It is my firm belief that music and the arts are an essential part of humanity. They provide us with a unifying experience through a shared history and knowledge, and connect us with moments, histories, and understandings which make individuals unique. I approach my teaching and conducting with that philosophy in mind, along with the understanding that music is beneficial for performers and audience members regardless of the prior knowledge they bring to the stage or audience.

Through music and art, we can have a better understanding of our peers from various walks of life and backgrounds while at the same time explore and understand our own feelings, thoughts, and emotions. Through music and art we are able to discover history and current events; far-off lands and places nearby. We are able to see life through the eyes of others, but also through our own self reflection.

I see myself as a music teacher first; band conductor second. My philosophy is centered around using music as the medium to teach historical and cultural influences and threads with my students. For example, when preparing pieces based on Western folk melodies, I bring my guitar to rehearsal for a singalong and when preparing Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral, students in my ensemble have acted out a brief synopsis of Lohengrin. I also enjoy programming multimedia performances with lighting and visual projections. Recently, I worked with the South Dakota State University Art Museum to digitally project art work by Harvey Dunn in conjunction with a piece by Robert W. Smith inspired by Dunn’s paintings. While this particular performance has been postponed by COVID-19, it is my hope to share this experience again soon.

As careers become increasingly reliant on “21st-Century Skills,” the intangible skills gained through music education have become even more important. Students of music and the arts learn how to create and perform, while also learning dedication, determination, perseverance, time management, cooperation, responsibility, self-esteem, and self-reliance. They learn how to perform under pressure and under a deadline, how to take compliments and criticism, how to be coached and learn independently.

Finally, I believe strongly in making personal connections with students knowing that students will have an increased interest in what I have to share with them when they know I care about them on a personal level. I start my daily one-on-one interactions with students with a general life “check in” and try my best never to put the completion of a lesson plan ahead of instilling a sense of caring about the well-being of a student. Despite all the educational benefits, the most powerful aspect of music and the arts are the social-emotional benefits of working towards a goal with friends and colleagues.