Philosophy of Music Education

Jeffrey Malone

As a music educator, it is my solemn duty to provide every student, regardless of age or

ability, the opportunity to discover, explore and ultimately reach their musical potential. An
education through music should be an exciting and rewarding experience that helps students of
the discipline grow emotionally, physically and mentally, through the unconditional support of
the instructor and their peers. Music provides students with a wholesome and safe environment
where they are encouraged to openly express themselves on the most fundamentally human
level. It is my obligation to foster an intense love and appreciation for the musical arts in every
one of my students. Through this, the blossoming young musicians I have the privilege to work
with will develop unique musical identities. These musical identities will reflect their passions
and will assist them in their journey to become well-rounded human beings and musicians with
the capacity to perform and analyze quality music.
In my music classroom, I implement a five pillar approach to developing the complete
student. These pillars highlight the powerful influence music has on those who partake in it.
Additionally, it is my intention to establish, through these pillars, a welcoming and accepting
classroom environment where students are given every opportunity to not just succeed, but to
flourish in all that they set their mind to.
• Developing a sense of community – Throughout my musical career, I have come to
rely on the unwavering support of my band family. Their dedication, passion and
raw, emotional energy constantly push me to better myself. I would certainly not be
where I am today if not for the inspiration and guidance of these like-minded
individuals. Now, it is my responsibility to foster a sense of community, friendship
and camaraderie in my own band program. In doing so, I ensure that all students
respect each other by knowing and using each other’s names and appreciate the
individualities that make every person unique. I encourage and provide opportunities
for collaboration and cooperation and diligently work to facilitate time, outside of
class, for students to bond over their mutual love and appreciation for music.
• Music as a means of expression and creation – Music has the innate ability to open
the creative capacity of the mind. Through music, students can experience and be
introduced to a multitude of exciting new cultures. They can travel back in time or
look in to the future. Furthermore, music is capable of conveying the most vulnerable
of human emotions. It pulls us in to its tantalizing grasp and whisks us away on an
intensely emotional expedition. I implore my students to unearth the creative and
expressive aspects that music has to offer. They are given the opportunity to explore
solo and chamber ensemble repertoire that intrigues them. They are encouraged to
investigate the countless ways that they can perform a single musical passage. In
class, students articulate how music impacts them on an emotional level. In turn, the
ensemble works to channel these emotions into our playing. Lastly, to encourage
creativity and individual expression, students develop and perform their own unique
musical compositions.
• The transformative power of music – As an advocate of the arts, I seek to make
students aware of the transformative power of music. In doing so, I help students
realize that, by persistently dedicating themselves to a cause, they can make a
tangible difference in the world, no matter how small it may seem. I am a strong
 proponent of service through music and perpetually work to make this a central
element of my band program. It is crucially important to be active and vocal
members of the school and community that supports, fosters and values the band
program. I encourage students to share their talents with their family, friends and
community outside of the band room or concert hall. Through this, I strive to
enlighten my students on the valuable impact that music can have for those around
them. Ultimately, it is the charge of any musician to share their tremendous passion
and love of music, while ensuring that future generations of musicians can thrive and
obtain a quality music education.
• Developing the whole student – A quality music education should develop both a
complete musician and a well-rounded student. As a music educator, I firmly believe
that a fundamental understanding of music theory and history is imperative to a
successful and thriving music program. Each week, I dedicate a portion of class time
to the instruction of basic theory concepts. These concepts are representative of the
repertoire we are playing and are further reinforced by weekly quizzes. Additionally,
throughout the course of the semester, students are assigned group history projects.
These projects allow students to collaborate with their peers while researching a
famous composer, significant piece of literature or pedagogical practice. Each group
is given the opportunity to briefly present their findings to their fellow classmates.
Beyond musical concepts, I strive to develop a music curriculum that encompasses
all subject matters and will ultimately benefit students outside of the band room.
Students learn about science and math while discussing acoustical properties,
harmonics and sound waves. History is ever-prevalent in the music classroom, as
students are engulfed by a sea of historical composers, literature and musical eras.
Lastly, students improve their capacity for language by engaging in meaningful
analytical discussions and musical reflections.
• Process over Product – Process over product is the true cornerstone of my beliefs as
a music educator. Music is so much more than just performance. It is theory, history
and pedagogy. It is learning to see the world from a different perspective while
appreciating other ways of living. Music is being surrounded by like-minded
individuals who continuously work to push each other to reach tremendous new
heights. It is coming to appreciate music for its raw, emotional impact and, above all,
it is a cooperative journey of dedication, passion, and love. In my music classroom, I
firmly believe in taking time in class to appreciate little moments of outstanding
musical achievement. Music cannot adequately be quantified by an arbitrary score. It
is about enjoying the intricacies of the musical process and valuing the time we are
given to simply be human.
It is my obligation to bring my music students into a life-long love and appreciation for
music. I aim to effectively and efficiently instruct my students, while maintaining open lines of
communication with them, their parents and the administration throughout the entirely of their
education. A quality music education produces responsible, open-minded and tiresomely hard-
working individuals. They become independent, creative thinkers who advocate for the arts.
Furthermore, music challenges students to be disciplined, flexible and considerate. It exposes
them to new information, cultures and ideals. As a music educator, I put my whole being into
joyfully sharing my unbridled passion for music and knowledge, while demonstrating to my
students that music undoubtedly has the power to change the world.