Music Education Philosophy As a music educator, I must balance teaching technical aspects of music along with emotional, artistic elements. One of the most impactful beauties of music is to help people access their own feelings and the feelings of those around them better, and to understand the world and its beauty. Music also exposes people to new opinions and viewpoints, as well as increases people’s empathy. We need science in education to understand physical aspects of the world, and music to understand the emotional aspects of the world. The music classroom needs to be a place where each student feels safe, comfortable, and free to express themselves. My classroom is a place to give students solace and distraction in/from their busy school day, a place to release their emotions and to do some non-traditional schoolwork. Safety is also fostered through continued relationship with students; showing students unconditional love creates a safe environment for them to make mistakes and learn.
Classroom Management Philosophy My philosophy of classroom management is based upon Conscious Discipline and its core principles of safety, connection, and problem-solving. Safety is important because when students do not feel safe, they cannot learn. To have safety, students need consistency, which is created through a stable classroom and reliable agenda. Connection is vital, and the school family gives students meaningful relationships for encouragement and growth, which further puts them in a healthy mindset to learn. Many students may not have healthy relationships at home or good role models, so the classroom environment needs to be a place for students to connect and be loved. When students feel their teachers love and care about them, they are more willing to problem solve, take responsibility for their actions, and grow.