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Philosophy
As a music educator, my role is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for students to learn and grow. Throughout the course of the year students will be given the opportunity to participate in a concert, experience the joy of playing instruments and develop their music reading and writing skills. The curriculum utilized for students in Kindergarten, 1st grade and the first half of 2nd grade will be the exceptional, research-based "First Steps in Music" by John M. Feierabend. The second half of 2nd grade, 3rd Grade and 4th Grade will follow the equally exceptional, internationally renowned curriculum "Conversational Solfege" by John M. Feierabend. The simple premise on which this method is based is the same one which is advocated for the teaching of foreign languages (or even one's own initial language). One should learn with his/her ears before learning with his/her eyes. This natural process enables one to instinctively communicate verbally with words and later, after learning to read, learn to write those thoughts down. Like any other language, music is a language that takes many years to learn. This method advocates developing conversational skills prior to reading and writing skills. Music education is important, not only for the marketable skills it teaches such as; creativity, discipline, flexibility, and the ability to work cooperatively with others but also because it simply makes life more enjoyable. Music education is an indispensable piece of the puzzle when it comes to educating the whole child. Educating the whole child is of utmost importance if we expect our students to eventually become high-functioning members of society. |
National Standards
3D Music Education
Music Literacy
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