Bachelor in Music Education - Whitworth University - (Winner)
Editors Note: This student story essay was selected as second place winner in BrainTrack's Teaching Schools Scholarship for Fall 2010. At the time of her submittal, Emily Golan was studying for a Bachelor's degree in Music (Education Track and Pre-Masters in Teaching) at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.
Wishes Had Known | Program Likes/Dislikes | Choosing Teaching
What do you wish you had known about selecting and entering your teaching school that would be helpful to others going into teaching?
I wish I had known just how much is required to major in any sort of education, whether it’s special education, elementary education or music education -- the amount of courses necessary to obtain a teaching degree more than that needed for many other majors. It’s not impossible to accomplish, if one is dedicated, but it’s no small task, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. I wish I had researched in more detail what was required of each individual program before making my selection of a school, as well as which tracks are offered where.
Overall though I’m very well pleased with my choice in school. The education program here is excellent, and I know that when I graduate I will be well-prepared to face the real world of teaching. That said, I wish my school had a music conducting emphasis as an option, because I would appreciate being able to work on my conducting skills, since as a music educator I will be doing a lot of conducting. The university I’m attending has some conducting classes, but conducting isn’t offered as a minor, which I wish I had known. It’s a good idea to do a lot of research and know exactly what you’re choosing and exactly what you’re getting yourself into.
What have you enjoyed most and least during your teaching degree program so far?
Having just finished my first year of college, I can look back at many things which I’ve enjoyed and some things which I haven’t. One thing that falls mainly into that first category is my hands-on experience with my little violin student, Lucas. Lucas is five years old, is somewhat developmentally delayed and is the sweetest little boy you can imagine. I enjoyed having him come every week for his lesson, seeing his bright smile as he came in, and watching him try to imitate me on his violin. At times he could be challenging to teach because his focus doesn’t always last for the full half-hour lesson, but I would find new ways to keep him engaged. What was frustrating was when I tried to teach him how to hold the violin bow. Holding the bow must be very precise and the process of learning to hold it is difficult for anyone, but especially for someone so young who has some difficulties with his fine motor skills. When after several consecutive weeks he still couldn’t hold the bow at all how he should, I felt at my wit’s end as to how I was going to help him be able to do it. But instead of giving up, I carefully thought through every aspect of holding the bow, paying attention to details I’d taken for granted, then patiently walked him through it step by step. We gave silly names to things to help him remember better and went over it again and again until he had it down. By the end of the lesson, he was a pro at holding his bow, and I felt much relieved.
Another thing I’ve enjoyed was volunteering with a local middle school orchestra. Because I want to be a school orchestra teacher, this was especially relevant to my course of study. The orchestra teacher there let me work with small groups of students while she kept the large rehearsal going, so I was able to get more hands-on teaching experience. I was also able to observe several aspects of her teaching job, including the behind the scenes work and office duties. Keeping things organized when kids return (or forget to return) their music after a concert is much more trying than one would think and maintaining order when there are thirty or so fifth graders all needing help with their instruments at the same time is certainly not easy. I think the opportunity to see my future career in action was a great experience, and I’m glad I was able to do so.
What led you to choose teaching as a career path?
Why aspire to be a teacher? A long day working with kids doesn’t sound appealing to many people, and a teacher’s salary certainly isn’t the draw. Yet each year many people decide to pursue a career in education. These people are driven by a desire to impact their communities, by the joy of working with children and adolescents and by their pure love of teaching. Personally, I identify with these characteristics and couldn’t be more satisfied with my career decision.
I love to teach. I’ve had the opportunity to teach private violin lessons out of my home since I was in junior high and I sincerely enjoy the art of teaching. I find excitement in helping someone set goals and accomplish them, and it’s a very rewarding feeling to know that I aided in bringing about their success. So when it came time to decide upon a career, it only seemed natural that I teach, because to me it has always been an enjoyable, fulfilling pastime. Seeing someone who is struggling with something and being able to walk them through the process of learning it until they know it inside and out seems to me a most rewarding field of work.
When I was nine years old, my parents gave me a violin and started me on music lessons. Ever since, music has played a major role in my life, and I’ve poured many hours into practicing, rehearsing and performing. Music requires a lot of discipline and hard work, so the study of it helps to build one’s character. When children are enrolled in band or orchestra, they don’t just learn musical skills but how to be a part of a group, where cooperation is the key to accomplishment. The social skills acquired in a music classroom are invaluable to maturing children and will assist them for their entire lives. I plan to be an orchestra teacher because it blends my love of music with my desire to improve the lives of our youth. My orchestra will be a place where young people learn many important life skills, as well as musical skills. I think this kind of a job will be very satisfying, and I believe it to be my calling.
Teachers have an enormous impact on the community, both the current one and that of the future. Being charged with the children in a particular area gives one the privilege of affecting the lives of those children and, through them, making a positive impact on the community as a whole. Teachers also have the sacred task of preparing our youth to be the next generation of doctors, law enforcement, community leaders, mothers, bakers, mechanics, politicians, engineers, and anything else they set out to be. A teacher can help change the world from the ground up by inspiring young people to dream, set goals, and believe in themselves. I hope one day to be in the position where I can direct young people along each of their own paths towards success.
It’s often been said that "those who can’t do, teach." I happen to disagree with this statement, for I choose to teach because I want to changes lives. I feel incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to study at Whitworth University and one day to be able to fulfill my dreams of being a teacher. There is a quote by Cicero that sums up my feelings well: "What nobler employment, or more valuable to the state, than that of the man who instructs the rising generation." That is why I want to be a teacher.