“To me, a human comes first.”

-Josef Gingold

Every student has a place to belong in my classroom. I strive to create a student-centered environment that encourages musical excellence through high expectations, hard work, compassion, support, and friendship. Each student is fostered by positive relationships with their peers, staff, and community members who are actively involved in developing the whole child. Effective learning happens when students feel safe, so building a collaborative environment and caring culture where students are free to be themselves and free to make mistakes in order to grow is crucial. Belonging to a team encourages them to learn from each other and take accountability and ownership of their learning. With this backbone, I desire for students to develop the ability to think critically, feel sensitively, and act courageously. 

Every day, over 200 of our students show up as a team to collectively refine their technique and build upon their previous rehearsal skills with an eagerness and enthusiasm to grow. Our students complete practice videos by applying their knowledge from rehearsals and developing processes for self-evaluation for musically sensitive and artistic improvement. Friendships blossom and leaders bloom as our students teach each other in student-led sectionals, collaborating with their friends while demonstrating positive leadership and self-awareness. 

Every month, our breakfast socials bring the hottest topics up for debate over coffee and donuts– chocolate vs. glazed, or coffee with a splash of creamer vs. creamer with a splash of coffee. Our rotation of professional musicians steps in to enrich and inspire all of our students, giving them a refreshing perspective on how to strengthen their craft. Our officer and booster meetings alike plan new ideas to elevate our program experience pedagogically, socially, and emotionally. 

Every quarter, our students have a front-row seat to the music industry by learning from the world’s largest record label, Universal Music Group, from songwriting with touring bands, to understanding the day-in-a-life with industry professionals in Artist & Repertoire and Creator & Strategic Partnerships. Our students refine their team building in chamber music, demonstrating who is quick to step up and lead their small group and who follows commands. 

Every year, I get to cheer on our musicians-by-day and athletes-by-night at their soccer, football, softball, and volleyball games, celebrating every one of their wins with loud shouts of praise and applause from the stands. Our field trip to Six Flags reveals who is a daredevil and who loves the thrill of funnel cake itself. Our concerts bring in a wave of faithful parents, guardians, friends, and community members, both new and old, all dedicated to building up these lifelong musicians. 

It takes a village to support and strengthen these students to be future-ready learners who are empathetic, sensitive, and critical thinkers. Ultimately, I am dedicated to producing lifelong consumers of music and the arts by fostering a welcoming, artistic, and educational environment where students of all abilities and backgrounds belong, and feel mentally, physically, and emotionally safe in my classroom.