Standard 7: The teacher of PK-12 music demonstrates professional responsibility and reflective

practice.

Professional skills are arguably the most important skills that an effective teacher possesses.
Pedagogical, creative, and assessment skills are also vital to the classroom, but a teacher’s
ability to display professional qualities helps their students develop the same qualities, which
will in turn help them throughout their lives and musical journeys.

Throughout my time at K-State, I have had many opportunities both inside and outside of the
classroom to develop my professional skills. I took many education-based classes where teacher
professionalism was emphasized before all other skills. I also had to act in the role of teacher
when I took choral conducting, where responsibilities included planning lessons, controlling
student absences, and working with my co-teachers. The majority of my professionalism,
however, came from when I was a member of my sorority and I held several non-executive
positions. I coordinated many events and held a great deal of responsibility to my fellow
members. Being a leader to people who were both younger and older than me helped me
develop decision-making skills and learn how to develop relationships where I would be looked
up to and respected. All of these unique experiences helped me develop responsibility and
reflective practices in my leadership and behavior when working with others.

One concept I have learned since beginning my collegiate career is that teachers and humans in
general must be lifelong learners. We will never reach a point in our lives when learning can
come to an end. Especially as a teacher, learning new information and constantly reflecting on
yourself and your practice is extremely important for your students to be successful. I must
constantly question myself on what I do well and what I need to improve upon. Creating high
expectations for myself will set an example to my students that they need to have high
expectations for themselves as well.

In my classroom, I will strive to promote professional responsibility and reflective practice

equally so that I can give my students the most well-rounded experience possible. I aim to
support my students so that they will go into the world with musical knowledge and be able to
make musical decisions and judgment calls as well as knowing how they can fit music into their
everyday lives.