ABSTRACT
Many music teachers are drawn to a life of teaching because they have a genuine love of music, a deep concern for others, and a strong desire to “pass along” the joy of music to others. This chapter discusses the process of constructing a personal view of teaching and learning. A personal orientation to music teaching and learning looks at all participants in the educational process from a dynamic perspective. Thinking about learning tells us much about teaching and how our own beliefs may be guiding our thoughts about teaching. Beginning with where an individual is in terms of their experiences and interests is a time-honored and effective way to plan a powerful music learning experience. Teacher educator and researcher James Raths has suggested that pursuit to distinguish competent teachers from incompetent ones is a “noble enterprise”. The teaching profession has a long history of trying to articulate what good teaching is and to distinguish excellent teachers from incompetent ones.
