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5/5/17
MUED 273
Semester Reflection
This semester has continued to affirm that I am on the right path as I continue my journey
in the field of music education. I dont know if I will end up being a music teacher in the
traditional sense meaning in a classroom in a school but Ive enjoyed learning more about the
field and would like to be involved in teaching music in some way. Coming from a nonprofit
background, I still see myself in that sector, just hopefully in a position that is more focused on
education and hands-on music-making than behind the scenes administrative work. This
semester has opened my eyes further to the possibilities of expanding our traditional idea of a
music classroom. I see potential to move away from a focus on ensembles and performance and
include more general music practices that engage all kinds of music learning creating,
performing, responding, and connecting. This would encourage participation from more students.
This semester has made me more aware of the issue of traditionalists vs. forward-thinking
educators in our field, and the balance between providing a music education experience that is
rooted in tradition and history, but still offers new experiences that will be relevant to students
today. I think weve learned a lot about how to start to bridge that gap, and I would like to be an
educator that isnt afraid to try new things and move beyond the way things have always been
done. I like the idea of working in the nonprofit world because I think it offers the opportunity
to connect with music learners of all shapes and sizes in the community. It would depend on
what kind of organization I got involved in, but I like the idea of working for an organization that
would situate me within the place that I live and offer opportunities to engage with various
groups of people that are interested in having music be a part of their lives. Ive had experience
working with some great musical nonprofits, notably the Charlottesville Symphony, The
Paramount Theater of Charlottesville, and Heifetz International Music Institute, that are doing
great things in their education departments, and I would love to have a place in an organization
like that working in that capacity. What I need to keep doing is continue trying to get involved
with organizations in the community and learning about different kinds of music education, both
inside and outside of the classroom. This gets difficult when youre so pressed for time with
classes and other commitments, but I need to continue to seek out opportunities that are
I think having Dr. Allsup visit campus at the beginning of the semester really challenged
a lot of people in our class. I enjoyed his way of thinking and his book and the conversations we
were able to have with him in class really emphasized the importance of remixing the
classroom and finding ways to bring new kinds of music learning into your classroom. Some
struggled with understanding that this doesnt need to be an all or nothing thing, and the shift
doesnt happen overnight. I liked his philosophy of introducing things slowly and just
encouraging a culture shift in your classroom to make it more forward-thinking and relevant to
the average music student of today. While Western classical music traditions are relevant in that
they teach the history of music, most of the ways people engage with music today and the music
itself is different than these traditions generally taught in music class. Dr. Allsup motivated me to
keep trying to find ways to keep music learning relevant and forward-thinking as I move forward
got the opportunity to go out into the community and make music with all kinds of different
people. It was very different than your average practicum experience, and I appreciated the kinds
of real life situations it put us in. We werent in a music classroom bubble, we were in real
venues in our community where we had to adjust our teaching and thinking to fit the space, the
learners, and any other unforeseen circumstances. It was so valuable to have those kinds of
experiences where every time is different and you have to think on your feet and do your best to
make the experience meaningful for everyone involved. There were great things about each of
these experiences for me, and then there were also things to learn and grow from. I was grateful
for these opportunities because they were meaningful to me and I think for others, too, and they
taught me a lot about my own strengths and weaknesses and the possibilities of music education
Some of the Understanding by Design work we did later in the semester definitely
challenged me. I really like the concept of backwards design, but lesson planning is hard work
and requires a level of thinking that goes beyond your average assignment. You have to think
about every potential student and really identify your end goals and what you want your students
to get out of the experience and why it matters. Engaging in that kind of thinking and being
thorough, yet concise in designing experiences and writing them out is a definite challenge. Our
collective Google doc as a class for our ukulele curriculum got to be overwhelming to look at
and work on, and I struggled to make sense of it by the end. However, I was glad for the
opportunity to learn about this kind of project-based learning and engage in a kind of critical
thinking that is new to me. It was great practice for future lesson planning and Im glad I had
- Inclusion and validation of all types of music learners Regardless of background, genre
preference, skill level, or preferred method of interacting with music, all learners should be given
equal opportunities to learn and grow in their music learning experiences. All learners should
feel that their musical interests and passions are valid and important.
- Collaboration between learners and teacher An effective music classroom is one where
there is an open dialogue between learners and teacher. Learners should have the ability to work
alongside the teacher to make their music education experience as effective and meaningful as it
can be.
- Collaboration among learners The field of music education has the potential to encourage a
great deal of collaboration between learners as they explore music together. This gives them the
opportunity to develop the important life skill of working with others and learning from and with
their peers.
- Student autonomy in music learning Allowing learners the freedom to discover what
theyre passionate about in the world of music education and then doing your best as their
teacher to provide them with opportunities to explore that passion will make music more
meaningful to them than following a prescribed plan thats identical for each learner.
- Safe environment Creating a music classroom where learners feel comfortable and safe is so
important. They should feel safe with each other, with the teacher, and with their surroundings.
They should feel comfortable to be themselves and use music as a means of self-discovery and
- Importance of taking music learning outside the classroom Even in a traditional school
setting, it is important for learners to be engaged with the outside community beyond the music
classroom and take their talents outside the classroom. Creating meaningful musical experience
for others and connecting people through music in service of the community around you is an
important part of music learning that every learner should have the opportunity to explore.
knowledge and expertise from a teacher, a good teacher should also acknowledge that in a
changing and growing field such as music, there is always more to learn. A thirst for knowledge
and willingness to learn and try new things is a key aspect of being a good teacher.
- School rapport Aside from learners themselves, there is a whole network of people involved
in the education of a person that must be considered. Maintaining good relationships with
parents/guardians, other teachers and faculty members, administrators, and any other
professional you may come into contact with and truly valuing the importance of those
- Teacher ethics Being an ethical teacher is of vital importance in the world of education.
Maintaining a professional demeanor and treating all learners fairly and ethically is key in
providing an appropriate musical education to all. A teacher must have a strong sense of their
own moral code as they handle any situation that may arise in their profession in order to ensure
- Self-reflection Music learning has the ability to be incredibly personal and meaningful, so
providing ample opportunities for self-reflection for learners either through musical experiences
or as a result of them is important. Allowing them to look inward and connect music to personal
experience, values, interests, and things that are meaningful to them will make the act of music