Music is an academic subject which ties together other subjects such as math, reading, history, and writing. It is also a subject in which a student can learn qualities that are not academic, such as self-discipline, respect for other people, and how to work alone and with others towards set goals. It is a learning experience that can shape a student, make them a more well-rounded individual, and prepare them for the rest of their lives. However, this process does not involve only the student, but the parents, the teachers, and peers. It is through this interaction that the student receives support for what they are doing and are involved with, and it is through the music teacher that the student can travel in the right direction so that he or she can get the most out of the class. A good blend of reading, performing, writing, and learning about the music can take that student from being just a band member to being the best musician the student can be.

As a music educator, I believe the best choice when teaching is to accent the positive. Next, motivation is a key factor in teaching. As a given, not every student is going to be the self-driven, gifted, musical student we would like for them to be. One must do one’s best to compel every student to achieve her highest performance level, not just the ones that are good at what they do. Also, one should not put stress on the performance, but the effort put into the weeks and weeks of practicing and rehearsal put into reaching the final product. Lastly, there should not be a feeling of students and teacher being separated, but more of a teacher with students. By this, the teacher should be helping and joining in with the learning experience, not simply spitting out information and expecting the students to retain all of it.

There are also a few general ideas that will help the students to perform better when they write my essay and with more enthusiasm and caring during class. The teacher should be interested in the whole student, not just the musician that walks in the door five times a week Competition is another factor added to a school band program. Ensembles are graded on how well they do when it comes time to prove themselves instead of on the hours of preparation and how far the students have come since day one. I believe that competition can be good for students, but I also believe that bands should not attend only competitions. Contests and solo & ensemble is an excellent way to get an idea of how the ensemble rates against other bands and individuals, but students should compare themselves to previous experience, not with other groups. Festivals in which neighboring bands come to play or march and show what they are working on are a great idea to promote a sense of unity and camaraderie among kids at different schools.

Topics to be touched on throughout the year are varied and many, but all relate to the final goal: a better musician and person. Students in ensembles will sing their parts to learn to internalize the pitches. They will also write music in order to learn note values, key signatures, scales, and basics of music theory. Performances of other bands and instrumental groups will be possible road trips for the band; this is beneficial in that the students will see what other groups do during rehearsals and what they sound like. Students will also be given information about the history and culture of the music played and the composers who wrote them. With the introduction of the National Standards for Music, teachers have a set of guidelines to follow that help in making music more of a class rather than just a performance group.

One important group of people I have yet to address is the parents. They play a very big role in the education of the student, for they give support and encouragement. They are invited to rehearsals, music classes, and private lessons. They will be informed of the students’ progress in performance groups and classes and will be called upon to help the student do his or her best.

I hope to enrich the life of my students and make them better overall people, not just musicians. In furthering their musical knowledge, I hope to keep them involved in the ensemble, of course, but also help them all topics related to music. However, the main purpose of offering music classes is to give students a chance to express themselves emotionally, to develop their artistic qualities, and to apply basic skills such as math, reading, and writing into something they may want to do for the rest of their lives. It shows students that learning is not only gained through the three R’s, but through everything they experience. Music, along with the other arts, is what makes us feel human.