The teaching style and philosophy of an educator is based on personal knowledge and the individual approach taken toward their own learning. We are all products of the environment that we came from; our families, schools, and environment all play a role in our attitudes about education. Everybody has a unique way of processing and remembering information. The way in which a teacher delivers instruction, corresponding with their experiences define their teaching style and philosophy. We all have ideas of what a good teacher is and what qualifications they must have. Thus, my philosophy is a culmination of my personal experience as an educator and my professional experiences as a musician.
It is my personal view that encouraging students to pay attention to the detailed nuances of written and improvised music, as well as music theory are important because those focuses tend to create well-versed musicians. Just as important, are educators that inspire and create a desire for students to achieve the highest levels in their craft. An educator should be very strategic in the way that they approach the pedagogy of their field; they should be well-versed as well and should “practice what they preach.” It is my theory that a music educator ought to hold a high level of musicianship and demonstrate various performance concepts to their students regularly. Students should be encouraged to attend faculty performances, as well as other professional performances. There must be a standard set by the educator that is evident and attainable.
Learner accountability is important as well because it promotes discipline and time management; both are valuable skills in the professional world. There must be an expectation that all students set goals and demonstrate their learning through recital performance, ensemble performance, as well historical and theoretical research. Those expectations give the educator a form in which to assess student progress. It also provides the scholar a way to use the knowledge and skills being acquired. These elements combined can produce a learning environment in which both the educator and learner can flourish.
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