These days I’ve been thinking music studio teaching really is a complex undertaking that requires a unique blend of creativity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence from music teachers. Each day brings new challenges—some within our control, like passing on musical skills and knowledge, and others beyond our control, such as a student's lack of interest or inconsistent practice habits. How can today’s music teachers navigate this unique teaching environment?
Let's take a look.
Here are some Things Music Teachers Can Control:
- Our Values and Beliefs- We build on our personal experiences and musical experiences.
- Our Curiosity - We take an interest in students’ strengths and challenges.
- Our Feedback Style - We offer constructive criticism and praise in ways that value students.
- Our Studio Environment - We create an inclusive and safe studio environment.
- Our Sources of Information - We know where to turn for ideas, information, and inspiration.
- Our Colleagues for Support - We know who we can depend on to hear what we need to say.
- Our Own Self-Care - We take care of our own personal wellbeing as fundamental to our mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Here are some examples of Things Music Teachers Cannot Control:
- How and Why Students Practice - We know that students’ commitment and practice habits vary widely.
- Students' Musical Connections - We understand how students’ tastes and interests in music can differ greatly.
- Mood of Students - We recognize that external factors can influence a student’s emotional state on any given day.
- Parental Support - There are many different levels of home support and encouragement.
- External Distractions - Underlying issues in students' lives outside of music lessons can impact their musical journey.
- Personal Goals - Students have different aspirations and timelines for their musical journeys.
- Students’ Interests - We accept that students are curious about exploring and getting experience with domains other than music.
What does this mean for today’s music studio teachers?
My impression is that we come from a long music teaching history wherein music teachers operated by controlling their students. That was the “ivory tower” interpretation of music teaching wherein teachers never even considered the possibility there were things they could not control.
Fast-forward to today and we see something very different for music teachers. Our teaching environments take place in the real world and are characterized by the interweaving of factors that we can and cannot control. While we have the power to create a nurturing environment, design engaging lessons, and inspire our students, we also acknowledge the limitations imposed by individual circumstances and external influences.
What seems important is for today’s music studio teachers to approach teaching with both control and acceptance. By recognizing what we bring to our teaching - values, methods, and supportive environment - we can foster deeper connections with our students and nurture their musical growth. At the same time, acknowledging the factors beyond our control serves as a timely reminder of how we’ve moved away from the controlling characteristics of past music teaching generations.
Today’s music teachers teach in the real world. Not an ivory tower.
