"From the day they are born, children are naturally motivated to learn, to master their environments, and to feel competent. Naturally making early learning experiences interesting, successful and fun."
(Jane Healy. Your Child's Growing Mind)

I am an educator who has the privilege of bringing music into the lives of my students. Believing that I have the ability to shape their lives, it is extremely important to me to consider the whole child and to determine how music will foster his or her development and promote self-worth. My approach to teaching is in direct correlation with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki who stated in his book Nurtured in Love, "Character first, ability second." I have always striven to nurture the total development of the child in their cognitive, social, language, physical and emotional domains as well as in the area of music.

Music can be a gateway to knowledge, a unique way of knowing. Creating a positive and enlightening environment for my students is important. I try to establish a setting that promotes a strong desire to investigate new musical discoveries through the act of doing, exploration and improvisation. My students are active participants in various integrated musical experiences which allow for differing musical abilities. I show my students that music presents opportunities to expand the boundaries of their imagination and creativity, and at the same time offers unique sources of enjoyment. I help each student realize that music is an integral part of every person's daily life and that its effect on our lives as whole individuals is of profound importance.

It is my belief that music education is holistic, experiential and process oriented. It is for all children, not just the most musically or intellectually gifted, and encompasses aural, visual and kinesthetic learners. In accordance to Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, I am passionate about finding the most effective ways of stimulating and sustaining musical growth and participation among those who enter my classroom. I see learning as a complex process that is individual, content and context specific. As a teacher, I am attentive to these factors and work to be flexible. I am constantly adapting my approaches according to the needs of my students. I provide varied opportunities that allow each of my students to discover his or her own talents, and to demonstrate their understanding and mastery of musical skills and concepts.

I have been greatly influenced by the methodologies of Carl Orff and Zoltan Kodaly. The elements of speech, rhythm, movement, dance, song, instrument playing and improvisation in solo and ensemble settings are integrated into a structured, sequential development of knowledge and skills that encourages complete participation, creativity, and personal musical growth for all involved. My students learn through listening, singing through imitation and movement that accompanies the singing. What my students obtain from this active engagement of the aspects of musical art, is considerably more important than learning to perform music.

In my teaching, I work to be mindful of my position as a role model of the kind of learning I aim to promote among my students. Furthermore, I regularly work to improve my teaching by seeking student feedback, communicating and collaborating with peers, attending teaching seminars, reading and experimenting with new methods. Through these evaluative and informative processes, I am continually refining my teaching practices and skills and growing as an educator/musician.

I believe that I can make a difference in the lives of my students. Teaching is about opening hearts and minds, and changing lives for all those involved in the process. My desire is that each one of my students will leave my classroom confident to take responsibility of their own learning, and carry with them a deep, life long respect for music.