HHTV 8: Culmination of My Efforts

Why Helping Hands Through Violin?

Music is one of the few areas of study that is still taught in the traditional master and apprentice style. Across the state many high schools and middle schools offer wonderful opportunities for students to perform in small and large ensembles. Through private instruction, students are offered a different, more individualized type of instruction that can greatly improve individual performing, which in turn creates a greater sense of confidence in the individual and a more satisfying musical experience.

Through violin, and music as a whole, comes expression of the most personal sentiments by affecting deep within oneself in a way that nothing else can.

When learning music, a child also learns valuable skills such as communication, expression, physical coordination, critical thinking, memorization, organization, concept association, and language development. To continue this vital part of life, it is necessary that musicians pass along their knowledge and understanding of music to others. Creating and sustaining a positive studio is an important factor in supporting oneself as a musician, as well as fostering a community of music lovers.

What Does HHTV Mean?

Helping Hands through Violin is a private violin studio that rewards volunteer work and musical experiences as well as a group violin class for children ages 4 to 6.

The 8 Week Project Timeline:

Denouement

By the end of this project I had a lot of materials for my personal studio, more connections in the Tucson area, and a summer program created and scheduled. I developed

• Flyer for private lessons

• Flyer for group class,

• Policies for converting volunteer and other musical activities into rewards for private students

• Reflection sheets for each point-earning activity

• Contact list of local orchestra directors

• Syllabus for the group class

• Lesson plan format for the group class

I have also gained one private student through my work with Tucson High School. Below is the video interview I filmed with him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XobG0EnYbBg

(Alfredo Aguilar, a 15 year old student at Tucson Magnet High School discusses what music and playing violin has done for his life.)

From Student Caterpillar to Professional Butterfly

If I had doubts about being a music teacher or putting on a professional face before, then this project was what took the doubts away. I found the biggest obstacle in my project was gaining students and publicizing myself effectively. While I expanded my contacts immensely and can reach out to many of the local orchestra directors, building a studio takes time. I sent emails and flyers, and even worked with one school regularly but if I want more students I’ll have to keep being persistent and showing my face around town to potential students.When graduating we are left with the content knowledge we learned, the experiences of using it, and a reputation in the area we graduated from. This project has enhanced all three areas, but mostly my reputation and professional persona. I feel a lot more immersed in Tucson’s music programs having spoken with the directors of the Tucson Repertory Orchestra and the Tucson Junior Strings, almost every high school orchestra director as well as a teacher I’d like to student teach for.

(Leading orchestra warm-ups at Tucson Magnet High School)

Changing My Music Education Philosophy

I developed a lot of materials for this project while I was waiting for actual students to teach. I learned how to send professional letters as well as write policies that hopefully include all important information presented in a professional, agreeable, understanding, and signature-needing manner. Through figuring out how I’d like to reward my students, I refined my personal music education philosophy to favor more expansive and inclusive music education practices such as watching live music or sharing music with those in need.

For the Future

By developing the group violin class I get skills in starting my own business, teaching children, will potentially get private students from this, and get to manage my own classroom by myself. This is definitely a unique experience that will make me stand out when interviewing for a job, providing me with extra experience, examples of independence and personal responsibility, as well as personal development as a teacher.

"The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.” -Thomas A. Edison