In my classroom, students are children first. Everything about the curriculum, activities, instructional techniques, physical environment, and repertoire is designed to serve their cognitive, artistic, social, and emotional development needs. Through music we practice the same tracking and decoding skills students need for success in reading; we work with fractions and proportions, and practice problem solving as we explore how to break down challenging tasks into simpler components. However, music education does more than just support the “core curriculum.” As musicians we constantly challenge ourselves to be better than we were yesterday; we explore history through the eyes of its contemporaries; we practice responsibility, active listening, empathy and, most importantly, perseverance.

 

The music we study includes staples of folk traditions from around the world; fundamentals of the classical and jazz worlds; as well as popular music from a variety of genres. Studying a wide collection of music provides students with the solid foundation they need to be informed musicians or audience members later in life and helps them appreciate the strengths and accomplishments of artists and cultures from around the world. The breadth of our curriculum also helps us engage our community by creating myriad entrances for parents, other teachers and neighbors to share their experiences, expertise and time.

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In my music room, every student can be successful. Every student will be challenged and every student can grow. In my music room, every student has a voice and the power to write their own story.

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