Amber Colvis

            I believe that the purpose of music education is to teach people of all ages how to effectively and expressively communicate with music, and foster an appreciation for beauty.  I believe that all music can be beautiful in its own way, and all are valuable in forming a well-versed ear.  I hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for all of the different forms and styles of music through which we display our thoughts and emotions every day.  I believe that music tells some kind of story or emotion, either personal or scripted, and that most meaningful and engaging music often has a personal reflection connected and conveyed through the performer.  My students will learn how to reflect and use their music to tell their personal story and find purpose in their music and life.   I will provide my students with a comprehensive experience of music, equipping them with the tools they need to be independent musicians.  These tools include holding a tune, keeping a beat, appreciating existing works, creating new works or interpretations, and performing. 

            My classroom is an environment in which students can safely and confidently express themselves through music and class interactions.  My curriculum includes a variety of student-centered, project-centered, and discussion-based activities embedded within performance-based activities because students need the liberty to form their own ideas about the beauty of music and art while experiencing it firsthand.  Individual or group composition projects, class discussions to collaborate on selection and interpretations of performance repertoire, and musical identity/preference projects are a few examples of learning activities my students will engage in.  My students will tackle the questions of what is music, when and where music can be found/used, who influenced music past and present, how it is made, and why it is important.  To measure students’ growth over time as a musician, I use portfolios and capstone projects for each grade level, which can be completely digital.  My goal is for students to realize that music is for everyone, not just the professionals, and that they can be true musicians as well.