Miss Veronica Trist's

Teaching Philosophy

I strive to be the teacher that every student wants to be around. The place where they feel safe and have the opportunity to be themselves. Every student has a teacher whom they will go to when they have extra time in class or after school. I want to be that person for my students. Within class time, I have a balanced amount of fun and productivity. Students learn better when they are in a stress-free and relaxed environment, while still having clear expectations of learning and improving their skills. I want to be a no-nonsense teacher without being uptight and negative. There is a time for work and a time to laugh and that is the balance I want to strike within myself and within my future classroom. Something I hold in high regard is not allowing the stress of perfection to cloud my judgment. My ultimate goal is student success, but that does not always mean my students sing the highest level of music at competitions. It includes making sure my students are actually learning how to apply the content within the music and making sure they are enjoying themselves while making music. It should not be just about the scores, but rather about pushing my students to accomplish the amazing things they are capable of in a supportive learning environment.

Fostering Positive Student-Teacher Relationships

Without the students there is no point in teaching, so it is of the utmost importance to have a positive relationship with them. We all go through struggles in life and it is imperative that students know they have someone in their corner. This is accomplished by going out of the way to check on students in every class. It is difficult for some students to reach out on their own, so giving them an easy means of communication is essential. Genuinely asking how they are doing and showing interest in them outside of choral music could make a student's day and make them realize and feel how important they are. In addition to this, simply learning students' names correctly and immediately can go a long way. No one wants to have a close and respectful relationship with someone who cannot remember their name. Another way to build this positive relationship is to provide the opportunity for additional help and support outside of class time. Everyone learns at their own pace and it is important to take one on one time with certain students to talk or to go over class material. While meeting with students inside and outside of class time, as the teacher it is crucial to remember that the students are still your students and not your friends. Maintaining a healthy line between student and teacher ensures everyone’s safety. Music should be fun and should build relationships not only between the teacher and students but between the students themselves. One huge perk of the music department is the opportunity to go on trips! Trips give students experience outside of the classroom and strengthen relationships among everyone. One of the biggest jobs of a music educator is to show students the opportunities music can provide them and create future musicians.

Impacting the Community

In order for a music program to succeed, it needs support and the community surrounding it is the best place to build this support. As a music educator, it is important to take any opportunity to perform for the community. Whether it be nursing homes, caroling in stores, or local parades, the community seeing the students perform is crucial. A great way to get the community involved is by inviting younger grades to participate with the older choirs and giving them the opportunity to see the options they have. Anytime there is a concert, advertising it to the community helps bring in people who could have valuable resources to give. The community will support the music programs more if they see the talent that is happening within the programs. Within the community, it is necessary to advocate for your students. Some communities do not have an extensive history of communicating with the arts programs so it is important to keep the student's best interests in mind and always advocate for them.

Creating A Positive Learning Environment

To create a positive learning environment, every aspect of my classroom will be built off of the students. My lessons, although focused on important and beneficial content, will take into consideration student interest. When the content is varied and includes the opinions of the students, they are more likely to learn. Allowing student leadership and collaboration is another key factor in creating a positive environment. Giving the students the ability to take over some control of the class, gives them the motivation to work harder, and gives them the opportunity for peer feedback, resulting in growth. It is also important to embrace their talents outside of music and bring creativity into the classroom. Music is not everyone’s favorite subject and in order to make sure everyone is benefiting from the class, it is important to keep the students' other interests in mind. Another crucial part of the classroom is establishing routines while not allowing them to become monotonous. There needs to be a balance of routine and variety. On top of that, giving both positive and negative feedback in constructive, positive ways allows room for growth within the musicians. While giving feedback, it is important to be prepared for every lesson with an end goal in mind and a sequence of how to get there. It is very difficult to give constructive and helpful feedback if the end goal is not known.