Music Educator: Personal Statement

The arts. On the Western Slope of Colorado, most public high schools don’t offer fabulous art programs, and that is okay. But the teachers hired should at least have an understanding of the money offered for their programs. I am tired of having to teach myself music because our music teachers are spread so thin that they can’t teach both the idiots and the talented kids who need to be challenged.

Education is about growing one’s self and paving the path for one’s journey. Thus, every step of education is important. During my time at USF, I hope to not only learn in a classroom but also outside of the classroom. Learning, however, is not a one way process to learn is to teach, and to teach is to learn. Thus, I aim to share my experiences. I have been active in theatre and dedicated to video production. For others in an LLC, I hope to share my knowledge about these topics and my passion for learning.

Have you ever had to interview somebody before? Interviewing people can be very fun, but a struggle at the same time. People can sit down and answer all the questions that you have or they can take over the interview and do all the talking. McKensi Smith, whose getting her degree in music education wants to give back what was given to her.

At Georgia State University I have had the opportunity to design and implement curriculum for a student population with broad career aspirations. Upon accepting the position at GSU,

When I was a little girl, my father, William Koehler, always seemed to take significant delight in teaching things to me. He always spoke to me about teaching from many different approaches and the importance of a complex understanding of subject matter. He also emphasized the satisfaction of the “lightbulb moment,” which he defined as the exact moment he could tell that his students (including myself) began to firmly grasp the concept he was teaching. To this day, Koehler, who is also an esteemed bassist, still loves to teach. His job as a tenured college professor allows him to enjoy his passion for teaching on a daily basis. William Koehler, a Professor of String Bass and Music Education at Illinois State University, truly loves his job because of its significant impact on society and because he finds teaching to be among the most joyful and fulfilling things in his life.

My decision to be a teacher did not come easily to me. This choice was dependent on a reflection about what I was passionate about and how I could make a difference. I have chosen to become a teacher, as I believe teachers have the ability to provide future generations the stimulation for one of the most significant roles in life; to become a lifelong learner. Many teachers that I have had during my education have had a positive impact on my decision to grow and develop the skills that are fundamental to pursue a successful teaching career. My aim is to be a part of an honorable profession with the optimism that one day I will become an efficacious teacher who can provide future teachers with inspiration, as my teachers have provided for me. Through personal educational experiences and peer-reviewed academic literature, I am able to shape my approach to my pre-service teaching, as it will influence my future practice. As a teacher, there is not just one singular approach to educating students; there is a need for flexibility, diversity, adaptation and reflection.

My teachers once said to me “There are no wrong notes but how you play them, the feelings you put in and how you play them in time. It’s all about your timing.” This advice has stayed with me the most and looking back over the last year I can see that timing is everything not just in music.

Since I was a kid, I have been surrounded by music and have therefore always had an interest in it. I have never been one of those people who have their hearts set on a particular career, but I think a music education career would be able to accommodate most of my personal criteria. The starting wage for a music educator depends on the level of music being taught. At a high school level, the average pay is $56,310 while a postsecondary level is around $70,790 a year (United States). The schedule of my job is very important to me, and I have always wanted a career with my summers free so I can continue to commercial fish in Alaska. I have grown up fishing commercially my whole life, and I know that is something I want to continue doing. A school in a town located close to the mountains would be ideal. Benefits such as retirement vary from state to state and would therefore play a factor in where I would want to be located. Job security would depend on how well I performed as a teacher, and because I have a passion for music, I do not think it would be a problem.

Few would argue against the idea that we educate ourselves and our society so that we have adequate means with which to understand and interact with elements of the world around us. Subjects such as mathematics, language, history, and the hard sciences are granted immediate and unquestioned legitimacy in our schools, and with good reason. We encounter each of these elements of our lives on a daily basis. We need to have an understanding of these disciplines in order to interact with them, otherwise they are meaningless to us. I submit that the same can be said for the fundamental concepts of music. Music is something that we encounter in our society every day. It surrounds us. Indeed

“I never dreamed about success, I worked for it” (Estee Lauder) Ever since my first time performing on stage, I fell in love with singing and dancing. When I’m singing I feel free, like nothing else in the world matters, I think that’s how you know what you’re doing is what you really want. Currently, I’m learning to play the piano and I hope one day to write my own music. I want to be famous because people like me, not because they might like the way I look.

Music teachers can easily impact a child because of how unique they are. Music teachers spend a lot more personal time with each student. Music teachers start to figure out each student and what kind of person they are like. Which also means that they can certainly see when a student’s behavior and mannerism begins to drastically change. It could be for multiple reasons such as the student being a victim of bullying, a situation at home has risen, their emotional state is deteriorating. For whatever reason it may be, music teachers need to be at the ready whenever the situation arises. To help any student in problems like this, there is only one solution. Compassion. Compassion is like empathy however it is more deeply rooted in love and kindness compared to empathy. Compassion is a way to connect to another on a more spiritual plane. With compassion, music teachers can help their students in their condition. Compassion is a crucial part of a music teacher’s tool in helping their students in more ways than one.

Being in ensembles creates a bond with your colleagues different from any other. Through being a music educator I would like to create lifelong bonds with others who are as dedicated to the craft as I am. When talking to others outside of my major I find that they lack the appreciation and passion for music so many of us in the field music education have. Discovering others who understand the drive behind being a music educator makes one feel more secure in their decision of going into the field of music education. The bliss of being surrounded by colleagues and friends who have the same passion you do is immeasurable and adds to the value of being an educator.

After graduating, I served as an instructional assistant and afterschool program teacher for the Elk Grove Unified School District. In these roles, I helped integrate students with disabilities and behavioral issues into the classroom and managed a class of more than 20 students at a Title 1 school. My academic background allowed me to be more aware of how collective memory affects development and learning, allowing me to apply a more holistic approach towards student mentorship and evaluation. Furthermore, I served as a Crocker Art Museum volunteer in their Education department, where I was able to combine my interests in art history, education, and community

The stigma associated with pursuing an education in the musical arts affects the decision of many musicians nationwide. The appeal of guaranteed financial and career stability of STEM and other paths of high demand jobs is very difficult to pass up, even by the most dedicated musicians. Then, the input and advice of outsiders come into play. These onlookers not only encourage study of the hard sciences and a foolproof path to success via university, but they also totally and blatantly discourage and belittle the intelligence, rationality and integrity of not just the paths of musicians, but all liberal artists. Don’t you want to make money? What do you mean you won’t have internships, don’t you want a job? How are you going to survive? This blitzkrieg of questioning and doubt, though theoretically peripheral to the bigger picture, is reasonably common, however, severely unjustified. Pursuing a formal college education in music is easily one of the best things you could do for yourself, regardless of whether or not this is the career path of your choosing. As a student of formal music education, you are actually being trained in more real world skills than most other majors, which will prepare you for many careers, making you stand-out amongst the masses. Being a music major, you learn more than just music, you learn problem-solving skills, how to communicate and collaborate, and how to overcome failure, which are all essential skills to have as a professional in today’s day

“Education- should enhance understanding of the world, of oneself, and of one’s own experience” (Kelly 2009). What is important about music education? There are many important aspects in music education like pedagogy and performance. For me, music education is about letting the students express themselves. Having the ability to give an idea or to vent is a vital tool in today’s society. This concept influences music because expression is not only in how to connect a phrase, but also how to tell a story. With my time in college, Dr. Joseph Frye will always tell me to tell a story with music. He will also ask me what I want to feel after playing a piece. This is what I believe is important in music education.