Why do teachers teach?
Throughout the years of my middle school and high school career, I have developed a love for teaching. Specifically, I love teaching music just as much as I enjoy playing and learning about it. My whole world for the past eight years has revolved around music and how I could develop myself as a musician and further my education to one day teach music. I never truly understood why I wanted to teach until my senior year of high school, and since then I have established a good sense of why teachers teach, and what drives them to go above and beyond for their students. Seeking further information on the subject of why teachers work their magic, I ended up interviewing three of the most influential teachers I have had over
Sure, one can enjoy music or have great taste in music, but one must have the boiling passion to play, compose, learn, and teach music. Now, I am not talking about the burning feeling one gets after eating spicy foods, or when one gets nervous. I am talking about the gut retching, punch in the stomach feeling one gets because they feel so strongly about what they are doing or partaking in. After serving as drum major for my high school marching band, I found that the feeling I had as the band held their last note and as the crowd cheered as we ended another fantastic show, was the ultimate rewarding feeling I had ever had. I was using my passion and love for music to make the band better, which then made the crowd respond in an explosion after our show, which then made me realize I want that feeling for the rest of my life. It is a never ending circle, that produces a marvelous feeling only the teachers with passion
Most teachers I have met either grew up with parents who were teachers, or were inspired as students by great teachers who have made their students desire to be just like them. In my case, I grew up with no musical background or teaching background. Both my mother and father never attempted nor had the ambition to play music or teach. Needless to say, I had many teachers who supported me and drove me to do what I loved. I started to play the guitar by age nine and when I hit middle school I joined band. I was itching to play percussion. I wanted to be the loud, annoying snare drum in the back that everyone hated. When tryout days came around I went in and completely bombed my chances. I had no rhythm and no sense of time. My director then encouraged me to try something else. I made my way over to the trumpet and after struggling to even hold it properly, I decided that trumpet was not for me. Now devastated, and on the verge of crying, I had thought of giving up. What I wanted to play, I was not good at, and I did not find any other instrument appealing. My director then pointed me in the direction of a long, slim, silver tube with keys. “The flute?!” I snarled at him, questioning his opinion. The flute is not the instrument for me. The flute is for the rich girls who think they are so beautiful and flawless because they play the flute. My director smiled and said, “Just give it a chance.” I picked it up and with
After graduating from high school, I entered Soochow University, whose music department is among the best in Taiwan. During these four years, I had numerous opportunities to perform on stage. Realizing early on that performance is the lifeblood of musicians, I joined as many orchestras, wood bands, and brass quintets as possible to acquire performance experience. Having numerous performing chances, and enjoying each of them, inspired me to become a professional musician in the future. Besides taking part in performing activities, I also used my experiences and knowledge to teach students. Believing that teaching others how to appreciate the beauty of life is fulfilling, I teach both to give knowledge and to enhance my own artistic ability. Because I so enjoyed my conversations with students, I remain committed to teaching and trying to convince others of the limitless joys of music.
This time around I noticed something that I had never really noticed before, which is how much music can mean to someone. I understand that music can mean a lot to some individuals, however seeing that spark in someone eyes or in their facial expression is a whole other story. It is a story that is truly incredible to witness. It is difficult to describe what exactly this facial expression looks like because it is different for every person. You know it when you see it, it is almost as if they are in a whole other world. I did not notice this spark in any of the members of the Wilmington Orchestra, rather I
As a musician you are exposed to many different types of terminology, ideas, debates and concepts most people are not. There are Interest and topics that we find appealing like the different language that we use to communicate with each other, are very different from someone that is heavily invested in other activities likes sports or even knitting . With these differences we have formed our own social group. The definition of an music educator is a field that touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain, the cognitive domain, and, in particular and significant ways, the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity In our community we strive to achieve the goals set in this definition and also to move forward in our advancement of music in the world
Whether the student is a beginner, or someone who has studied music for a number of years, the way in which one views oneself as a musician can be an important factor in the kinds of experiences one has with music. A quality music education is one that challenges students to set clear and achievable goals, think musically and critically, and apply what one has learned in a meaningful way. If a musician harbors a negative view of his or her musical abilities, the lasting effects of this view on his or her musical experiences and achievement could be challenging to overcome.
I loved my years in band. Music helped me relay my emotions without subjecting me to scrutiny. The emotional relief was greater than I could ever achieve through a conversation. I let the music flow through me and my alto saxophone, and it felt great. After being in the jazz band for three years, I earned my spot as the main saxophone soloist. I hadn’t taken years of extensive music lessons before high school, but
Since the beginning of public education, educators have been trying to figure out how they can create the finest most successful students by giving them the tools to succeed and ability to adapt to any situation in an exciting and engaging way. The answer has already been found and yet it is struggling to hold its place in the public school curriculum. The answer is music education. The way music education is viewed by other areas of academic interest effects how it is treated. To convince non-musicians of the importance of music education, they must learn what musicians already know. They must learn what music education is capable of doing for the education of students everywhere. Once what music education can do for every person’s career and ability to succeed in the world is made common knowledge, a change in priorities can be made and music education will be realized as an essential.
After seeing the impact music can have on one person, I was enraptured with the magic of music. It hit me like a brick, creating a sense of calm once I determined what I wanted and what I could give to people. I continued to make the most out of my internship, and dug into the activities, helping plan, lead and create these engaging ideas while maintaining a psychological approach. I have also frequently administered private bassoon lessons to younger students. The ability for people to soak up knowledge like a sponge never ceases to amaze me, and teaching others has, in turn, made me a better student. The advantages to teaching frequently inspire me to better myself. Music has played a large role in my life, and performing music grants me the freedom to express and interpret the nuances of the simple black notes on the page to create a masterpiece. I am discovering myself daily, and over time, I have evolved into who I am today. My goals surround music, helping others, and bettering myself and the world around me, and the ample opportunities enable the efforts towards these
As an education major at State College, I’ve decided to become a teacher for several reasons. As I progressed through elementary, middle, and high school, many of my teachers were great role models for me. This has inspired me to become a role model for someone in the near future. My love for science and math has also influenced my desire to teach and make a difference in a child’s life. I want to teach students the subjects that I love so much. I want the feeling that I helped a child accomplish or learn something they couldn’t understand. One of the main reasons I want to become an educator is because I feel education has really lost teachers who truly love teaching and those who truly love teaching and those who have the desire to make a difference. I feel I can really help make a difference in the education world and bring back the love to teach.
Now that I have told you what has led me to this decision I would like to tell you exactly why I have chosen to become a teacher. I want to become a teacher not because of the salary nor because I want weekends and holidays off; rather, I want to become a teacher because I truly have a passion for making a difference in others lives. I feel that teaching is perhaps one of the most fulfilling roles in life. Becoming a teacher to me means helping to shape another person by teaching and instructing them.
As I reflect on the past four years at Virginia Tech, I am fortunate to have had the opportunities to work two semesters in classrooms and learn first-hand about children, teaching, and how I fit into the profession. As I prepare to move to the next chapter of my formal education, I realize that I am no different than the students I worked with. As a teacher, I will become a life-long learner by learning new techniques and experimenting with different teaching strategies. How can one become an effective teacher without constantly reflecting on what works, what doesn’t work and collaborating with colleagues. I recognize that teaching is no small undertaking but I am confident I will remain dedicated to the profession with my genuine enthusiasm, positive perspective, compassion, and zeal for learning.
My interest in teaching started at a young age. I used to watch my teachers in awe as they were able to find new ways to get their students involved and excited to learn. Their enthusiasm to teach was so inspiring. I would often find myself using that same fervor as I grasped each concept. I, then, was able to relay it to my fellow classmates as a peer tutor. To this day, becoming a teacher is a passion that flows through me. However, my enthusiasm and passion are not the only reasons I would be a good teacher. I aspire to see a student’s ability to grasp the knowledge they never before understood. I aspire to see a student succeed at something they never thought they ever could. I aspire to not only support students with academic skills, but also with life lessons about the value of community, pride in one’s own ethnicity, good citizenship, sportsmanship, and more. I aspire to play a fundamental role in ensuring that all students from all cultures and learning abilities have the opportunity to be guided in a positive learning
At the age of ten, my parents decided that I should learn how to play an instrument. In addition, they also chose which instrument I should learn, the guitar. I had no interest in learning the guitar, because all I wanted to spend my leisure time on was improvising my soccer skills. However, my parents believed soccer was a waste of my precious time, time which I should be using to focus on school and expanding my brain by taking on a difficult task, such as learning to play music. This was contrary to what I believed, but I had to do it or else my parents would be displeased. Therefore, the following week, I began taking guitar lessons.
Individuals who enter the field of education reply to the question why teach with various answers. There is beauty, joy, and fulfillment in this profession, and these spirit-lifting emotions are the result of watching annually as a new group of children enter to learn and leave with the knowledge to achieve. Richard Dufour (2000), author of Why Teach expressed his views on the profession first by stating that teaching is not the career for everyone. He goes on to say, that the education profession has the ability to present the “unique opportunity” for individuals to cast a positive influence upon others (Why Teach, 2000, p.1). The smiles received from a room full of students when as a whole their individual needs, both educational and personal have been catered to, prompts a burst of passion in every teacher.
...at my teacher has done. He is the type of person who expects everyone to strive for success while also achieving individual excellence. A group of band kids can all aim for a final goal, but each person grows as a musician and gains a broader perspective along the way. I was one of those band kids, and I still am. I learned a lot from someone who was a good role model and was passionate about teaching.
When I think of becoming a teacher I would like to imagine or hope that I would be “turning the key” for a student of mine to become something great. I have been soul searching for many years now to have a better understanding of what I am suppose to do in my life. I have worked in so many jobs in so many areas but nothing was fulfilling my life with any amount of meaning. I found myself not wanting to go back the next day or wishing I were somewhere else. Well I guess everyone does that is what I would tell myself.