The reason I want to become a music teacher is best expressed in the following essay:

My Personal Philosophy of Music Education

            I cannot imagine life without music. Music exists all over the world in both rich and poor countries and in every region. History reveals that singing, dancing, and creating sounds by various means are natural human activities. Music is used socially to express unity, to inspire to action, to commemorate important events, to celebrate victories and to grieve losses. Newborns are soothed by a caregiver’s lullaby and babies instinctively move to music in the most primitive way as soon as their motor skills are developed enough to do so.

Every person will develop some degree of musicality if their surrounding society does not inhibit musical expression. By the same principle it becomes obvious that the level of individual musical ability can soar to much greater heights if that same society values music to the point of investing its resources into music education for everyone. With the guidance of a qualified teacher, a child can learn more complex music concepts and grow skills that might not come about if left to chance.

Children benefit from listening to music as soon as their ears are capable of hearing. This capability develops during the second trimester of fetal growth, a fact that points to the importance of singing to babies while they are still in the womb. Research has shown that during the first three years of life, foundations are laid for all further development of abilities, including musical ability. This means that we must not waste time. Parents, caregivers and child care centers need guidance and support, as the children’s first music teachers. Every educational level thereafter must continue building on the aural, expressive, and creative skills gained. As children progress through their developmental stages, a music teacher should provide the scaffolding to help them reach yet higher levels of musical ability and literacy.

I personally believe that music is fun and good for the soul. It is a fulfilling activity that we can participate in at any age. We can make music without any money because we have our voices, our hands, our feet, and our whole body. Not only is music fun; multiple studies have demonstrated the positive effects that listening to and engaging in musical activities can have upon our intellect, our social skills, our emotions and self-esteem, and even our morals.

Another important factor to consider is that music is a multi-sensory experience. Educators know that information that enters our awareness through multiple senses is understood and retained better than that which comes to us through a single sense. Creative use of music can help a child learn new vocabulary or even a foreign language. A catchy tune can facilitate memorization of difficult data, or be a smooth transition between activities of a daily routine.

I derive great satisfaction in helping children discover and develop their musical abilities. I especially enjoy leading a collaborative musical endeavor. There is a shared excitement in contributing a piece of the musical “puzzle” to create a beautiful sounding whole. The “puzzle” could be a vocal, bells, wind, strings, or percussion ensemble, to name just a few examples of musical output, but the possibilities are really endless.

Last, but not least, I believe that music and movement go together. We see this exemplified in the way that babies respond to music. Many societal factors have inhibited our natural reaction to the components of music that seem to invite us to move, but our bodies are built for movement and our brains are wired to perceive patterns. Rhythm and beat are a part of so many of the things we do daily, such as walking, running, and talking. Music education must therefore take into account the brain-body connection that helps us internalize theoretical concepts, before they are taught symbolically as such.

                                                                                    Julia J. Swindoll – 3/28/2010

Note: This picture was taken in 2007 when I taught music at St. John's Episcopal school, in Homestead, FL. I chose it because it shows how this profession combines my love for children with my love of music. I cropped the original photo to protect the identity of my former students. In the original photo the children are sitting in a circle with me.