Blog #1

Ideal Classroom Reflection

Ideally, I would be a music teacher. A band director to be exact. It is my belief that music helps and feeds the soul of anyone who will allow it. Through music, you learn a great deal about different cultures and time periods. It is full of history and emotion. My goal is to help others. Help my students realize that music is more than just something that you hear on the radio. It isn't just "noise," it is music. I want to help my students and their parents realize that music encompasses everything that we know in life. Life, death, birth, joy, fear, excitement, depression, patriotism, religion, culture, war, peace. The list goes on and on. Ideally, I would love to teach in a culture rich area. I would really love to go to an inner city school if at all possible. Kids that may come from a rougher neighborhood. Many kids that come from rougher neighborhoods, when people believe in them I feel can do amazing things. When these kids realize that they are capable of doing any thing they set their minds to become strong, educated members of our society. Ideally, the parents of my students will love and care for their children, support them in whatever educational goals they may have. If the parent believe, if my colleagues believe, if I believe, this students has nowhere to go but up. My colleagues would care about their students, and they would care about them a great deal. They would believe in them and help them realize their goals. As far as techniques, with music, I feel that a great way to teach is through modeling. As I teach my students, I will also show them first hand how to play their instruments. Model what I want by either singing the melody, or even playing them an example with my trumpet or on the piano. The training that I have received musically, will help me train and teach my students. I am also a big believer in collaborative learning. My students will help teach their classmates. Everyone has something different to contribute. Everyone is at a different level of musicianship, and everyone always has something to learn from another. Together, we will learn and teach eachother. Technology will also play a great part in my classroom. The most obvious would be a good sound system. As we are learning new pieces, I will play for them the selection of a University or Professional group playing the same piece so that they have an idea of what it sounds like. Also, music notation software such as Finale and Sibelius, along with a projector to help teach the students basic music theory and help them understand the basic structure of music. Most importantly though, I will continue to educate myself to be become a better educator. The more I know about my craft, the better I will be to be able to help the ones that matter most, the students. If we as educators believe, if I believe, our students can, and will succeed in life.

Video Reflection

Wow. This truly must be one of the most inspirational clips I have seen in a while. Do I believe? Do we as future educators believe? What this young man said is true. As educators, we must believe in our students. No matter where they come from, no matter their culture, economic status, etc. It doesn't matter, as an educator you must believe in your students. You must believe that they can accomplish anything, and I mean anything that they want to do in life. I feel it very strongly that as educators, you do not give up. Not on anyone. If you believe in them, you believe in them full heartedly, you believe in them with all you have. You must be an influence in that students life, a good influence. Growing up where I did, there were many classmates that came from broken homes, or classmates that just needed a friend or someone to talk to. As a teacher, become that example, become that friend, and become that person that the students can talk to and trust. The better you know your students, the better educator you will become, because you will know better how to help them. Though, the biggest thing is to believe. If you believe, anything is possible.