Hello Future Me!
Congratulations! You have secured your first teaching position as a music educator. Don't forget how much you loved going to music class in elementary school. You looked forward to it all week; it was the highlight! Taking private lessons was rewarding and at times really frustrating. I know you are still glad that your parents and teachers encouraged you to keep going and didn't take no for an answer. Think about how much those 14 years of piano lessons have helped you in college. I'm sure you still love kids. Watching children discover and create is one of the HUGE privileges of being a teacher. Remember, even when things might not be going so well, that this is the reason you wanted to be a teacher in the first place; you want to inspire and be inspired!
While teaching, remember the Golden Rule: treat others how you want to be treated. This has always been a very important core value. Teach your students respect, not only for each other, but also themselves. I am sure you are still very close with Mom, Dad, and Bub. Family is incredibly important, and it is not just blood that makes a family. Friends and a sense of community are very important things that students find at school. Don't be afraid to go out of your way to make this happen.
I am praying that whenever you read this, all music programs have unlimited funding and you never have to fight to keep your music program alive. Since this is a tad unrealistic, I will include some reasons why instrumental music belongs in schools. I know a lot of teachers will use the reason "it helps with other subjects." Yes, music does help enrich learning in ALL subjects. But instrumental music is not just a tool for other subjects to use. It is a CORE subject. Appreciation of the fine arts is something that heightens our awareness of the world around us and elevates our higher level thinking processes. Playing in a band or orchestra gives students a sense of community, which is a big part of your core values! It teaches students discipline, respect, and teamwork. Music is a huge part of history and culture, and not learning about it within these contexts would rob your students of a complete education.
You may be teaching in a few months, or even tomorrow. The most important thing to remember is that you ARE prepared and you WILL do well. Things might not go perfectly the first time, but don't worry! You won't break your students. You have the knowledge and the skills to have a great classroom. Excite your students about learning and all will fall into place. Take a deep breath, or maybe even two. You can do this.
Good luck!
Sallie
January 18, 2012
Hello SD,
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have a great balance between the love of teaching music and the fact that you are also there to get these students through the curriculum—very good! I do want to caution you on the use of “core” subject. In my experience, most of the time a core subject is something that is required—which instrumental music is not (although the case certainly could be made for general music). It is safer to use the term “curricular” to imply a class that happens during the school day. But I do get what you are saying, and I agree—good work!
1/1 NS