Teaching Philosophy

Anna E. Garman
As a teacher, I strive to inspire in my students the same passion for learning that my own
instructors inspired in me. To that end, I have constructed my teaching philosophy to mirror what
I perceived to be the best elements of my educational upbringing. As a foundation, I have
determined five key objectives that I wish to uphold in all classes, regardless of subject.
The first of these objectives is to encourage students to make broader connections and
transfer learned skills by contextualizing material in the historical narrative and relating it to
other disciplines, even outside music. In my experience, materials presented as self-contained
rules, dates, and concrete techniques are less likely to be lastingly retained by students than
material that has been connected to other disciplines and made immediately relevant to the
individual. For example, relating cadences to punctuation and grammar allows students make a
connection to a subject they have more experience with, and by further relating it to phrasing in
performance, students will both grasp the concept more completely and be more motivated to
pursue mastery of the idea.
The second objective is to further motivate students by engaging them during class
through discussion, group involvement, kinesthetic activities, and aural representation in the
classroom whenever possible. One-sided lectures can only do so much, and students are more
likely to remember material when they are actively involved in class than if they sit quietly
taking notes for lengthy periods of time without any interaction. In a theory class, for example, I
might break the class into small groups to resolve different cadences, then have the groups teach
the class their correct resolution. This encourages discussion among group members, requires
critical thinking and problem solving in deciding how to present their materiel, and reinforces the
ideas as they have to explain it to their classmates.
The third objective is to maintain flexibility in adapting my teaching style to fit the
unique needs of the current class and individuals, as well as utilizing feedback from previous
students and other instructors. Recognizing that each student brings their own skill set and
background to the class, it is important to understand that what has worked for classes in the past
might not work now. My idea is to begin each semester with a brief survey to understand
students learning styles and backgrounds in order to tailor my lessons accordingly. In time, I
would also work to meet the students on an individual basis to insure their continued success in

the class, offering extra resources and help as needed.

The fourth objective is to incorporate technology to enhance students experience in the
class, while being sensitive and allowing equal opportunities for everyone. This can be
accomplished through something as simple as allowing work to be turned in both online and in
person, or in more substantial ways such as the use of optional apps that can aid with practice or
repetition. It is important to meet students where theyre at, allowing them to work in the means
that best enables them to excel in their learning.
The fifth and final objective is to create and maintain a fair environment that gives each
student the best opportunity to succeed. Grading will be percent-based, but work will be taken
for completion early on in the subject to encourage students to attempt difficult concepts without
fear of failure. Once the time comes that competency is expected, students will be tested with
timed quizzes, as part of mastery in music is the ability to accomplish tasks with ease within a
specified time frame. Students may also correct graded homework for partial credit to reward
perseverance without being unfair to those who successfully completed their work the first time.
By teaching in accordance with these objectives, my hope is to ignite an enthusiasm for
learning in students and to motivate them to pursue their passion. My aim is to encourage a
desire to learn that will translate beyond my own classroom, and into every facet of their
education.