Sammie Cohen

MUED373

Professional Reflection

During my time at James Madison University, my approach to teaching has certainly

undergone some changes in terms of my philosophy and goals, preparation, and practice.

Coming into JMU, I believed the pedagogy of a music educator simply entailed teaching

students about musical concepts. While teaching music is a fundamental part of the job, I now

understand that being an educator involves far more than just knowing the subject matter. It is

key to understand and figure out how students learn, develop, behave, and think and to be willing

to try and change methods and materials to accommodate their needs and interests. Beyond

accommodation, I believe an even greater goal is to expand upon what students believe is

possible and to allow them to see and feel empowered in their own talents as musicians, artists,

and creators. It is also crucial to apply this to each student and to take the time and effort

necessary to ensure every individual is learning and gaining as much as they possibly can. I

strive to use my philosophy as a guide in my preparation and practice, making these ideas into

reality.

Thanks to my coursework, practicum, and teaching experiences, my planning is now

informed by a deeper understanding of the many ways in which students make connections to

their learning. When I first began lesson planning, I did not know of, nor did I consider, many

different strategies for teaching concepts. Now when I prepare lessons, I try to think of multiple

strategies which can be used to teach and evaluate which one(s) will effectively help students to

remain engaged, develop their skills, and improve their understanding across musical and

non-musical subjects. Additionally, as I have gotten more experience with lesson planning, I
have found that it is important to consider the lesson from the perspective of different students

and to consistently ask what may be missing and how it could be a more enriching and inclusive

experience.

Over the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to learn about teaching methods

and their application in class and in-field experiences. One element which I have found to be

very important is the ability to adapt, focusing on completing a lesson’s objective over

completing its procedures. I believe taking the time and energy to ensure that all students are

learning and being challenged is one of the most important aspects of effective teaching. Another

crucial element is the willingness to adapt to the students not just as musicians and learners, but

as individuals. Making connections goes far beyond carrying out the written lesson plan and it is

important to balance the educational material with the interactions that make music the

communal and enjoyable activity it should be. Overall, I have learned that the actual teaching is

quite a bit of trial and error, with the goal always being to improve and create the best

educational and musical environment possible.

I am very grateful for the formative experiences I have had in my time at JMU and for the

opportunities which have allowed me to grow as an educator. It is my hope that the ideas and

methods I use going forward will create enriching experiences that go beyond their musical skills

and have positive effects that extend long after their time in the classroom.