Klarinet Archive - Posting 000353.txt from 1998/04

From: Karen Miner <teach94@-----.com>
Subj: Re: lesson motivation
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 21:30:37 -0400

>Bill Hausmann wrote:
>
>> ....To be a successful music teacher, you must be a TEACHER who's
>> special interest is in music, not a musician with an interest in teaching.
>
>I think you have just hit the nail on the head. Too many times we have music
>teachers focusing on
>trying to win awards (marching, symphonic, solo contests, etc) or
>impressing the
>community. The net result is students with unbalanced musical
>development. If
>they focused on the students and what they needed to develop as musicians, the
>awards would come naturally. (You wouldn't have a band director screaming at
>student because the reed broke or a pad fell out as one person on this list
>related.)
>
>Dee Hays
>Canton, SD

I agree that to be a music teacher you must be a TEACHER who has a VERY
special interest in music. And that too many times music teachers are only
interested in winning awards and immpressing the community . But ,
unfortunately it is expected that the music teacher produce a top rated
ensemble in the state, bring home x number of 1st ratings at state
solo/ensemble contest, have the group play outstanding concerts, march
great field shows, and produce great elementary music programs. If the
groups don't, the teacher can be let go from the district (especially if
they aren't tenured). Those of us teaching music are looked at like a
football or basketball coach. How many games are in the win column this
year or how many competitions did the group win...not how much each student
learned or improved. I am speaking from experience because I was not
rehired last March because my k-12 Christmas program was not like the
program the year before..when there was 2 music teachers in the district
and the person the school board was compairing me to didn't even help with
the programs. The board didn't even look at the fact that I had started 20
5th & 6th grade band students with no drop outs during the year. I was also
responsible for ALL general music K-8, HS choir, 7-12 grade band, beginning
band, elementary choir (which met before school) and writing the district
music curriculum. My job was not based on the quality of teaching I did (I
was given 4 &5's on my evaluations out of possible 5's) but by the quality
(or lack of quality) Christmas program.

Sorry for rambling...
Karen Miner
Music Teacher

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"The gift of imagination is by no means an exclusive property of the
artist; it is a gift we all share; to some degree or other all of us, all
of you, are endowed with powers of fantasy." .... Leonard Bernstein

Karen Miner :-)
email address: teach94@-----.com
webpage: www.edwpub.com/members/kminer

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