Hello

As a teacher my focus is on developing ways to help all my students reach their full potential.  I challenge them to expand their understanding of music and their role as musicians in society.  My lessons are designed with many opportunities for discussion, cognitive dissonance, and reflection in order to develop my students’ critical thinking skills.

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In designing my course objectives, I strive to achieve a balance between content-based outcomes to learner-based outcomes; the materials as well as the people studying it are both important.  One of my fundamental goals for all my students is to develop their metacognitive strategies to help shape them into independent thinkers.  By carefully selecting peer-reviewed, rigorously designed instructional materials I can not only provide the basic information for a course but also provide a deeper level of understanding for students.  My reputation among my colleagues in the music education profession is as an educator who strives for excellence, is committed to improving the lives of students, and is constantly finding new ways to meet the challenges of today’s ever- evolving student population. Most notably, I piloted Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory courses at Buena Park and Valencia High Schools, as well as an International Baccalaureate (IB) Music course while I was the Director of Bands at Valencia in 2004. These were the first courses of their kind to be offered at both sites. 

 

As a performing arts master teacher and conductor my ensembles have consistently earned top ratings at concert festivals.  During the pandemic years I became adept at using a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and iMovie-type software to record my students at home and created several recording projects with multimedia content.  I was determined to thrive in the distance and hybrid learning formats, and became quite skilled in Chromebook-based music learning.  I was honored to be recognized for my efforts and was honored to be selected as a Fullerton Joint Union High School District Teacher of the Year for 2021-2022. 

 

In addition, I am aware of the power and necessity of choice when it comes to assignments and activities in general music, music history, or music theory classes; students can be given a short list of these, any two or three of which may accomplish any number of course outcomes.  By selecting assignments rather than completing those that are imposed on them will be far more meaningful and more likely to be completed with a high degree of effort.

I am of the opinion that teaching is a rewarding career due to its nature as a recursive profession; it continuously evolves, revitalizes, and grows on itself, provided that we keep ourselves current on new strategies and developments in our content areas.  By regularly attending local, regional, national, and international conferences, I am constantly seeking out new ways of teaching my students.

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My style of teaching has more to do with performance than anything else.  I approach each class meeting as I would a concert, which assumes that I have prepared for the event, that I wish to perform for the class, and that I will give my all to the performance.  One of my strengths as a teacher is my natural ability to “take command” of a room as soon as I walk in; drawing in the energy of the participants as a good conductor does with a group he or she is about to conduct.  I consistently use a well-projected, focused, clear speaking voice which can fill any size lecture room or hall if necessary.