President's Podium

Rebecca Brashier

Greetings to members and supporters of European Music Educators Association!
Recently, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) released standards for certification of music teachers. Standard VIII, Reflection, Professional Growth, and Professional Contribution warrants mention as EMEA strives to provide outstanding professional development opportunities for European music educators.

The NBPTS Overview states that "Accomplished music teachers reflect on their teaching, students' performances, and developments in their field to extend their knowledge, steadily improve their teaching and refine their philosophy of music education; they contribute to the growth of their colleagues, their schools and their field."

Summary of NBPTS Standard VIII:
Accomplished music teachers . . .

• are knowledgeable about technological advancements in their field
• explore topics in which they might have limited expertise
• are willing to experiment with new pedagogical approaches to strengthen their teaching
• maintain an understanding of current research, trends, and information through such activities as reading professional journals, participating in professional organizations, attending conferences, taking graduate courses and observing master teachers
• understand the major controversies in their field and can articulate their opinions
• have cogent reasons for what they do that can be explained clearly to students, parents [and] administrators.
• know how and when to question convention, tradition, and innovation in the search for strategies that will help all children succeed
• challenge ideas, requirements, curricular assumptions and other factors that can limit teaching effectiveness, school quality, and student progress
• view themselves as members of a larger learning community with responsibilities that extend beyond the classroom
• present at professional conferences
• write articles for journals, newspapers, or professional publications
• serve as conductors for festivals
• prepare performance groups for presentation at conventions, sharing their program's successes with others to benefit the profession as a whole.

Whatever their role, accomplished teachers continually seek to advance the profession in ways that will enhance student learning, effect positive change, and maintain the integrity of the discipline. You, the members of EMEA, are clearly meeting or exceeding this standard. Your sacrifices of time and money to make presentations and attend European, Division and National Conferences show your commitment to lifelong learning and the advancement of the profession. Bravo!!