Randi Ruff
Intro-Music Ed
Essay #2
The choice to become a music educator is not an easy one. Most find that their
inspiration comes from themselves having a great music teacher in which they want to imitate.
Others, unfortunately, see teaching as a career that includes three months of “free time.” When I
decided to go to college to become a music teacher, it was because of my love for music. I knew
that I had to be involved in music of some sort to be a happy person and lead a happy life. I felt I
had more to offer as a teacher of music, rather than a performer. My music experience during
my school years was excellent, so what better way to give back then give other kids the same
opportunity to love music as I had.
As an aspiring teacher, I believe that my goal is not to produce virtuosos or to win the
many contests, which seem to be a tremendous deal here in Ohio, but to give enough information
out for the students to absorb and make music a positive and stable element in their lives forever.
I know fully that not all students and people in general will feel the passion I feel for music, but
everyone has the ability to love music if given the chance. In order to reach my goal of reaching
out to the students and such, I need to become a teacher with compassion, patience and the
spiritedness that captures the attention of others and holds them captivated. Also, the ability to
decipher between right and wrong and to think rationally, not emotionally is very key to teaching
in general.
I do doubt whether this is the right profession for me, and whether I have what it takes to
teach students correctly and in a manner in which will secure retention. I do also believe that it
takes more than just a passion for something to be able to teach it. We all know of teachers that
were amazing at what they taught or loved it beyond anything else, but had no clue how to teach
the concepts to others. It takes a special personality and patience to reach the students and
explain subjects in a manner that all will understand. I do believe I have the passion and the
ambition to work for my goal as a teacher, but whether I have the patience, I’m not sure.
Patience is not something I can learn in a classroom, it is something I need to work on as an
individual. On the outside, I may look like I have patience, but really it’s killing me on the
inside.
Responsibility is also a major factor when considering becoming a teacher. Sitting here
thinking about the place as a role model that I may become to some of my students is very scary
to me. Another form of responsibility comes in when I realize that I will have a room full of
many students at one time, and I wonder whether I will be able to control them. I am responsible
for their safety. Then there is the responsibility of making sure that I’m teaching material in a
manner that all will comprehend, which can be very difficult. This is very overwhelming to me
right now. Just thinking about it makes me nervous, but I believe as I become more secure with
myself and the idea of me being a teacher, these insecurities will lessen.
In the end, I believe I have the skills, ambition and personality it takes to become a
teacher. But do I have what it takes to become a great teacher? I’m not sure yet, and that is the
only idea that makes me doubt my choice of profession. I have a responsibility to educate
tomorrow’s students and shape their lives so they may become well-rounded individuals down
the road. I feel that if I have any doubts about my ability to do this, than I need to really consider
if teaching is right for me. Within the past year, my moving here and becoming involved in this
music education degree, confidence in my ability to become a great teacher has risen. I have two
years to hone my skills and learn what it takes to become a great teacher and work on my
weaknesses. I feel that if I stay on course, I will be ready and prepared when my time to
graduate comes.