Jordin | Teacher #3277

Teaching Philosophy

Learning music is a wonderful opportunity and being able to teach others about music is a gift. Music creates community, learning, and self-expression. My goal in teaching music is to impart those qualities to my students. My hope as a teacher is to pass on to my students the ability to think critically, the ability to play and enjoy music with confidence, and the tools to continue to take music into their future. Beginning to play and understand music starts with a solid foundation and that foundation is my first focus when working on a lesson plan for new students. Students will be guided through the beginner levels of piano playing using a solid foundation of technique, theory and a good practice routine. This foundation will be taught using fun games and exercises the student can practice at home. Using a combination of various piano lesson books such as the Piano Adventures books and the technical requirements from the RCM curriculum, students will receive a balanced weekly lesson plan with exercises that relate to what we worked on in class. As an added skill-building activity, I highly recommend students get involved in choirs. Choirs teach students harmony, listening, sight reading, and community in music. To deliver a solid lesson to my students each week, each lesson is structured in a way that provides exercises in each area of learning with a healthy balance of fun activities sprinkled in. Starting with a review of basic material, then technical exercises that the student can work on at home, a musical piece that will involve that technique to help the student incorporate it into their playing, and a discussion section to answer any questions the student might have and to check in on how the student feels about the lessons. The goal by the time the students have completed their lessons is for them to have a solid understanding of piano music and music theory so that they can continue to further their studies in music confidently on their own. Any opportunity the student wants to take to explore other areas or genres is welcomed as well! From Jazz to Pop to Rock, lessons can cover other technical aspects from other genres as well. Students of any age and musical background can benefit. While I do not focus on a specific age group for teaching, some younger children simply want to play random songs for fun and that is okay too! My teaching experience is set mostly in the 5 to 15 age range, but I will teach all ages. I will accommodate lessons of varying styles, from playing for fun to playing for competitions. As a classically trained musician, my teaching style is rooted in classical technique. I trained mainly in voice and choral music at the college and university level but have also trained in piano in and outside of the classroom. For the last few years, I have been a self-taught pianist following the RCM curriculum in my spare time. The college has given me several outlooks and insights into what makes practice productive and what role learning styles play in the way that I teach while taking myself through the RCM piano curriculum has taught me a structured way of progressing through all of the content piano music has to provide. As well as playing, the piano can also provide an easy way to absorb the theory aspect of music in fun and engaging ways from dancing out a rhythm written on a page, to singing intervals together. Theory can provide another foundational skill that helps students with sight reading and a basic understanding of how the music moves and progresses. Overall, music can provide many life skills in a fun setting. Students will learn problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, communication skills in group settings, how to express oneself in music, advanced motor function, critical thinking and time management. Music enriches the lives of those who chose to involve themselves and others in it. It can help boost confidence, teach self-esteem, and self-expression and give people of all ages something to be proud of in a lifelong journey of learning!