Learning New Instruments

Despite the usual frustrations of learning a new instrument, as a kid who missed the 4th grade band/orchestra train in Elementary school, getting to experiment and learn new instruments was one of my favorite parts of my experience at Bienen.

While I’ve been transitioning from the world of Montessori to the range of traditional public school education models, one of the hardest habits to break was Montessori’s commitment to logic and reasoning in all conversations with children. Allowing my teaching to include more mystery and magic has improved both my relationships with students and my own excitement to present material.

Getting to participate in Social Justice and Community Music seminars with Drs. Hickey and Bartolome respectively were experiences that will remain with me throughout my teaching. The discussions and topics of these two seminars in particular changed the way I approach my teaching and my actions outside of the classroom. While my primary project is on hold until we can sing again, I can’t wait to begin engaging in community music and engaging with my students and community in social justice work.

Throughout my time at Northwestern, I really struggled with which age group I wanted to teach. I was so grateful to be able to work with virtually every age and grade level in the k-12 system, both in choir and in General Music. This experience led me to think differently about General Music classes for all ages and to embrace the incredible joy of musical discovery in both general and specialized music classes.

Joining and singing with Bienen’s Contemporary and Early Ensemble was hands down the best choral experience of my life. No longer burdened by wondering if every performance would further or hinder my career, I found myself making music in a much more joyful and deep way. Being able to work with a conductor like Donald Nally on repertoire that constantly challenged me artistically, technically, and mentally. BCE as a group of people became some of my best friends at NU, my collaborators and my advisors. Working with the choral conducting masters and graduate students became instrumental in my comfort as a choral director.

Coming from a low-income family, summer camps and later summer music programs were only possible through scholarships that I often wasn’t talented enough to win. Getting to go to Interlochen Arts Camp for the first time in my 30s as a teacher was as exciting and wonderful as I’d ever imagined it would be. By the end of my time at Interlochen, teaching individual voice lessons and a group voice class covering vocal music history, diction and masterclasses, I felt ready to take on any teaching position. Extended time alone in my cabin, punctuated by hikes in the woods and trips to collect fossils from Petoskey, let me experience what was essentially a lesson planning and teaching retreat. I generated more ideas during my time there than at any other time in my Music Education studies, and I cannot wait until we are able to have camp again.