I frequently hear the following questions:
"Wouldn't you enjoy teaching older students? "
"Wouldn't it be nice to work with kids that choose to be there?"
"Have you ever considered moving up to high school?"
"Do you not have the skill set to teach high school? Is that why you work with little kids?"
First, let me state I chose elementary school. I was quite successful student teaching in secondary music and have been successful over many years working with adults in a church setting. Actually, in many ways, I would probably be a more successful secondary teacher than I am elementary....and there are many times that I question my choice. Teaching at the elementary level is difficult if you are concerned about real education. The amount of instruction time is almost comical, and despite so little time, it is the first place other educators looking to make up for their lost time. There are unreasonable expectations, e.g. after chorus concerts at least half the comments are negative (not loud enough, too many kids looked bored, not enough popular music). One little thing, the custodian trying to fix the heater, a bee flying around the room, or child who's just having a bad day, can derail an entire lesson. One lesson, remember, is all I get in a week. Finally, it's heartbreaking the frequency with which I say NOOOOOO. "Can we stay at recess and work on our recorder?" No...sorry I have another class. "Can we stay a few minutes longer to finish our composition?" No...sorry you need to go to math class. "Can we add different instruments to this?" No sorry...I don't have enough to spread around. "Can I come tomorrow morning?" No...sorry I teach at another school that day.
Despite these challenges (I name only a few), I chose elementary school for two primary reasons: potential and equity.
Potential
There is no greater potential for musical learning than elementary school. Many would argue this is the same for all learning, and probably the most crucial grade of all is kindergarten--Why don't we have our Ph.D.'d educators working in kindergarten? There is this terrible, horrible, no good (get the reference?) misconception that it's easy or not as demanding to teach young children. Or, that it's "cute" to teach young kids (that comment makes my blood boil...sorry!). However, young children (specifically in music before age 9) have the greatest potential for learning and discovery. We need our best educators at this level.
Equity
Deborah Meier offers one of my favorite descriptions of why music (the arts) should be a part of a child's education: "The arts are fundamental to children's education. Art is fundamental to the human being. The primary reason we need arts programs in schools is because humans are artists." Humans are artists...look at the way young children incorporate music into their lives...spontaneous singing, dancing with abandonment at any chance they get. Somehow this is beaten out of them and we perpetuate dangerous and untrue rumors that music is for a "talented few." BTW...I can't stand when people say my son/daughter just....doesn't have it. I believe music is for all and all children have the opportunity to learn music in elementary school. High school programs, although the "glory jobs," typically only serve 10% of the school population. I'm not sure that is equitable music education.
Why general music?
I get "wouldn't you love to teach band?"...or, recently when talking about my teaching, I stated I wasn't all that passionate about teaching chorus. I got a shocked response. "Then what ARE you passionate about?" I said general music. Don't get me wrong--band and chorus are great. Actually, if it weren't for my high school choral experience, I wouldn't be a music teacher today, and--I wouldn't be the person I am today. However, that is MY story...I was a part of the "10%" so to speak...what about the others?
I happen to specialize in music, however, I care about the education of children...education of the whole person. Band and chorus, etc, are specialties that "generally musical" people can choose. They're a means to make music but are in no way the "ends." I don't want to train specialists, I want to help develop a foundation of a truly educated person.
That's why I choose elementarily.
