Seeri Guarino

Philosophy paper

As an educator, I believe that it is important to create a “safe” classroom environment where

all students feel welcomed and students encourage each other on learning experiences.

Students should feel comfortable making mistakes and learning from them. In music, there are

no “right” or “wrong” answers. Music allows students to be individually expressive. Schools

should not only teach knowledge but should also impact student’s lives by creating the pathway

for one’s self-growth.

As a private music teacher, I see how singing is important in learning an instrument. We all

have a voice. Everyone can sing regardless of their skill. As I have been teaching, I noticed

students with singing abilities have a much easier time learning a piece and learn at a faster

pace. As educators, we should stress the importance of singing to all the students no matter

what their main instrument might be. For the ones that might feel embarrassed singing, teachers

should encourage those students to hum. We are all born with voices and should use them

when we can. As an educator, we should encourage students to use their voice.

"Music educators need something more than performance skills. They must develop

comprehensive musicianship that, coupled with an open-mindedness toward the use of any

sounds combined in a musical context, will enable them to address themselves to any music

they encounter." Abeles states that music teachers should encourage all genres of music. I think

this is an important task for educators to pass on to future generations of students. We can not

deny the technology-driven World we live in today.

Music Matters by Elliott/Silverman talks about the importance of education. Elliott/Silverman

asks, “Why to think about education?” Elliott and Silverman talk about how teaching is not
something people are born doing, or just pick up. Music and education are completely different

domains of skill and understanding. I strongly agree with what they said about being aware of

social practices such as student’s age and abilities of the learner, and informed

cognitive-affective intuitions would influence the way we should teach the student. Children can

learn learn in their own pacing. “Habits of mind and heart” - meaning commitment, dedication,

compassion, patience, and hard-won teaching experience is just as important as understanding

theoretical and practical part of teaching.

I also think empathy plays an important role in teaching. Music-making and listening involve

personal level and social interactions. People can have different reactions from listening to the

same music. This brings up empathy. It is important to note that empathy is not the same as

sympathy, or pity, or feeling sorry for another person, or agreeing with someone to make them

feel good. A student might feel frustrated when learning a difficult passage. A teacher should not

only teach the technique that is needed, but the teacher should also understand the frustration

that students might be facing. This way, the student will grow as a person, and mature. I believe

that it is every educator’s responsibility to develop students to be a mature responsible person.

Music is a subjective subject. Educators should guide the students the way to better

themselves, and improve self-growth. Music is a universal language. No matter where one

comes from, we all speak music.