Teaching Philosophy
I did not come to music education the usual route. I majored in public policy and went off to Washington to save the world. I have always loved music, but to me a career in it was untenable until I could answer the following question: how is it justifiable to teach a child to sing if you could be helping to feed the starving? The answer to that question took me several years to unpack, and is still one I grapple with. Some of my answers, however, appear below.
Education is, to me, about citizenship. The purpose of an education is to create citizens, people who belong to, appreciate, and take care of their community. We educate people’s reasoning abilities that they may make good choices, their reading abilities that they may be informed and exploratory, their practical skills that they will know how to function independently. We educate people’s artistic selves that they may learn to know themselves better, to explore their emotional ranges and learn to empathize with others, to appreciate and develop creativity.
Creativity and empathy are just as important to citizenship as reason and logic. Empathy provides students with the ability to care about the problems of others. Creativity gives them the ability to imagine solutions. Both of these qualities are particularly well developed through arts education.
As a teacher, I want to collaborate with my students to engage with the world. I want my students to be composers and performers and attentive audiences. I want them to teach me something new. I want them, above all, to know they are cared for.
Education is, to me, about citizenship. The purpose of an education is to create citizens, people who belong to, appreciate, and take care of their community. We educate people’s reasoning abilities that they may make good choices, their reading abilities that they may be informed and exploratory, their practical skills that they will know how to function independently. We educate people’s artistic selves that they may learn to know themselves better, to explore their emotional ranges and learn to empathize with others, to appreciate and develop creativity.
Creativity and empathy are just as important to citizenship as reason and logic. Empathy provides students with the ability to care about the problems of others. Creativity gives them the ability to imagine solutions. Both of these qualities are particularly well developed through arts education.
As a teacher, I want to collaborate with my students to engage with the world. I want my students to be composers and performers and attentive audiences. I want them to teach me something new. I want them, above all, to know they are cared for.