Well, I've hit the end of the course I set this blog up for, though I've had fun with it, and I think I'll keep using it, you never know when you will want to be able to refer people to a blog. To be perfectly honest, when I began the course I really wasn't convinced that I was going to gain much useful information out of it, because the music classroom is so much different from most. I wasn't really sure that it was even remotely my job to make sure that I was supporting my students in all of their learning endeavors, not just music. Was I ever wrong! I don't think that my educational philosophy has undergone so many changes in the last three years as it did in the last three months.
See, the problem is that a lot of us that go into music education do so because we love music. Big surprise, right? The problem with that is that we love music to the exclusion of a lot of other things, and when we get to the university level we suddenly realize that there is more to music than showing up and playing the horn. These are the things that at the public school level could be ways to support learning. Over the course of the semester I've come to realize that I can use music theory, music history, music analysis, etc. to help students improve their writing skills. I have have them discuss these things in small groups to help them improve their interpersonal communication skills. I can ask them to read texts about these subjects to improve their reading skills. All of this will help support their learning in other subjects, and can be done in the context of something they enjoy.
So basically, I never realized what sort of potential I have to include technology, reading, writing, group activities and projects, etc. in my instruction, and the prospect excites me. I don't think there are nearly enough music teachers who promote this type of literacy instruction in their classrooms, so I hope to make an impact that way.
I liked your comment that most people go into their majors because they like it and it comes naturally to them. But when you are teaching in public schools, you will have students for whom music does not come naturally. These students will especially benefit from the types of scaffolds that you are thinking of providing for them. Your instruction will be the kind that turns students on to music in very empowering ways. Thanks for your final posting. :)
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