Are We Successful Teachers?

Last week's #MusEdChat on Twitter focused on what makes a music teacher successful. We discovered the answer is varied depending on the perspective of parents, students, administrators, and ourselves. I always love these chats and I can't wait for the next one. They always make me think a little deeper. It's not talk about philosophy instead of just pedagogy. Honestly, I think more deeply about pedagogy most of the time.

Anyway, we tweeted about all these different groups. We talked of how sometimes parents just want it to be fun for their kids. I spoke about the idea of teaching parents during the school concert. An Informance instead of a Performance if you will. Teachers all view their own success very differently, some more noble than others. I wish I was more noble actually...and then bringing up administrators always starts an uproar.

The most important group for me is the students. Sure, I want to myself and my peers to view me as successful. I want the administrators and parents to respect what I do. However, if they students don't see me as successful, what kind of leader or teacher am I? I'm not a clown to entertain them, but I am there to be a counselor, their musicality leader, an explorer, a knowledge giver as well as seeker, and many other things.

Since I let me former students find me on Facebook, I put up a post asking what makes a successful teacher? I was impressed that a few took the time to tell me. Even more impressed that one(who is a history ed major now) sent me a paper he wrote for class. So here are some response excerpts below. What do your kids think?


"I feel a music teacher should be judged on his musicianship and how he uses it to improve his students' musicianship. The teachers who go out of their way and use their time to help a student in need or a student who just wants to be the best is always a teacher I would choose. Also I feel that teacher should push his students to their greatest potential and not give up on any student because he, the teacher, doesn't feel the student has the capablilties to improve or expand. Lastly and most importantly: I feel a music teacher should have a great love for all musics and children or teens (whatever age group) he is working with and should accept any student, no matter their skill level, who comes to him with an intrest in music and accept that student with open arms."


"Have fun and being able to connect with the students and just lay back and have a blast playing!"


"Discipline is extremely important because you also earn respect from your students. And strong leadership skills will tell students that you are the one in charge-not them."


"I think its a combination of two things, character and wisdom. Students won't respect a teacher unless they see something there to respect, if you know your stuff and your able to portray that knowledge in an interesting way I think you've got it made. I know that if I have a professor that is more knowedgeable about music than I could ever hope to be and that professor can show that through his conducting, his assistance with different instruments, personal accounts, and on a one on one basis that is the best teacher I can get. And I would hope that, at least on a collegiate level, that respect would counter the need for discipline."


"talking and getting to know your students. that way you know and understand what drives them to work hard and improve."


"...seemingly in constant motion with one thing or another going. ..Very early on in my education, I was inspired by my teachers. I admired their work ethic and their ability to make me enjoy learning. That was quite an accomplishment with my case, for I was not too interested in learning at that time. "

I hope those first couple of classes of mine, the grads of 08-10 continue to think as well as post goofy videos on FB. :)

Diigo: The Useful Bookmark

I'll admit it. I'm not a big fan of bookmarking. I don't have a list of favorite sites on my laptop. I just either remembered the address to the places I frequent the most or I did a new google search each time I wanted to find something. This was working out ok(minus the frustration of not being able to find something in using the search terms I thought I'd used last time!) Then a colleague introduced me to Diigo...I tried not to say it in public for fear of sounding dumb, but it's became one of my most used internet tools.

Those of you who used bookmarks on your computer before will be blown away because this one can go to any computer with you. If any of you are like me you need to start using this because your constant searching is WASTING your valuable time!

Diigo is also a collaborative space and great addition to your PLN(personal/professional learning network). I am a member of two music site sharing groups, Teaching Music and MusicTechieTeachers. For your convenience those are links to two great public groups. Once you join up you can access any of the links that people have tagged for those groups. Oh yeah, the tagging system is a great way to sort! No folders to create and it makes search so simple. My advice tag with lots of helpful words. Once you get going you'll add sites to it all the time, especially if you install the Diigo toolbar.

Find the site by going to http://www.diigo.com/ and sign up for an account to start archiving the best of the web now. My username is KFreesen and I'd be glad to hear from you and start collaborating in this space as well!

Btw...it's pronounced DEE-go...Incase you actually have to talk to someone about it. Share this wonderful resource!

My IMEA Presentation Slide Show

I want people to have access to my presentation. I'm putting a link to it in my handout, but I thought it might be nice to have it here.

Plus, I get to test out an embedded slideshow! All through the magic of Google. They should cut me a check for how much I promote them.

Summer Vacation

Well Summer Vacation is officially upon most teachers(at least in Illinois). This is my second summer vacation as a teacher. It is a fantastic feeling, knowing that I taught my students so many things. Maybe I should blog about those things since it'll be nice to look back on some of the things we accomplished together. However, this is not the time nor the post!

Last year I spent the summer working a for a summer theater group and getting things in order for the next year. I moved to Peoria and I have really enjoyed the city. Hopefully my towns will keep getting bigger as my career continues. I had a lot more work to do last year, but I think as a third year teacher I'm starting to get in the groove. I'm finding what works.

This summer I'm trying to expand myself and with the help of my free-spirited girlfriend of almost two years, I think it's the perfect time for it! I have already done some new things for me, such as getting a library card. I had one in my hometown, but let's be honest the Peoria Library System is a little different than that of my hometown of population 1,400. So how will my summer be spent you ask?

I am currently reading a book called "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles. It's about a brotherhood of 16 year old boys at a New England boarding school during the World War II era. It's supposedly a classic piece of literature and I'm in enjoying it very much. It's prose is well-written and the story of these boys loss of innocence is intriguing. It makes me wonder what my job as a music teacher would have been like back then or would I have been called to war...I'm sure my asthma would've barred me from the draft come to think of it.

I plan to take some type of trip, but I haven't settled on the right kind of trip. Camping and outdoor adventures? A place of historic value? Somewhere that seems indulgent? To be honest I'd like to be on tour with a drum corps...I need to see if I can get on staff somewhere next summer, what an adventure that would be. As of now I'm just going to a couple of weddings in July. Why do people insist on getting married in the hottest months of the year? I digress.

I am going to begin planning more specific year long goals and start thinking about literature for next years groups. I will probably grab a couple books to energize my teaching techniques. I know I will be going back over my Ed Lisk book. I think I'm going to utilize even more of that book with my classes this year. I also am going to start looking into grad schools, going back might be in my future.

Of course there will be time spent at the pool and grilling at my apartment. I love being a creative cook. Jes and I like exploring the local restaurants and I will make frequent trips to Buffalo Wild Wings to play trivia. In fact, she just texted me to go to one of our favorite new spots, Sullivan's in Peoria Heights. Make to check it out if you're in the area!

That's all for now. I hope all of you are enjoying your summer, no matter how you choose to spend it. Any ideas for me? Feel free to comment with some great tips.