The idea of writing a philosophy may sound disgusting. Seriously, could something be more academic? However, putting guiding principles into writing adds transparency and accountability to why you do what you do. Be it your approach to teaching, business, performing, or overall living, taking a moment to stream thoughts into words, words into organization, and organization into a declaration can be an enlightening exercise. Here are a few points to consider:
1. The philosophy is subject to change... never written in blood
2. Whether or not to share with others is a personal choice
3. The writing doesn't have to read like an 18th century philosopher's oration
Take a moment to consider where you are, what you do, how you do it, and why.
Here's a brief example of the "philosophy" for my percussion studio. In this case, the audience is the student, the setting is Adams State College, and yes, it's subject to change.
My educational philosophy can be summarized by the following statement:
‘When the phone rings, you will be prepared to say yes to whatever the gig may be.’
A corollary to the above statement is:
‘You will always be called back because of your musicianship, preparation, flexibility, communication skills, and collegiality.’
Achieving the technical facility to express oneself artistically is the goal of every lesson, coaching, and rehearsal. Additionally, many musicians, regardless of degree program, teach in some capacity. For this reason, it's important for all students to learn “how” and “why” technique and artistic expression is developed. The ability to articulate these skills through verbal explanation and modeling is of the utmost importance and beneficial to all percussion students.
Achieving success lies in the collaboration between student and professor.
In fact, this blog entry has inspired reevaluation... What are your thoughts? What would you change? What's your philosophy?
Please visit my website at www.jameswdoyle.com
