My suggestion to you is to deal with these professors and do what they want you to while you have to, but at the same time don't forget your philosophies. You can be thinking that whatever they're saying is completely wrong, but for the time being, act like how they want you to. Which I know you can do. You're a good actor. And i also know that you won't become like one of them, if your philosophies are different, and you really don't want to become them. You're not the type of person who would just forget themselves. I know that.
Another thing, teaching willing students with your own techniques while dealing with your professors would definitely reinforce and help maintain your own style. And yeah, you've got a completely willing student right here! I completely trust what you would have to say because i completely respect you.
I don't know if any of that made any sense, but yeah... I tried :)
Haha, thank you for being a willing student. But with the amount of sleep I've been getting lately (i.e. - next to none) I don't exactly have a lot of time to teach on the side...
So it looks like I won't be able to do any coaching with you before Aida. Sorry. :( But if you still wanted to do something just for your own personal growth, I might be able to work with you next semester or over the summer or something?
oh no, i knew that you probably wouldn't be able to do anything before Aida seeing as its two weeks away *faints*, What you suggested is what i meant. Like for my personal growth, and for yours as a teacher.
Dear Matt, I haven't talked to you in a million years but I will share some words of advice. I agree with everything you are saying...but the beauty of student teaching is learning styles from your cooperating teachers. I will tell you that no class is really going to prepare you for your actual experience, teaching young kids is beautiful. You will encounter some douche bag kids, and some kids that appreciate music so much, it will inspire you. Naz really will prepare you well for the experience, but you have to give yourself a little credit, try new ideas and concepts, and if they work, awesome, and if not, oh well. Good luck, and if you need anything let me know - I still live around here!
That's the thing, though...I feel like if I'm in class doing a mock lesson with my peers, everyone will comment by saying something along the lines of "Well, that's not the way the book describes it" and the lesson just won't be recieved well. I'm tired of the opinions of two or three Nazareth professors having complete control over everyone's idea of what a "good" lesson plan is
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hey buddy! my flute instructor also taught at my middle and high school. in school, he was a complete ass, but in his private lessons he was amazing! i confronted him over the summer (he's retired and has taken my brother on as a student) and he says he was just playing their game to keep his job. he said the private lessons and performing kept his love of music alive. i think it would be fun if you gave me a lesson. at least we could giggle?
As a music teacher who also went to Naz, I also completely agree with you. But the beauty of it is when you are finally out there, have your own classroom and things get interesting. I am teaching in the City right now. And I'm trying to be the kind of teacher you mentioned...the teacher that inspires! These kids don't have much and have never had positive music experiences and they're in K-6 grade. So I'm doing a musical for them. I'm forming a step team, something that I'm not prepared to do, but I'm seeking out the knowledge to be able to get the kids to do something they WANT to do. All the while, I have certain former Naz professors of mine who happen to teach choral music telling me that I need to stay inside the box. haha. I don't want to stay inside the box. What good does that do? You're absolutely right in everything you said, but it's the point when you can do what you want that makes all of the "clone" crap worth it.
Yeah, that's one of the teachers that's bothering me. We're not learning to create our own conducting style...just to copy someone else's. There are two other teachers that I find slightly annoying; one moreso than the other, and they both do the same thing. I know that once I get out into the real world I can do my own thing, but I'm pretty much over playing the game with these teachers and giving them exactly what they want, because I don't believe in half of what I'm doing.
That's really awesome about the step team, though. Good luck with that!
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Another thing, teaching willing students with your own techniques while dealing with your professors would definitely reinforce and help maintain your own style. And yeah, you've got a completely willing student right here! I completely trust what you would have to say because i completely respect you.
I don't know if any of that made any sense, but yeah... I tried :)
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So it looks like I won't be able to do any coaching with you before Aida. Sorry. :( But if you still wanted to do something just for your own personal growth, I might be able to work with you next semester or over the summer or something?
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And i'd totally pay you too, if you wanted
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I haven't talked to you in a million years but I will share some words of advice. I agree with everything you are saying...but the beauty of student teaching is learning styles from your cooperating teachers. I will tell you that no class is really going to prepare you for your actual experience, teaching young kids is beautiful. You will encounter some douche bag kids, and some kids that appreciate music so much, it will inspire you. Naz really will prepare you well for the experience, but you have to give yourself a little credit, try new ideas and concepts, and if they work, awesome, and if not, oh well. Good luck, and if you need anything let me know - I still live around here!
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That's really awesome about the step team, though. Good luck with that!
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