Influential Teacher Project (Interview)
For our influential teacher project, I chose to interview my elementary school music teacher, Jodi Bourcier. She has always been someone that I looked up to and strived to emulate. I personally found this interview to be very interesting because I was able to learn more about her and about why she chose the career that she did. The first question that I asked was why she teaches. I wanted to ask this question because one of the main reasons that I want to be a music educator was because I was inspired by Jodi. I was quite shocked to find out that for a long time, she believed that teaching was not going to be her career and instead was interested in becoming a pediatric surgeon. She said that after always coming back to do volunteer work in the school system that she realized teaching was what she was meant to do. Jodi said that one of the reasons that she teaches is because she loves having the opportunity to inspire and motivate children, and to show them that they are capable of far more than they expect of themselves. I really enjoyed that she said this because that is what she did with me. She inspired me and really brought out my love of music; she showed me that if I put in the work and effort that I can do anything I put my mind to. She also mentioned that extracurriculars are a really big part of her life. Growing up, it was easy to notice how hard she worked in terms of extracurriculars. She ran the jazz band, rock band, choir, and she put on a musical every year. As difficult as that is, Jodi says that “even after a long or rough day, I still leave every drama club or band rehearsal with more energy than I started. These activities also let kids shine even if they struggle with academics. It’s amazing to watch the transformation in them over the years – having an area to excel helps build their confidence in all other areas.” The second question that I asked was “What do you feel is holding you back in terms of curriculum, if anything, and what would you change if you could?”. I wanted to ask this because I was fortunate enough to do a cooperative education placement with Jodi in my old elementary school when I was in my final year of highschool and I noticed that some things were increasingly difficult because of time challenges. Jodi told me that the curriculum itself wasn’t an issue but that the time allotted to teach the curriculum was. In the elementary school that she works in, she is not specifically a music teacher, but an arts teacher. So, she has to teach music, dance, drama, and visual arts in fifty minutes once a week. That in itself is a challenge but being an elementary school there is always assemblies and different activities that go on in that setting. So I can definitely see why that may be challenging. Jodi mentions that if she could add anything she would make more time for arts education and would add more mental health services for the children and their families. I think that both of those additions would be extremely beneficial in school settings. In terms of adding more time for arts education, I think that the arts/music rooms are the places where children get to go and express themself so adding more time for that would be extremely beneficial. In terms of more mental health services, I think this would be extremely beneficial because in today’s society there is a stigma surrounding mental health that should be changed. Mental health is important and is something that needs to be talked about so that people can have a better understanding about it. Adding more services in school settings would allow both the children and the family members to feel as if the are being heard and can have somewhere to go if need be. For the final question I chose to ask Jodi “ why do you think I chose to interview you?”. She said “I think you probably chose to interview me because you were part of so many of the activities in our school. I tried to push you through the years where everything was too hard and then keep you motivated through the years where you never had to practice because everything was too easy. You were one of the students who made an impact on me as a teacher, and I hope I was part of what inspired you to become a teacher.” I really liked this response because she was exactly right; I chose to interview her because she inspired me to go on and teach music. She is a major role model in my life and someone that I am still close to, to this day. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for her and I hope that when I finally become a music educator that I can inspire children the way that she inspired me.
- Olivia Houle
Student Interviews
For my student interviews I chose to interview 4 students that are close to me. Their names are Avery, Michael, Emma, and Victoria. Each of them has had prior musical experience but chose not to pursue music as a career. Avery, Emma, Victoria and I all attended the same elementary school and high school. When asked why they chose to not pursue music as a career, each of them said that they felt more passionate about what they are currently in now. This made perfect sense to me because I chose to go into music because I was extremely passionate about it and could see myself doing it forever.
Avery, chose to go into esthetics. She has always been passionate about makeup, and just beauty in general. At first, Avery thought about possibly going into fashion design because she loved drawing/designing new outfits. When I asked Avery why she decided to not pursue music she said that although she loved music and participated in band throughout high school, that she felt herself more drawn towards art and the beauty that she could create with a pencil or makeup brush. When I asked her if there was anything that she would change about music classes she gave a similar answer to Victoria. She said she would prefer to learn more modern music because that is the type of music that she listened to outside of class. She also mentioned that for her, music has always influenced how she felt. That if she was upset or angry she could get lost in music and get back into a better mood. She also mentioned that music means memories for her. That many songs have memories behind them and that thinking about music makes her think about our past times in jazz band together.
Michael chose to go into a computer program in his post secondary education. He said that ever since he was little he has always been interested in computers and that his dad is also in that field. Michael felt that it would be a good fit for him and that he would be able to make enough money to provide for a family one day which is extremely important to him. Michael mentioned that he loves playing guitar but that he felt that the music industry is very difficult to get into and that you would have to know the right people. When I asked Michael if there was anything that he would change about music classes he said that there was nothing that he would change because he loved his music classes but felt that it would be more of a hobby for him instead of a job.
Victoria, chose to pursue english. For a while, Victoria struggled to decide what she wanted to do as a career. In the last couple of years of highschool she realized that she was meant to go into English. She said that writing was always her expressive outlet. I can relate to that because for me, music was always what I turned to when I needed a break from my everyday life. When asked what teacher was the most influential in her decision to pursue english, Victoria said that it was her high school English teacher Ms. Stringer. Having had Ms. Stringer as a teacher, I can definitely understand why she was so influential on Victoria. When I asked Victoria if she would like to change anything about music programs in schools she said the she would prefer being taught how to play more modern music as well as the western canon music. She said that although she did not pursue music, that it will always be a huge part of her life and that she hopes to continue to play the trumpet.
Emma chose to go into social work. Emma is my sister and ever since we were little we have both been involved in choirs and bands all the way from elementary school to high school. I was honestly quite surprised that she didn’t also go into a music program in post-secondary. When I asked Emma why she chose to not pursue music as a career she said although she loves music she wanted to go into a career that was based around helping people/children. She felt that social work was the perfect career for her because it allows her to help families and just enhance social functioning and well-being. When I asked her if there was a teacher/person that was influential in her deciding to go into social work she said that both our mother, and her english teacher Mrs. Schouten both helped her make the decision. When I asked Emma how music played a role in her life she said that music is her life and that if she didn’t have it that she wouldn’t be her. She felt very strongly that music was a way for her to express herself. She said “Music is art and it is meant to make people feel things”. I really liked that because music always makes me happy. Whether I myself am playing or I am just watching a performance I am always in awe of how talented people can be.
After completing the interview process it was interesting to see that they all had similar answers. Passion was a big part of all of their decisions in going into their respective fields. It was interesting for me to interview them because since I had such an amazing experience with music in elementary school and high school it was fascinating to see how the experience was for them. I enjoyed hearing that although none of them decided to pursue music that they all planned on continuing to play music or be involved in music some way in their lives. Music is something that stays with you forever and they all expressed that to me.
Avery, chose to go into esthetics. She has always been passionate about makeup, and just beauty in general. At first, Avery thought about possibly going into fashion design because she loved drawing/designing new outfits. When I asked Avery why she decided to not pursue music she said that although she loved music and participated in band throughout high school, that she felt herself more drawn towards art and the beauty that she could create with a pencil or makeup brush. When I asked her if there was anything that she would change about music classes she gave a similar answer to Victoria. She said she would prefer to learn more modern music because that is the type of music that she listened to outside of class. She also mentioned that for her, music has always influenced how she felt. That if she was upset or angry she could get lost in music and get back into a better mood. She also mentioned that music means memories for her. That many songs have memories behind them and that thinking about music makes her think about our past times in jazz band together.
Michael chose to go into a computer program in his post secondary education. He said that ever since he was little he has always been interested in computers and that his dad is also in that field. Michael felt that it would be a good fit for him and that he would be able to make enough money to provide for a family one day which is extremely important to him. Michael mentioned that he loves playing guitar but that he felt that the music industry is very difficult to get into and that you would have to know the right people. When I asked Michael if there was anything that he would change about music classes he said that there was nothing that he would change because he loved his music classes but felt that it would be more of a hobby for him instead of a job.
Victoria, chose to pursue english. For a while, Victoria struggled to decide what she wanted to do as a career. In the last couple of years of highschool she realized that she was meant to go into English. She said that writing was always her expressive outlet. I can relate to that because for me, music was always what I turned to when I needed a break from my everyday life. When asked what teacher was the most influential in her decision to pursue english, Victoria said that it was her high school English teacher Ms. Stringer. Having had Ms. Stringer as a teacher, I can definitely understand why she was so influential on Victoria. When I asked Victoria if she would like to change anything about music programs in schools she said the she would prefer being taught how to play more modern music as well as the western canon music. She said that although she did not pursue music, that it will always be a huge part of her life and that she hopes to continue to play the trumpet.
Emma chose to go into social work. Emma is my sister and ever since we were little we have both been involved in choirs and bands all the way from elementary school to high school. I was honestly quite surprised that she didn’t also go into a music program in post-secondary. When I asked Emma why she chose to not pursue music as a career she said although she loves music she wanted to go into a career that was based around helping people/children. She felt that social work was the perfect career for her because it allows her to help families and just enhance social functioning and well-being. When I asked her if there was a teacher/person that was influential in her deciding to go into social work she said that both our mother, and her english teacher Mrs. Schouten both helped her make the decision. When I asked Emma how music played a role in her life she said that music is her life and that if she didn’t have it that she wouldn’t be her. She felt very strongly that music was a way for her to express herself. She said “Music is art and it is meant to make people feel things”. I really liked that because music always makes me happy. Whether I myself am playing or I am just watching a performance I am always in awe of how talented people can be.
After completing the interview process it was interesting to see that they all had similar answers. Passion was a big part of all of their decisions in going into their respective fields. It was interesting for me to interview them because since I had such an amazing experience with music in elementary school and high school it was fascinating to see how the experience was for them. I enjoyed hearing that although none of them decided to pursue music that they all planned on continuing to play music or be involved in music some way in their lives. Music is something that stays with you forever and they all expressed that to me.
- Olivia Houle