Teacher Interview: Here are questions that I had prepared for my private flute teacher. She taught me for just under a year before university auditions and ultimately brought me to become the musician that I am today! She has brought me leaps and bounds from where I used to be and has taught me so much! Unfortunately, she was not able to answer the questions due to timing, I still have the questions posted here and am hoping to have answers soon, out of interest!
Intro to Music Ed. Teacher Interview (Lynn Tucker)
1.)Tell us a little bit about your teaching background! 2.)When did you first decide to teach and what experience sparked that interest? Was there one that specifically stood out to you that you felt influenced you the most? 3.)As both a private instructor and band conductor, what does education mean to you? 4.)What is it in education and music that motivates you to teach? 5.)At the end of a lesson and band rehearsal, what do you hope that your students take away as musicians and people? 6.)What moments have brought negative experiences into your teaching and have made you want to stop or take a break? (You did leave for a sabbatical before I had started lessons with you, if you feel comfortable, why did you take the leave?) 7.)What has been one of the most gratifying experiences as a teacher or conductor that you have had that have filled your love for music and education? 8.)How do you feel music and education influence students’ lives outside of lessons, how can they change someone’s thinking and perception about the world?
Teacher Interview: Here are questions that I had given my high school music teacher/band director, Lisa Barth, she was able to answer all of my questions and I am so happy to share them with you! She is truly an inspiration and I am so happy to have had her as a teacher throughout my musical career!
Intro to Music Ed. Teacher Interview 1.) Tell us a little bit about your teaching background! When I first graduated from University I filled in for a 2 month LTO at a middle school teaching grade 7 and 8 choir and a music appreciation class. After this I moved to Toronto, where I taught as an Itinerant Music Instructor for one year with the TDSB. After that I got hired with the DDSB, I have been teaching music at DHS for the past 11 years. At Dunbarton I have taught: Instrumental, Jazz, Guitar, Keyboard, and Music Theatre. I also take part in the extra curricular program where I teach Concert Band, Jazz Band and the Music Council. 2.) When did you first decide to teach and what experience sparked that interest? Was there one that specifically stood out to you that you felt influenced you the most? I have always wanted to be a teacher, since before I can remember. My dad was musical, so I started in a community marching band when I was 9 and then in my elementary band program in grade 6. I have always been interested in band, and in high school I new I wanted to be a music teacher. No big epiphany or anything specific – I just knew ;) 3.) As both a classroom teacher and band conductor, what does education mean to you? It’s a place to allow students to have a voice, where they can learn and grow as musicians, artists, and people. A place for them to find ownership over something, and belong to a ‘family’. My goal is to help to make life long learners, giving them the tools necessary to continue with their music journey (whatever it may be) after leaving Dunbarton. 4.) What is it in education and music that motivates you to teach? I’m a band geek at heart – there is nothing like the experience of playing in a large ensemble (wind ensemble specifically). Being part of the sound and creation, it’s exciting – each year I manage to get excited about the performances and the journey it took to get there. 5.) At the end of a lesson and band rehearsal, what do you hope that your students take away as musicians and people? A sense of success - knowing that they just took part in something awesome, and a sense of motivation- knowing that they need to hit the practice room to get to that next level. 6.) What moments have brought negative experiences into your teaching and have made you want to stop or take a break? A student that I just can’t get through to. I take my profession fairly personal, so when I can’t get through to a student, it takes a pretty large toll on me. It’s also frustrating when I am giving it my all, and the band as a whole is not as in to it as I am. 7.) What has been one of the most gratifying experiences as a teacher or conductor that you have had that have filled your love for music and education? When my senior band gets to a level in their performance I could never have expected – and they are so musically fulfilled and excited. Eg. The first time I had a band that performed Chorale and Shaker Dance, and the first time I had a band and we performed ‘Sleep’ by Eric Whitacre. Great performance of amazing music! 8.) How do you feel music and education influence students’ lives outside of lessons, how can they change someone’s thinking and perception about the world? I believe it can give a place of belonging for a lot of students who wouldn’t necessarily have a place to ‘fit in’ elsewhere in school. Also, through listening to or performing music, students can have a way to express there emotions, or work through things in their lives.
For the final part of the assignment, I wrote why I chose Lisa Barth!
Why I chose my high school music teacher: Lisa Barth has made a huge impact on my life and musical career. She has changed me and helped me evolve in ways that I could never imagine myself to change into. She has turned me into a band geek just like her and helped me to overcome so much as a musician and performer. She has turned music into something that I absolutely love and adore. She is an amazing teacher, conductor, musician and person and I look up to her very dearly. She has taught me so much about myself, more than I had never known. I know for a fact that she is a teacher that I want to be like some day. To know first hand the experience and impact she has made on me that I could make on someone else and that is the type of teacher I want to be. I hope to someday instill all that she has put into me as a student and musician. Not only have I worked hard for myself, but I have also worked very hard to make her proud and happy. I cannot ever thank her enough for all of her endless support, love and care. She has pushed me to become a musician and aspiring teacher and given me endless opportunities to make sure that this career is the one that I in fact want and love. She has turned me into the dedicated and educated musician that I am today, and for that I will be forever grateful. Ms. Barth is an amazing teacher, she has such a caring and thoughtful way of teaching. She takes her time and helps you when you need it and guides you in the right direction. You can go to her for advice whenever you need and she is always there to listen and help. She has a very kind heart and a wonderful sense of humor that she adds to her lessons (theory lessons have never been so exciting). She brings people to love music, and that is one of the best traits about her. If a teacher can make you love and care for something endlessly, they have done their job. She conducts in the most amazing ways, her analogies for music and her love for it shines through on a daily basis, and she absolutely lives and breathes concert band (the main reason why I love band so much) and makes it so interesting. I hope to grow to become a teacher and conductor like her, thank you Ms. Barth. And that is why I chose to interview Lisa Barth.