Reflection on Student Teaching Experience

I am sure many teachers have vivid memories of their student teaching, particularly when their cooperating teacher corrected aspects of their teaching. I certainly remember my experience working with middle school orchestra on an arrangement of Dvorak's New World Symphony. The first theme from the second movement is connected to the African Spiritual, "Goin' Home" is beautiful and as such deserves a discussion of its context. I remember my cooperative teaching practically running up to me after I had provided everyone with lyrics and leaving me the note "do not say Jesus". In that moment, I was afraid the lesson as a result was very ineffective. Other times during my placement, she had mentioned that her students haven't developed that skill, and after a while, I stuck to teaching just notes and rhythms.

In reflection, I am grateful for that experience. Teaching orchestra, to me, cannot be merely about the technique with a hint of musicality, that is devoid of social and historical context. All music, whether Bach or Still, is a product of its context and, at the same time, that context influences the way we perform the piece. In this way, learning context enriches not on the extramusical elements, but concurrently the musical as well. I am excited to experiment much more with discussions that make more experienced educators have knee jerk reactions!