Teaching Philosophy

[Teaching Appointments]

My primary goal as a teacher is to assist the student not only to become a musician, but also a critical thinker and competent professional. In both my private studio teaching and in the classroom I seek to enable my students to overcome self-imposed limits and to turn knowledge into new skills and meaningful accomplishments. To that end, I favor project-based assignments, annotation of portfolio materials, sustained dialog with students on core issues and on bigger questions, and service learning through independent projects and community engagement. However, my greatest reward as a teacher, and the truest test of student learning, has been through the independent projects and professional activities of my students, accomplished after leaving my classroom.

Teaching and learning depend on both the student and the teacher to fulfill many roles simultaneously. The responsibility of the student is to participate actively in the learning process, to maintain openness to new ideas and techniques, and to recognize that learning is a form of growth that comes through concerted effort. The responsibility of the teacher is to assist and guide the student's growth by acting in several capacities, as follows:

Leader

The teacher must set the general direction of the course, and ensure that adequate progress is being made towards accomplishment of the stated goals and objectives. This includes choosing materials and conducting class sessions or activities that will contribute to student learning within the context of the subject.

Coach

The teacher's responsibility is to help the learner develop existing talents and to discover new ones by encouraging students to try new techniques, consider new options, and learn from the experiences of others.

Role Model

The teacher models techniques and strategies for successful learning, as well as ethical standards, professional conduct, scholarship, and collegial interaction.

Mentor

The teacher has a responsibility for the guidance of students in furthering their academic and professional careers. Issues of integrity, motivation, work-life balance, and ultimate career goals routinely overlap many subject areas. The teacher is in a unique position to provide guidance to the student navigating these complexities.

Resource

The teacher must act as a resource for information, but this "raw material" of learning must be combined with meaningful activities that allow students to incorporate new information into their own body of knowledge and experience.

Evaluator

Assessments, feedback, and critiques should be given in ways that help the student build on success. The teacher's evaluation of a student's learning can never be a complete summation of a student's innate abilities or full potential. With this in mind, students must always be treated with respect, regardless of their level of academic success in a particular course. Teachers have a responsibility to assess their own teaching effectiveness by regularly examining and measuring student learning outcomes.