Philosophy of Music Education

Sarah Haigh

My philosophy of teaching originates from the understanding that

students learn in different ways. Therefore, it is essential that teachers
individualize their teaching based on the needs of their students. Every year
we will be challenged with finding the ways students best learn. Some
students may be gifted while other students may have an IEP, some students
may require visual aids while other students may flourish with auditory
instruction, and some students may simply require a little bit of extra
attention. We must mold our teaching to help all students engage in the
richest learning experiences.
As a music educator, I believe that it is every childs birthright to sing.
Singing is something every human has in common; a unifying bond between
people that is best made during the receptiveness of childhood. Students
come into our classrooms with different capabilities and challenges: some
may be vocally bold and others may be timid, some may have taken music
lessons while others have not, and others may come with a variety of
learning disabilities. The effective teacher will find ways to encourage the
timid, guide the bold, challenge the experienced while engaging beginners,
and provide adaptations to meet the specific needs of students with
disabilities.

Teaching is not a static craft; it is always shifting and changing as we

discover what is most effective in the classroom. As educators, we have the
distinct opportunity to discover how to best share the joy of music with our
students, not necessarily to create musicians or audience members, but to
create life-long music lovers.