My teaching philosophy is predicated on the belief that music is a substantial topic with many elements that should have a positive impact on every individual who engages with it. Individuals interacting with music can be listeners, performers, composers, or any combination of the three at any given moment. It is important to guide students through each element and encourage them to explore how they interact with music to have diverse musical experiences and find who they are within music.

I believe that multiple elements of music overlap with regular aspects of life, such as discipline, self-expression, and adaptability to unfamiliar situations. Engaging with music can teach students to recognize when and how to utilize discipline through individual practice, active listening, and passive listening. 

Music allows us to have emotional experiences, which I believe are important for us to unpack so we can better understand ourselves and how we feel music. Learning how we feel music can lead us to self-expression and a deeper level of self-understanding. Self-expression, alongside discipline, can aid one’s adaptability to unfamiliar situations. 

I value both curricular structure and my students’ needs, as both are integral to educational success. Successfully imparting knowledge includes meeting students’ needs by connecting with them on a personal level and understanding how they learn, specifically by demonstrating ideas and concepts in different ways.

I desire to learn from my students as much as I teach, aiming to foster a diverse understanding and passion for music. I view education as a lifelong, cyclical process for both students and educators.