Jason Mile 1 Reflection & Commentary During my final year of high school, I took part in a cooperative education program,

where I taught music in an elementary school. I taught classes ranging from Grade 2 to Grade 8, and learned how to deal with the many discrepancies in age, maturity, and musical skill that are present in such a broad range. I created lesson plans and taught classes, and along with the help of my co-op teacher, reflected on my performance. This gave me a taste of what teaching music in a classroom would actually be like, and showed me that teaching music is definitely something that I want to do. Because of what Ive learned about myself, what Ive learned through watching others, and my passion for the subject, I believe that teaching music would be the ideal role for me. Teaching can be very physically and emotionally draining on someone, and you need certain characteristics in order to be able to teach effectively. One word my past teachers have used to describe me would be motivated. Having a desire to constantly improve ones self is quintessential to a music teacher. Becoming competent on any instrument takes years of practice, as well as years of study in order to understand the music that you are playing. During my co-op placement, I had to display this motivation, and also project it so that the students also felt driven to develop their skill. My teachers would also have described me as intelligent, which is very important because a good teacher must be an expert in their field. Since I only taught basic musical concepts in elementary school, I knew the content very well and could explain in a variety of ways to accommodate the different learning styles of the students. I am also very eager to learn, and since teaching is a continuous process, I must constantly be learning new methods and techniques. A teacher will teach many different kinds of people, each with their own challenges. It is then the job of the teacher to adapt in order to meet these new challenges. Each

Jason Mile 2 class I taught had different needs, and I had to learn many new techniques in order to be able to handle them all. These are all characteristics that my experience showed me I needed in order to be an effective teacher. While these traits were developed from first-hand experience, there is much I can learn from my past teachers as well. A common trait my music teachers all have is ambition. In whatever ensemble I was in, my teachers would always present us with repertoire that at first seemed beyond our ability. This presented an opportunity to learn new skills, which made us better musicians; however, if the repertoire was too hard, some students felt like giving up, which is why it is important that a teacher is encouraging as well. Students of music, especially in their early years, need continuous support lest they may feel overwhelmed, especially when trying a piece that is technically difficult. My first piano teacher started teaching me very advanced repertoire for a beginner, but encouraged me to keep working. This encouragement allowed me to overcome the this is too hard mentality and focus on developing my skill. Alongside of that, a student should never be afraid to ask a question, which is why it is important for a teacher to be approachable as well. Students will be less inclined to seek help if the teacher seems menacing or judgemental, and their learning will suffer as a result. My teachers have always had friendly demeanors and encouraged me to ask them anything, which made me feel at ease with them. This is paramount in creating a healthy learning environment. These characteristics were common to all of my music teachers, and developing them is essential for me to become an effective teacher. While you can have as many of these characteristics as you like, the most important part of being a music teacher is a passion for the subject. Music teachers often teach music exclusively, so it is vital that they love the art. I chose to go into music for many reasons, but

Jason Mile 3 when asked why I would be a musician, as opposed to something like a doctor, I say it is because doctors save lives, but musicians make lives worth living. Without art, the world would be such a drab place that it would be cruel to deny someone the release of death, for any form of afterlife must be at least more interesting than a world devoid of creativity. I chose to study music so that I could contribute to the wonder that makes this world a place worth living in. Aside from this rather romantic reason, music theory and composition has always fascinated me. Both Bach and Schnittke have shown that music can be so much more complex than the repetitive chords of pop music, yet still be accessible. There is so much beyond 4/4 time and the rudimentary tonality used so commonly today. My main reason for wanting to teach music is to show people the more theoretic side to music, because often music is judged on its emotional impact, and the intellectual value is but an afterthought. My strong feelings about the importance of art as well as my passion for music theory would make me well suited for teaching music. My personal experience with teaching, what I have learned from my teachers and my love of music make me well suited for the job of a music teacher. Having spent three months teaching music, I understand what it takes to be an elementary school music teacher. My goal, however, is to teach as a university professor, which will present new challenges for me to overcome. I have learned and will continue to learn much about teaching from myself and from my teachers, which will help me grow and become a better educator in the future.