By Jason Rausch with Sarah Zbornik As much I want each year to flow easily along, new challenges always present themselves. Last year, with completely new national music standards (Create, Perform, Respond, Connect) in place, I knew I needed to step outside of my comfort zone and embrace change. In the past, I have focused mostly on performing and music literacy standards, fairly standard in most high school music programs. However, knowing that creating is part of what we are tasked to teach, I knew I needed to emphasize an area that I generally leave untapped: Creating. Even though most were uncomfortable at first, it became a bit easier each time. Many times when we tried something new and built onto the scaffold, it stretched me, and I would ask myself, “Why am I doing this?” It put me in a vulnerable place, a place of discomfort. Even on the day of the concert, I said to a colleague, “Why am I doing this? It is much easier to simply get on the risers and sing a traditional concert.” However, when the concert was over, the feedback I received from the students and the community was affirming. The students enjoyed the challenge of composing, the parents were grateful for new learning opportunities for their children, and my administration and music colleagues appreciated the connection to the 2014 music standards. The pre and post survey results confirmed for me the benefits for the students. During the 2017 IMEA (Iowa Music Educator Association) Conference, Sarah and I presented the process we had taken with Creating in the Choral Classroom. Again, I was stepping out of my comfort zone, but I knew that by sharing both the process we took and the insecurity that I experienced, it might encourage others to step outside of their comfort zone. Plus, sharing the information helps us continue to learn and grow; it invites further conversation. Working on this project with my students, and then presenting it to the music world at large, was way out of my comfort zone. I even told the audience this at the concert. Many thanked me for modeling vulnerability and personally challenging myself to do something that stretched me as a teacher. I couldn’t help but think of my mentor, Weston Noble, who preached lifelong learning and vulnerability.
3 Comments
Allysen
1/25/2018 02:35:59 pm
Thanks for sharing Jason and Sarah! It is important for me to be reminded of the benefits that can come from stepping out of my comfort zone. I love that you collected data from the students. Collecting data like that is something I often forget to do; then I don't know if what I did made a difference or not, just if I think it did or not.
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Sarah Zbornik
2/1/2018 09:52:22 am
Thanks, Allysen! With the new music standards, there isn't much data about creativity in the HS Choral Classroom. We felt quite positive about the results.
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2/7/2018 12:40:08 pm
Weston Nobel was right. I'm glad you stepped out of the box to explore new avenues. By doing so, even though uncomfortable, you have presented your students with positive challenges which resulted in positive results and a new norm.
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October 2018
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