Standard #4: Content Knowledge.
The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
It is crucial for any educator to be thoroughly knowledgeable in the field he or she is teaching so the instructor can clearly and easily communicate the ideas and knowledge that needs to be passed on to the students. It is the same way with music educators, we have to know what we are teaching so we can make the musical experience more real for the students we are teaching. It’s the difference between playing a piece of music and performing a piece that can’t just be taught by the instructor saying “know do what’s written on the page”. Like good poetry, there is a lot hidden in-between the lines that students might not see, and it is these nuances and subtleties that some students might not catch that a music instructor has to be able to teach clearly.
My knowledge of music comes from the ensembles I have played in, the private lessons I have taken, and many other music classes I have already taken. That being said, I still have a lot of learning of music theory courses, music history courses, and many other various music courses I still need to take before I can call myself fit to be a music educator, but a very strong foundation is been put in place.
Luckily Ball State has a very well rounded music education program and I am going to learn a lot here. Being so well rounded means I am going to have the opportunity to do a lot. I have the opportunity to take all the music theory classes, music history classes, music techniques classes for various instruments, and all the while being able to perform in many outstanding ensembles to further develop my musicianship.
My knowledge of music comes from the ensembles I have played in, the private lessons I have taken, and many other music classes I have already taken. That being said, I still have a lot of learning of music theory courses, music history courses, and many other various music courses I still need to take before I can call myself fit to be a music educator, but a very strong foundation is been put in place.
Luckily Ball State has a very well rounded music education program and I am going to learn a lot here. Being so well rounded means I am going to have the opportunity to do a lot. I have the opportunity to take all the music theory classes, music history classes, music techniques classes for various instruments, and all the while being able to perform in many outstanding ensembles to further develop my musicianship.