Obtaining field experience in music education is a very important part of a college student’s growth. Most (if not all) institutions require that students obtain a certain number of hours observing and working with students prior to their student teaching assignments. Historically speaking, this was not always the case, as institutions would not require much of anything beyond completed coursework and only the student teaching experience for a teaching degree. Over time, however, statistics have shown that the more you observe before you start your fulltime internship, the better off you will be.
If you are unsure of where to start looking for a classroom, ask a methods professor if they have any suggestions of who you might observe within the area. Odds are, they will be able to connect you with a fine educator who is accustomed to having college students visit his or her classroom. When contacting this public school educator, be sure to write a formal email stating your intent and who recommended you visit, and be sure to thank him or her for the consideration.
Once you are in a classroom, do not be afraid to ask the instructor if you could work with the class every now and then. Many teachers are happy to let visiting college students try warming up a group, working with a few students on solos, or even just singing along with a specific section. You could also volunteer to help run any concerts they may have while you are there, which would give you the chance to prepare and see how students might work with you in the future.
If your schedule is similar to most music major schedules, you are probably extremely limited in the extra time you have. Gaining additional field experience does not have to take up hours each week! If you can afford two hours on say, a Thursday morning, that is plenty of time to commit to each week. Keep in mind that consistency is an important part of observation as well. If you have the opportunity to observe the same group of students each week, you will be able to see their growth as the year progresses!
If your schedule is so limited that the only free time you have to observe is a Saturday morning or afternoon, you can make that time work for you as well! There are many community rehearsals that are conducted on Saturdays, as well as choral festivals and conventions. If you would like to volunteer or host at a festival, contact the site coordinator prior to the day of the event to offer your assistance. If you would like to host a choir at the fall ACDA State Convention, you can contact me and I will gladly accept your interest. You would be able to watch a snapshot of how a director organizes, focuses, rehearses, and brings their choir to a high level of performance for a big event!
Finally, gaining this extra field experience will provide you with a wonderful addition to your resume, and there are also other ways of receiving credit for your time. Research both your school and other organizations that would offer scholarships for students who get involved and volunteer. What better way to be rewarded for practicing your future profession?
