My Philosophy of Music Education

Jessie Erickson
Both creating and experiencing music elicit cognitive and emotional
responses. Music exists in the lives of people across the world just as it has for
centuries. It lives in virtually all cultures, and is an avenue by which all people are
connected. I choose this field because I believe it is imperative that children receive
an education in music. Every child deserves an exposure to music as an art form, to
the creativity it demands, the expression it consents, the history it is rooted in, and
its place in todays society. They deserve opportunities to further their
understanding of music and its capabilities to serve them as humans and connect
with the larger world around them. Music offers children an opportunity to explore
perhaps the most accessible art form. It allows for experimentation with creativity,
intuition, and overall can contribute a sense of purpose to a childs life.
Academically, music teaches children to tangibly connect history to the
present day. They can study the writings of composers hundreds of years old and
bring their ideas to life through the performance of their works. Music helps
children build musical, kinesthetic, and coordination skills. Through quality
education, children can develop an understanding of musical structure, melodic and
harmonic relations, and musical notation. They will learn to connect reading to
techniques and movement to create sound. This type of information transfer fosters
connections in the brain between reading and doing, coordinating kinesthetic
movement with written notation or intuitive creativity. Music provides children with
an outlet for expression and creativity which we must encourage. Teaching music
gives students the tools to sustain a powerful art form, and a chance to find
meaning in the art that they create.
Beyond academics, studying music provides children with valuable life skills
and practices. Playing a musical instrument or studying voice gives students
opportunities to witness practice and diligence turn into progression. That
progression empowers students. It provides a means to an end, and will
communicate that they are in charge of their decisions and successes, both in the
classroom and out. Performing in an ensemble reinforces cooperation, listening
skills, and thinking beyond oneself. Playing music as a group combines creativity
and cooperation to create something larger than any one player, demanding
accountability and a reliance on one another with a single goal in mind. By giving
children tools and opportunities to take charge of their successes and to learn from
one another, we prepare them to be successful people in their greater lives.
Music Education is as much about education as it is about music. I believe in
the power of expectation coupled with encouragement in the classroom. Music is a
worldchildrens interests and passions will vary tremendously, but with sound
educational techniques and knowledge of resources, teachers can open that world
to every student. I will foster a classroom of encouragement, of confidence, and of
achievement. My students will be challenged to surpass their expectations of
themselves, and given the tools and the knowledge they need in order to do so. I
believe every student wants to feel successful, therefore every child needs to be
challenged to become their best self, and they need encouragement along the way
to reassure them they are capable of success and that their efforts are worthwhile.
Music can be a very personal involvement, for with creation often comes
vulnerability. Musical creation has the power to transform unspoken, unheard

thoughts into tangible, communicable ideas. It can be empowering! It can also be

frighteninga piece of the player, a piece of his/her mind, beliefs, imagination is
thrust towards the audience saying, Here I am, what do you think? My students
will learn about the importance of diligence and hard work to prepare for those
moments, and in the meantime they will learn about respect and support. They will
learn to support one another through each of their musical journeys. My classroom
will be a place of belonging. It will be a place where students feel empowered and
valued. I realize that although indeed I teach music, I first teach children.
Educators have the opportunity to shape the minds of young people, and I am
committed to shaping creative, confident, educated men and women. Children
need to be provided with opportunities to explore artistry and creativity. They need
highly educated and prepared teachers who have the skills and knowledge to
provide them with a well-rounded and inclusive education about music and its
opportunities.
Music is a world. It is a realm of possibilities with a place for every person in
this world, no matter how specific or atypical their interests. I am committed to
teaching my students basic knowledge they will need to be successful and
independently productive musicians, including musical notation, sight-reading,
improvisation, listening skills, musical sense, musical language, and the history of
the music we study and how it compares to where we are now. Beyond that, I am
committed to teaching my students about the music they are most interested in. I
believe in preparing students for their future with music, for their most meaningful
interactions and experiences with music, whatever that means for each student.
Music is accessible to everyone, and that is what compels me to teach it. It is a
world to be examined and explored, a medium of expression and creativity, and an
art form with the power to move and to inspire. I teach to perpetuate these ideas,
and to ensure that this art continues to thrive.