BHS Conducting Warmups

All my time observing my father play bluegrass, in addition to my single year learning to play the violin in 5th grade, did little to help prepare me leading warmups for the Bozeman High School Orchestra. I was determined the enter the class in a timely fashion after my less than punctual arrival at my previous observation. My teaching designation -- folk songs -- was to be completed last in the arrangement of my fellow students. I sat quietly in the back, observing the teachers before me, and making every attempt possible to calm my nerves and secure my resolve to teach with the utmost confidence. When my turn finally arose, I had psyched myself up enough to at least pretend to be confident. It has been my experience with teaching that if you appear confident, even if you are not, then your students will respect and pay attention to you more. This was the philosophy I took on when moving to the front of the classroom. I spoke with a clear voice, and used my formulated plan for leading this particular warmup: designate student soloists in descending order on three separate pieces, from 4 to 2. When I was done I felt invigorated, and was deeply excited by the experience. I felt confident. Despite my apprehension prior to starting a lesson or otherwise preparing to teach, once I stand in front of the classroom I feel the most confident I have ever felt in the entirety of my life. This is how I know I am meant to be a teacher. I feel most like myself -- like who I want to be -- when I am teaching, and, to be completely self-promoting, I'm good at it. The small teaching episodes I have had so far, in addition to the lessons I have taught for Arts without Boundaries and my church's Sunday School have proven very successful, and have boosted my confidence in my teaching skills. It makes me look forward immensely to the day I graduate and find a job teaching music.