Educational Philosophy in Music
My approach to music education is four-fold: excellence in your craft, engagement with others, connection with the music, and communication of one's musicianship. Whether a student aspires to be a full-fledged professional musician, or if they simply want to learn for recreation, or anything in between, excellence, engagement, connection, and communication will be paramount. Students will improve their craft, develop musicianship, gain greater appreciation for music, and understand the role of music and arts in society, taking it with them beyond the classroom to the world, participating in it throughout their lives.
To realize your greatest potential, whether you seek to perform on an instrument, sing, or to compose is one of the main goals in receiving instruction, and with that comes the expectation of a standard of excellence, not settling for anything less than of what you are capable. In the life of a musician, whether you are a beginner, hobbyist, or a professional, engagement is very important as you will learn how to work with others one on one or in group settings, or in the public sphere. This aspect of a musician's life will not be ignored in instruction. And what point is your musical life if you don't connect with music? Students will be mindful to keep their initial joy in music glowing, while becoming aware of the visceral and sensational impacts of music, the intellectual and academic aspects of music, and how it affects the human heart and spirit. And what good is the music you produce if you keep it to yourself? Communicating music is key. Students will learn the importance of sharing and communicating the music they produce, along with their joy and passion, through demonstration, performance, or presentation.
The student will not only come away improving their musical craft and engaging in the musical world, but to become a fuller musician, and a musical citizen of the world. It is hoped that no matter what, that music will always be an integral part of the student’s life.
Gilbert Galindo, March 2018