a

social setting while doing much of the work by themselves in a practice room. Learning in music

is the same way. One does some very important learning in a social setting, during rehearsal and
performances, but much of the work on the instrument and musicianship must be done outside of

the classroom. We learn about what it means to be in an ensemble, intonation, social skills and

respect in the ensemble setting. We learn about the technique, our musical instincts and what we

struggle with in the practice room, by ourselves. Both settings are equally important to one’s

development as a musician. Above all, it is absolutely necessary that one approaches their

education with curiosity and creativity. It is my goal to inspire and cultivate this creativity in my

students so that they are not only trumpeters or saxophonists, but musicians and artists.

As a teacher, I want my students to gain a nuanced understanding of the material covered

in class and how it relates to their outside world. It is imperative to student’s moral and personal

development to connect what they are learning to their lives. In my classroom, I hope students

learn how to create beautiful music, but more importantly how to be great people. I want them to

learn what it means to treat others with respect, to love and care for other people, to value

themselves and how to work for something that is of value to them.

I strive to teach in a way that is conducive to serving the student’s best interests. I am not

driven by my ensembles earning awards or recognition, I am driven by providing the best

conditions for students to grow, thrive and learn all while creating beautiful music. I encourage

students to take risks, to challenge themselves in everything they do because that is where they

will learn the most about the material and themselves. I want to be firm but kind, always

encouraging students to put their best forward but never berating them if they don’t. The

student’s wellbeing and growth will always come first in my classroom.

Music, and art as a whole represent what I believe to be one of the highest forms of what

it means to be human. It is a spiritual, social and personal endeavor that can represent the full

range of the human experience. From love to rage, from the beautiful to the grotesque, we must
tap into these deep experiences we have to produce great art. I hope to foster the next generation

of great artists in a world that so desperately needs it.