Philosophy of Music Education
Always be kind and patient, especially with your words.
Children are so much more intelligent than anyone gives them credit for.
Each person has their own unique, meaningful story.
Music education should and can heal.
The Performing Arts Medicine Association and National Association of Schools of Music in 2021 published the State-of-the-Art Review on Psychological Health in Schools of Music. It is a goldmine of information and evidence-based research into any given topic in music students’ mental health.
Music, for me, is as important to my staying alive as is breathing. Whether it’s the playlists of singer-songwriter music I sing along to in the car every day, the hour I spend practicing the clarinet on my own or in rehearsal, or the ensembles I conduct, music is how I find meaning and feel energized. Music has been the constant in my life, lifting me up through challenging periods and increasing my happiness in even the best of times. That is a gift I owe greatly to my middle school band director, Ms. Herbert, and I want to give that gift to students of my own.