An effective music educator goes beyond just teaching music to create a well-rounded

and diverse classroom. Articulating the musical contributions of cultural diversity, enhancing
students’ musical experiences to shape productive members of society, meeting the needs of all
learners, and seeking collaboration across communities are all imperative to a strong music
educator. A successful music educator must also be competent outside their classroom in
collaborating with other teachers and community members, organizing and maintaining
equipment of their classroom, and performing the required administrative tasks to keep their
program flourishing.
Through my education classes at Kansas State University, my research involving the
framework of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, and my leadership with the K-State Marching
Band, I have encapsulated the required knowledge and experience outlined in Standard 7. In my
Educational Psychology and Human Development classes, I have learned valuable knowledge
about the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor aspects of individual learners, no matter their
age or background. Through action research in the Kansas City, Kansas school district I have
observed teachers and learners to form conclusions about ideal curriculum and learning spaces.
In these research opportunities I have had experiences with diverse learners in the Kansas City
area that has framed my thinking about how to integrate diversity and cultural relevance into my
classroom. As a Student Director’s Staff member of the K-State Marching Band, I have
numerous experiences with maintaining and organizing equipment and forming relationships
with community members and organizations.
My classroom will go beyond just teaching music to truly encapsulate all aspects of the
learners’ needs as well as capitalize on the organizational and administrative work needed to
keep the program moving forward. Using Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, my classroom will
apply my own students’ experiences to their musical learning as well as develop new experiences
with contrasting cultures to their own. I will know my students have benefitted from my
culturally relevant teachings when they are comfortable performing music of different cultures,
ask informed questions during class, and treat their peers of different cultures and experiences
with respect and significance. Through my experiences in administrative and organizational
work in the KSU Marching Band, I have no doubt that my classroom will benefit from my work
outside the classroom to keep my classes running smoothly. An effective music educator goes
beyond the classroom to meet the needs of her students and overall program, and in my
classroom, I will do just that.