Personal Philosophy of Music Education & Teaching
Why music education? Why should music be in schools across our nation? Why should music and the arts be included in Lutheran schools?
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Music education in schools – specifically in Lutheran schools, is critically important and it is imperative that every child has access to a good music education. Music sparks creativity, implements both group work and individual work, is a way of praising our Creator, and can help children passionately flourish in ways that they might not be able to in other school subjects. It is also crucial to understand how music should be taught, exactly why it is essential for children, and why schools can benefit from having a program that operates within the realm of the arts.
I believe that music is a form of art and creativity that reflects expression by demonstrating emotion, using the sounds of voices and/or instruments as its medium. Music is a way of demonstrating expressiveness and nurturing imagination. Music can also be used for spiritual upbringing and drawing people closer to the love of Christ. Music is an important subject to be taught in schools. General music education should, without a doubt, be just as important as other school subjects of study such as reading, writing, history, and math. In fact, music incorporates all four of those subjects to some degree within its curriculum. |
Noah Freeman in the Recital hall at Concordia University, Nebraska
Photo: Sarah Benz |
Music learning also promotes increased knowledge of art, culture, literature, language, professionalism, and creativity. Likewise, music also creates memorable experiences and highlights expression. Music ought to be taught in schools because it gives children the opportunity to actively create and share. It grants opportunities that other subject areas cannot provide – such as performing, improvising, and expressing. Speaking from personal experience, music education aided in unlocking and discovering my God given gifts and talents at a young age. Without a good music education, I would not be where I am today.
As a music teacher, it is my ultimate goal to first and foremost have a mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus with those I teach, those I work with, and those who listen to the music that is created in my classroom. It is critically important to note that music education is not only essential, it is Scriptural. “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. (Psalm 104:33)” I want my music classroom to be a safe place for children of all ages – where they are free to explore, create, imagine, experiment, learn, discover, and grow. My classroom will also be a place where inquiring minds are welcome and questions from students are encouraged. Even as I have professional training to be a music educator, I still have so much desire to learn and grow in my personal musical abilities, how I teach music, and how I best include students. I know that much of my own personal growth will come from my own students.
I believe that all people should be given the opportunity to have access to a good music education. This statement follows common suit with many well-known music philosophers such as Zoltán Kodály, Carl Orff, and Émile Jaques-Dalcroze. In my classroom, I plan to have Kodály’s vision that music is for all, Dalcroze’s implementation of improvisation and movement cased on personal connection and feeling, and Orff’s inspiration to use a wide variety of instruments that children can have access to so that they can increasingly grow in their creativeness. I strive to be a music educator that stresses the importance of music to my students, their families, and the faculty and staff that I work with. Music can help children succeed and thrive in ways that they might not be able to in the homeroom classroom. Music can encourage creativity and form special relationships with others – two things that should be highly promoted in every classroom setting.
In my music classes, I believe that a wide variety of music should be explored, as this will allow for students to develop taste, personality, expression, and creativity. It will also allow for students to learn about culture, styles of musicianship, and performance styles. Children can learn to compose their own music that most reflects their personality and what they enjoy. Students can also learn to make music that is sacred – praising God from whom all blessings flow with the gifts that He has given us.
I firmly believe that music education is highly important in the school setting, especially in Lutheran schools. Studying the performing arts is something that every child can benefit from in some way. Promoting good mental health, strong Spiritual upbringing, and emotional stability are all benefits of music education. Children can also benefit in their attentiveness, grow in their improvisation and group work skills, and flourish in their creativity. When children benefit from what they are learning, the school will also benefit financially, physically, and Spiritually. Parents will benefit from good music education as they see their child grow in their imagination and creativity. The world will benefit from the music that children learn to create. Most importantly, our God will be praised with the music that we will create. This is, has been, and always will be my personal philosophy of music education. I am thrilled and ecstatic to be teaching our future generations about the wonder of music, and I am excited to be able to continue my own personal learning through the children I get to teach.
As a music teacher, it is my ultimate goal to first and foremost have a mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus with those I teach, those I work with, and those who listen to the music that is created in my classroom. It is critically important to note that music education is not only essential, it is Scriptural. “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. (Psalm 104:33)” I want my music classroom to be a safe place for children of all ages – where they are free to explore, create, imagine, experiment, learn, discover, and grow. My classroom will also be a place where inquiring minds are welcome and questions from students are encouraged. Even as I have professional training to be a music educator, I still have so much desire to learn and grow in my personal musical abilities, how I teach music, and how I best include students. I know that much of my own personal growth will come from my own students.
I believe that all people should be given the opportunity to have access to a good music education. This statement follows common suit with many well-known music philosophers such as Zoltán Kodály, Carl Orff, and Émile Jaques-Dalcroze. In my classroom, I plan to have Kodály’s vision that music is for all, Dalcroze’s implementation of improvisation and movement cased on personal connection and feeling, and Orff’s inspiration to use a wide variety of instruments that children can have access to so that they can increasingly grow in their creativeness. I strive to be a music educator that stresses the importance of music to my students, their families, and the faculty and staff that I work with. Music can help children succeed and thrive in ways that they might not be able to in the homeroom classroom. Music can encourage creativity and form special relationships with others – two things that should be highly promoted in every classroom setting.
In my music classes, I believe that a wide variety of music should be explored, as this will allow for students to develop taste, personality, expression, and creativity. It will also allow for students to learn about culture, styles of musicianship, and performance styles. Children can learn to compose their own music that most reflects their personality and what they enjoy. Students can also learn to make music that is sacred – praising God from whom all blessings flow with the gifts that He has given us.
I firmly believe that music education is highly important in the school setting, especially in Lutheran schools. Studying the performing arts is something that every child can benefit from in some way. Promoting good mental health, strong Spiritual upbringing, and emotional stability are all benefits of music education. Children can also benefit in their attentiveness, grow in their improvisation and group work skills, and flourish in their creativity. When children benefit from what they are learning, the school will also benefit financially, physically, and Spiritually. Parents will benefit from good music education as they see their child grow in their imagination and creativity. The world will benefit from the music that children learn to create. Most importantly, our God will be praised with the music that we will create. This is, has been, and always will be my personal philosophy of music education. I am thrilled and ecstatic to be teaching our future generations about the wonder of music, and I am excited to be able to continue my own personal learning through the children I get to teach.
Personal Teaching Experience
Grace Lutheran Church & School, Pocatello, ID - July 2022 - Present
Teaching 4th & 5th Grade Music, Director of Music Activities for Middle School and High School, Middle School & High School Theology, School Worship Coordinator
Teaching 4th & 5th Grade Music, Director of Music Activities for Middle School and High School, Middle School & High School Theology, School Worship Coordinator
Student Teaching - Professional Semester (through Concordia University, Nebraska & the following cooperating schools)
Music Education
Centennial Public School, Utica, NE - August 2021 - October 2021
Teaching 1st & 2nd grade music, 5th-12th grade bands
Grace Lutheran Church & School, Pocatello, ID - October 2021 - December 2021
Teaching PK 2 - 3rd Grade General Music., 4th-5th grade choir, Middle School Choir, Middle School Percussion, High School Concert Choir, Church/School Worship Team
Music Education
Centennial Public School, Utica, NE - August 2021 - October 2021
Teaching 1st & 2nd grade music, 5th-12th grade bands
Grace Lutheran Church & School, Pocatello, ID - October 2021 - December 2021
Teaching PK 2 - 3rd Grade General Music., 4th-5th grade choir, Middle School Choir, Middle School Percussion, High School Concert Choir, Church/School Worship Team
Teaching Experience (through Concordia University, Nebraska)
Music Education
St. John Lutheran School, Seward, NE - 2017, 2018, 2019
Trinity Lutheran High School, Bend, OR - 2019
Seward Elementary School, Seward, NE - 2019
Seward Middle School, Seward, NE - 2017
Music Education
St. John Lutheran School, Seward, NE - 2017, 2018, 2019
Trinity Lutheran High School, Bend, OR - 2019
Seward Elementary School, Seward, NE - 2019
Seward Middle School, Seward, NE - 2017
Section Leader - Concordia University A Cappella Choir
2018 - 2021
2018 - 2021
Piano Instructor
St. John Lutheran School, Seward, NE - 2018
St. John Lutheran School, Seward, NE - 2018
Section Leader - Trinity Lutheran High School Concert Choir
2016 - 2017
2016 - 2017
Vacation Bible School Music & Worship Leader, Coordinator - Trinity Lutheran Church, Bend, OR
2014 - 2016
2014 - 2016
Lutheran Elementary School Tournament Music Coach - Concordia University Portland
2013 - 2017
Trinity Lutheran School, Bend, OR
Coach/Accompanist for Solo Voice Performances
Coach/Accompanist for Vocal Ensemble Performances
Accompanist for Middle School Choirs
Handbell Choir Director (Awarded Blue Ribbon Performance)
2013 - 2017
Trinity Lutheran School, Bend, OR
Coach/Accompanist for Solo Voice Performances
Coach/Accompanist for Vocal Ensemble Performances
Accompanist for Middle School Choirs
Handbell Choir Director (Awarded Blue Ribbon Performance)