~ Professional Development Plan ~

I have spent a considerable amount of time envisioning my future as a music educator as thoughts of where I will find work have preoccupied my mind this past year. For the near future, I am planning on moving near my parents in Leesburg, Virginia to find temporary summer employment and either a substitute or full-time teaching job for the coming year. Though nothing is absolutely certain when making plans in professional development, it is still important to research and aim for goals in order to provide a framework for self improvement. Learning does not end with a diploma; rather, as future educators it is through life-long learning that we may truly master the art of teaching.

Scholarly:

While in Virginia this summer, I would like to take summer courses towards attaining a coaching endorsement in Tennis. There are several local community colleges near my location including Northern Virginia Community College, which has several campuses around northern Virginia, providing numerous locations where I can take summer classes depending on which is closest to my future residence. I would like to add this coaching endorsement as Tennis has been a lifelong passion of mine as I played the sport throughout high school and I would like to work with future students to encourage them to develop this mentally and physically challenging sport.

I would love to work towards and attain a graduate degree in music education within the next five years and throughout my personal search as well as numerous discussions with nearly all the music faculty at Cornell, I have determined that the Northwestern University School of Music would be a nice fit for my professional development needs. Located in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern offers a Masters in Music Education program which can be attained over a four-summer period if I have a full-time teaching position, or a two-year period as a full time student. For the four-summer program, students take three core courses taught by the “front-rank faculty” in addition to participating in private lessons and full ensembles on campus and in the greater Chicago area. For full-time students, graduate assistantships are also available.

I share much of the same philosophy of Northwestern’s Master of Music Education (MME) program, which includes emphasis on the process and various paradigms found in research, the use of technology to foster the musical experience in the classroom, and the development of curriculum in music education. Courses in conducting, music theory, and music history are emphasized, however, the programs provides flexibility for the student to chose which course they feel are more important to take for personal benefit. Students are required to participate in ensembles and lessons while also demonstrating their abilities to teach as well. The conclusion of the program includes oral examinations and the presentation of portfolios created in these three emphasized areas. In addition to this program, there is also an adapted MME program which also includes piano pedagogy, which I would love to undertake as I have played piano and taught lessons for the majority of my life. This adapted program includes piano performance and lesson requirements in addition to the normal course load.

Finally, I would like to become a member of the National Association for Music Education (MENC), which hosts numerous training conferences throughout the year in numerous locations across the country. In addition, this organization publishes the Music Educator’s Journal, providing scholarly research and pedagogical advice for music educators. Similarly, I would like to be associated with the National Association of Teachers of Singing, which provides similar opportunities and also publishes a journal entitled The NATS Journal of Singing.

Personal:

Spending nearly my entire life overseas as a “military brat,” I have developed a true passion for travel. Though I will most likely be situated in Virginia, I do not feel “tied-down” nor obligated to remain there. I have enjoyed living in Iowa as I’ve come to like its community and people. As I wouldn’t mind living in Iowa for several years, I have always dreamed or working for the Department of Defense School System (DoDDS), as this familiar school system which I grew up in provides teachers with the opportunity to travel and teach at schools on military bases around the world. I would love to return to England, my most recent home, to appreciate that which I had not fully appreciated or visited in the past including: Stonehenge, Warwick Castle, the Eden Project in Cornwall, and the historic Roman city of Bath. If at all financially or feasibly possible, I would also love to spend some time in Korea, learning how to speak Korean at a language institute in Seoul while also learning more about the culture and country in which I was born and share a part of my heritage. Finally, in the midst of my hopeful travels, I would love to read cultural texts from around the world as well as continued reading of cultural and geographical magazines such as National Geographic, which relates to my strong interest in travel.

Fine Arts:

As a musician and future music educator, I am fortunate to already have connections and an understanding of many cultural and artistic events which occur in music. I would love spend time to further develop my understanding of the Jazz, the globally unique and inventive music genre of the United States. Numerous Jazz festivals, such as the oldest in the country, the Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, California, provide wonderful opportunities in which musicians nationwide and internationally come to perform various forms of Jazz while audiences listen and often learn from exhibits about Jazz history. Often these festivals also include opportunities to taste the foods from the hotspots in Jazz, such as New Orleans Cajun cuisine.

Another fascinating festival I’ve attended in the past and would love to revisit is the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Festival, which takes place annually in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. This four-day event, usually taking place at the beginning of May, hosts hundreds of cultural, ethnic, and national exhibits from around the world. Visitors are issued a pseudo-passport which they can have stamped as they travel “around the world” of displays. This festival also includes a shopping area with international products and a unique dining hall with food vendors selling cooked and prepared foods from around the world.

Civic Responsibilities and Opportunities:

Though I have no desire at this point in my life to run for public office, I still feel it is my responsibility and obligation as a citizen to vote in local and national elections. Wherever I do settle, I would like to be involved in school and community organizations where I can provide input and participate in a process where community and school goals are met. There are numerous ways to become involved in the community and as I familiarize myself with community expectations, I would love to become an even more active participant in the community.

In addition to community organizations, I would like to volunteer with the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of America, which is in many towns and cities across the nation. I used to attend a similar youth club in my past I found that this organization provides a well-rounded system where children have a safe environment to participate in social and constructive activities. In a high paced society where more children receive little or no adult care or supervision, this organization provides excellent opportunities for children to develop a sense of belonging and usefulness in a productive environment.

Other:

A final passion of mine is playing Tennis. Though I would love to have coaching endorsement to share this passion, I will always have a desire to personally play this sport. After playing tennis throughout high school, I feel that I have learned a sport which can be played life-long and provides a healthy social activity to enjoy. I have played with others during my time at Cornell and hope to join a local tennis club where I may stay physically active and happily connected with others in the community where I find myself.

With all goals, some are met with full force while others simply provide a target which helps focus lifelong efforts in a general direction. I hope that I will continue to add and/or adapt these goals for my future as goals often change. With a framework of professional development, I hope to develop a well-rounded career and countless unforgettable memories