Inspiring Teacher - Interview Transcript
For my assignment, I interviewed my favourite high school teacher, Jeff Newberry. He was one of my music teachers throughout all of high school. I knew I liked his teaching style right away, because he engaged with his students from the moment he met us. He was the first teacher in grade nine to earn my name, and that really stood out to me. As high school went on, I got to work with him more, and he was the one teacher that I felt very comfortable working with. In grade eleven, he asked me if I would like to volunteer in his grade nine vocal class. I ended up taking a spare, and spending that period volunteering in his class. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had. This is when I realized I had a strong interest in teaching. Jeff helped me find a program that I was interested in (Music Education), and from that moment on, he helped me prepare for my auditions. In grade twelve, I took another spare and helped with another one of his classes. Not only was I gaining experience, but this class was my happy place in that stressful year. So, when I heard about this project, I knew who I wanted to interview right away.
The first thing I asked Jeff was to tell me about his musical journey. He told me that his first musical experience was when he was in grade five. He told me that he dreamed of being in the senior band, but he was too young. He spent his lunchtimes sitting outside of the band room with his ear pressed up against the door until he was noticed by the teacher. When she noticed him, she let him come in and play the drums. When he was in grade seven, he had his first lead in a musical. In high school, he had a very inspiring music teacher from grade nine to twelve. At this point, Jeff was playing drums, and singing. He attended music camp every summer as a percussionist, but through choir, he found that his true passion was singing. Jeff’s high school music teacher was extremely dedicated, and did wonderful things for him. When Jeff was in grade ten, his teacher donated a piano to him so that he could excel in piano as well. Jeff taught himself how to play the piano. Jeff ended up going to U of T for music. After University, he was a private vocal teacher among other things. When his friend asked him to help at a high school for a musical production, Jeff said yes. This was his first time working with kids in a musical setting. By the end of this process, Jeff knew that he wanted to be a teacher. He continued to help at a performing arts high school, then went to teacher’s college. After working with high school students, Jeff noticed how alive, creative and inspiring teenagers are, and he knew that this was the age group that he wanted to teach. Jeff’s first job at a school was Bloor Collegiate in Toronto. During this time, him and his students put on the first production of a musical at that school in a very long time. He told me how amazing it was to watch these students grow as musicians, and experience this musical community for the first time. But, since he was a new teacher, he lost his job at that school after his first year. He then got hired at Wexford Collegiate, which is the performing arts high school that I attended.
I then asked Jeff if he thinks we would have pursued music if it weren’t for his inspiring music teacher, and he said no. This teacher gave him so many opportunities and so much knowledge that helped him grow as a musician, and without this teacher he would not be the musician that he is today.
I also asked Jeff if he came from a musical family. He told me how he came from a family where music constantly played in the household. He told me about how his mother’s taste in music influenced him, and how his father’s interest and knowledge in music did as well. He told me how he would come home from school every day and annoy his sisters with his loud drum playing, piano playing and singing. His family loved music, but Jeff had a passion for music.
I asked Jeff if he has ever worked with someone who has a very different teaching style than him, and how he feels about that. He mentioned again how one specific teaching style won’t always work for everyone, and that is the beauty in having a team of teachers. There are many different personalities in a classroom, and having multiple teachers with different teaching styles can be beneficial because it gives students a better chance of having a teacher they connect with and feel more comfortable with.
When I asked Jeff how to create an environment where every student feels comfortable. He explained the importance in putting time and energy into getting to know your students and trying to figure out what works best for them. He told me that it takes time, but it gets easy with more experience. He emphasized the fact that there is no reason to try and follow a strict curriculum, because not everything works with different classes. It is important to hear feedback from your students in order to know how it is truly affecting them.
The last question that I asked Jeff was if he wanted to ask me anything. He asked me what I enjoy about Music Education. I told him that I enjoy learning about how different personalities and perspectives have different opinions about mindful teaching. I told him how I have learned a lot about myself as a student, and how it has helped me form the identity that I want to have as a teacher someday. Although, what I enjoy most about Music Education was the experience I had as a leader in his classrooms. Nothing feels better than being in a room full of students who want to learn, and who have a passion for music.
The first thing I asked Jeff was to tell me about his musical journey. He told me that his first musical experience was when he was in grade five. He told me that he dreamed of being in the senior band, but he was too young. He spent his lunchtimes sitting outside of the band room with his ear pressed up against the door until he was noticed by the teacher. When she noticed him, she let him come in and play the drums. When he was in grade seven, he had his first lead in a musical. In high school, he had a very inspiring music teacher from grade nine to twelve. At this point, Jeff was playing drums, and singing. He attended music camp every summer as a percussionist, but through choir, he found that his true passion was singing. Jeff’s high school music teacher was extremely dedicated, and did wonderful things for him. When Jeff was in grade ten, his teacher donated a piano to him so that he could excel in piano as well. Jeff taught himself how to play the piano. Jeff ended up going to U of T for music. After University, he was a private vocal teacher among other things. When his friend asked him to help at a high school for a musical production, Jeff said yes. This was his first time working with kids in a musical setting. By the end of this process, Jeff knew that he wanted to be a teacher. He continued to help at a performing arts high school, then went to teacher’s college. After working with high school students, Jeff noticed how alive, creative and inspiring teenagers are, and he knew that this was the age group that he wanted to teach. Jeff’s first job at a school was Bloor Collegiate in Toronto. During this time, him and his students put on the first production of a musical at that school in a very long time. He told me how amazing it was to watch these students grow as musicians, and experience this musical community for the first time. But, since he was a new teacher, he lost his job at that school after his first year. He then got hired at Wexford Collegiate, which is the performing arts high school that I attended.
I then asked Jeff if he thinks we would have pursued music if it weren’t for his inspiring music teacher, and he said no. This teacher gave him so many opportunities and so much knowledge that helped him grow as a musician, and without this teacher he would not be the musician that he is today.
I also asked Jeff if he came from a musical family. He told me how he came from a family where music constantly played in the household. He told me about how his mother’s taste in music influenced him, and how his father’s interest and knowledge in music did as well. He told me how he would come home from school every day and annoy his sisters with his loud drum playing, piano playing and singing. His family loved music, but Jeff had a passion for music.
I asked Jeff if he has ever worked with someone who has a very different teaching style than him, and how he feels about that. He mentioned again how one specific teaching style won’t always work for everyone, and that is the beauty in having a team of teachers. There are many different personalities in a classroom, and having multiple teachers with different teaching styles can be beneficial because it gives students a better chance of having a teacher they connect with and feel more comfortable with.
When I asked Jeff how to create an environment where every student feels comfortable. He explained the importance in putting time and energy into getting to know your students and trying to figure out what works best for them. He told me that it takes time, but it gets easy with more experience. He emphasized the fact that there is no reason to try and follow a strict curriculum, because not everything works with different classes. It is important to hear feedback from your students in order to know how it is truly affecting them.
The last question that I asked Jeff was if he wanted to ask me anything. He asked me what I enjoy about Music Education. I told him that I enjoy learning about how different personalities and perspectives have different opinions about mindful teaching. I told him how I have learned a lot about myself as a student, and how it has helped me form the identity that I want to have as a teacher someday. Although, what I enjoy most about Music Education was the experience I had as a leader in his classrooms. Nothing feels better than being in a room full of students who want to learn, and who have a passion for music.
Ashley's Musical Journey
Hi Ashley,
It was wonderful learning about your musical journey and experiences from your “Who Am I” video! I really appreciated your humour; it made the video even more enjoyable! I have a few questions to ask you regarding your video:
1. Do you remember the moment that you decided to pursue music? If so, please tell me about it.
2. Do you remember the moment that you decided that you wanted to become a teacher? If so, please tell me about it.
3. What is your favourite musical memory from your childhood?
4. Is there anyone or anything that inspired you to begin your musical journey?
I look forward to your responses!
Katie Mukhtarian
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hey Katie,
Thanks for your questions and the positive feedback on my video! I'm glad you liked it.
1. I first got the idea to pursue music when I was in grade 10 - that's when I became really involved in my music department and all the things it had to offer. I joined the flute choir which helped boost my confidence in my playing and gave me independence as a musician. I started putting a lot more time into practicing and ameliorating myself. The better I got, the more I liked music, and the more I liked it, the more I practiced and so on and so forth. It's hard to pinpoint an exact moment but it was at some point in that year.
2. Similarly to my first answer, it's hard to pinpoint an exact moment but it was sometime in my grade 11 year. I initially had the idea of teaching in grade 10, so I decided to apply to be a teaching assistant for the following year. I got the position and loved the experience - I feel like I'm in my element in front of the classroom. I looked forward to it every day and took up the same position the following year. I miss it every day!
3. My favourite musical memory would have to be one of my music department's annual trips - I had the opportunity to go to NYC, Austria and Germany, and Boston. Austria and Germany was probably my favourite because it's so rich in musical culture and we were learning all about the classical composers from that time; it was really cool to see what we were learning in real life.
4. I also had the most incredible music teachers in high school. They taught with such conviction and made all the difference in my high school experience. They're like my best friends and I don't know where I'd be without them.
Thanks again!
Ashley England
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi Ashley,
Thank you for your honest responses! I find it very interesting that we seem to have a lot in common (having inspiring teachers as well as assisting music classes). These experiences are what brought us to the same place! The trips that you went on with your music department sound like lots of fun! What an amazing experience it must have been to learn about music in different cultures.
Katie Mukhtarian
It was wonderful learning about your musical journey and experiences from your “Who Am I” video! I really appreciated your humour; it made the video even more enjoyable! I have a few questions to ask you regarding your video:
1. Do you remember the moment that you decided to pursue music? If so, please tell me about it.
2. Do you remember the moment that you decided that you wanted to become a teacher? If so, please tell me about it.
3. What is your favourite musical memory from your childhood?
4. Is there anyone or anything that inspired you to begin your musical journey?
I look forward to your responses!
Katie Mukhtarian
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hey Katie,
Thanks for your questions and the positive feedback on my video! I'm glad you liked it.
1. I first got the idea to pursue music when I was in grade 10 - that's when I became really involved in my music department and all the things it had to offer. I joined the flute choir which helped boost my confidence in my playing and gave me independence as a musician. I started putting a lot more time into practicing and ameliorating myself. The better I got, the more I liked music, and the more I liked it, the more I practiced and so on and so forth. It's hard to pinpoint an exact moment but it was at some point in that year.
2. Similarly to my first answer, it's hard to pinpoint an exact moment but it was sometime in my grade 11 year. I initially had the idea of teaching in grade 10, so I decided to apply to be a teaching assistant for the following year. I got the position and loved the experience - I feel like I'm in my element in front of the classroom. I looked forward to it every day and took up the same position the following year. I miss it every day!
3. My favourite musical memory would have to be one of my music department's annual trips - I had the opportunity to go to NYC, Austria and Germany, and Boston. Austria and Germany was probably my favourite because it's so rich in musical culture and we were learning all about the classical composers from that time; it was really cool to see what we were learning in real life.
4. I also had the most incredible music teachers in high school. They taught with such conviction and made all the difference in my high school experience. They're like my best friends and I don't know where I'd be without them.
Thanks again!
Ashley England
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi Ashley,
Thank you for your honest responses! I find it very interesting that we seem to have a lot in common (having inspiring teachers as well as assisting music classes). These experiences are what brought us to the same place! The trips that you went on with your music department sound like lots of fun! What an amazing experience it must have been to learn about music in different cultures.
Katie Mukhtarian
Marija's Musical Journey
Hi Marija,
Your video was very enjoyable. It amazes me how long you have been passionate about music. I have a few questions for you regarding your musical journey and experiences:
1. How did participating in piano competitions from a young age affect you as a musician and as a person?
2. What impacted your decision to pursue music?
3. Has there ever been a time when you wanted to quit piano?
4. What quality do you think makes you a strong musician?
I can’t wait to read your responses!
Katie Mukhtarian
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi Katie,
Thank you so much for your lovely and thoughtful questions!
1. I believe that participating in piano competitions from a young age affected me positively both as a musician and as a person. Although, some may believe that such events create a competitive mindset, I was always reminded by my parents that I should just go on stage, have fun, and play to the best of my ability. Of course, not walking away with a first place trophy sometimes knocked my spirits down, but I learned an important life lesson from participating in these competitions. I learned that it’s not always about being the best, that it’s okay to make mistakes, and that the most important thing is to always try your best. I believe that the competitions were beneficial to me as a musician because I got a lot of performing experience. Nonetheless, I am still shy and get quite nervous before performing. However, I think that the competitions only served as a benefit because if I had not participated in such events, I believe that my performance anxiety would be much worse. With time, the competitions helped me break out of my shell. Looking back, maybe if I hadn’t stopped participating in these events, my performance anxiety might have decreased even more. With that said, I’m glad and grateful to have many performance opportunities here at the Don Wright Faculty of Music.
2. I feel as though I could write an entire essay answering this question, but for the sake of the email, I’ll try to keep it somewhat brief. My musical educators and my family were prominent in my decision to pursue music. An educator that greatly impacted my decision was my piano teacher back in Toronto, Ontario. She is such a kind hearted lady who I had a genuine connection with from the moment I started studying with her. She always had a smile on her face, was always encouraging, and never let me settle for anything less than my best. I appreciate her immensely, not only as an educator, but as a person as well. Aside from the musical studies, she always made me feel comfortable. We talked about many other things besides music. She always created a positive environment for me. This is the type of educator that I aspire to be one day; someone who makes an effort to create a bond between their students. I feel as though when a student forms a connection with their teacher, they are more eager to study and learn the material that is asked of them. I believe that it makes the entire learning process a more enjoyable experience, for both the educator and the student. My family had and still has a great impact on my decision to pursue music. I wasn’t forced to play the piano, instead, I was encouraged. Growing up, and still to this day, my dad always tells me that he wishes he got the opportunity to study music. Every night, he comes home and plays the accordion. Times were tough back then, so he didn’t get to pursue his dream, and I am so thankful to be able to do so. Me being able to follow my dreams and pursue a career in which I know I will wake up joyful every morning is extremely exciting. I’m grateful that my parents never forced me to pursue anything I wasn’t passionate about. With my passion for music, my encouraging educators, and my supportive family, I am living my dream of studying music.
3. Yes. There have been many times where I thought I wanted to quit piano. However, personally, I learned that you think you know what you really want until it happens, and then when it happens, you’ve realized you’ve made a mistake. As a child, getting prepared for competitions and/or exams was never too exciting. I would constantly be jealous of my siblings because they got to go outside and play, and I knew that I had to stay inside and practice. These kind of events made me quite upset and, many times, made me reconsider whether or not I want to play piano. However, looking back, this taught me an important life lesson. It taught me that you may not always get your way, and that sometimes you have to work hard in order to get the results that you want in the end. Furthermore, growing up, I’ve had some unfortunate events occur that also made me rethink studying music. Life took some bad turns for me, and I felt as though I couldn’t continue playing piano. Nonetheless, deep down inside, I knew that my passion for music was still there, and I knew that I could not give up. I am glad that I never gave up, because now I am here at the Don Wright Faculty of Music making my dreams a reality.
4. I believe that the passion I acquire for my music is a quality that makes me a strong musician. I don’t necessarily believe that a strong musician has to be ‘the best of the best’. I think that along with my passion, my hard work and determination to succeed make me a strong musician. In my opinion, if you believe in yourself and in your abilities, you can achieve anything and everything you wish to achieve. I do not think that I would be studying music in university had it not been for all of my hard work and determination. I had a goal in mind, and I did whatever needed to be done in order to achieve it. I believe that this kind of mentality does not solely apply to music, but everything in life. You should always set goals for yourself, because this way, you may discover new abilities that you may not have known that you had.
I hope my answers gave you further insight as to who I am musically!
Thanks again for your questions,
Marija Ristic
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi Marija,
Thank you for your insightful responses! It is great to know that all your hard work throughout your childhood has paid off, and that it got you here today. It is also great to know that you had a lot of musical support from your family and from your teacher. Hopefully you and I can become the type of teachers who make such a wonderful impact on their students.
Katie Mukhtarian
Your video was very enjoyable. It amazes me how long you have been passionate about music. I have a few questions for you regarding your musical journey and experiences:
1. How did participating in piano competitions from a young age affect you as a musician and as a person?
2. What impacted your decision to pursue music?
3. Has there ever been a time when you wanted to quit piano?
4. What quality do you think makes you a strong musician?
I can’t wait to read your responses!
Katie Mukhtarian
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi Katie,
Thank you so much for your lovely and thoughtful questions!
1. I believe that participating in piano competitions from a young age affected me positively both as a musician and as a person. Although, some may believe that such events create a competitive mindset, I was always reminded by my parents that I should just go on stage, have fun, and play to the best of my ability. Of course, not walking away with a first place trophy sometimes knocked my spirits down, but I learned an important life lesson from participating in these competitions. I learned that it’s not always about being the best, that it’s okay to make mistakes, and that the most important thing is to always try your best. I believe that the competitions were beneficial to me as a musician because I got a lot of performing experience. Nonetheless, I am still shy and get quite nervous before performing. However, I think that the competitions only served as a benefit because if I had not participated in such events, I believe that my performance anxiety would be much worse. With time, the competitions helped me break out of my shell. Looking back, maybe if I hadn’t stopped participating in these events, my performance anxiety might have decreased even more. With that said, I’m glad and grateful to have many performance opportunities here at the Don Wright Faculty of Music.
2. I feel as though I could write an entire essay answering this question, but for the sake of the email, I’ll try to keep it somewhat brief. My musical educators and my family were prominent in my decision to pursue music. An educator that greatly impacted my decision was my piano teacher back in Toronto, Ontario. She is such a kind hearted lady who I had a genuine connection with from the moment I started studying with her. She always had a smile on her face, was always encouraging, and never let me settle for anything less than my best. I appreciate her immensely, not only as an educator, but as a person as well. Aside from the musical studies, she always made me feel comfortable. We talked about many other things besides music. She always created a positive environment for me. This is the type of educator that I aspire to be one day; someone who makes an effort to create a bond between their students. I feel as though when a student forms a connection with their teacher, they are more eager to study and learn the material that is asked of them. I believe that it makes the entire learning process a more enjoyable experience, for both the educator and the student. My family had and still has a great impact on my decision to pursue music. I wasn’t forced to play the piano, instead, I was encouraged. Growing up, and still to this day, my dad always tells me that he wishes he got the opportunity to study music. Every night, he comes home and plays the accordion. Times were tough back then, so he didn’t get to pursue his dream, and I am so thankful to be able to do so. Me being able to follow my dreams and pursue a career in which I know I will wake up joyful every morning is extremely exciting. I’m grateful that my parents never forced me to pursue anything I wasn’t passionate about. With my passion for music, my encouraging educators, and my supportive family, I am living my dream of studying music.
3. Yes. There have been many times where I thought I wanted to quit piano. However, personally, I learned that you think you know what you really want until it happens, and then when it happens, you’ve realized you’ve made a mistake. As a child, getting prepared for competitions and/or exams was never too exciting. I would constantly be jealous of my siblings because they got to go outside and play, and I knew that I had to stay inside and practice. These kind of events made me quite upset and, many times, made me reconsider whether or not I want to play piano. However, looking back, this taught me an important life lesson. It taught me that you may not always get your way, and that sometimes you have to work hard in order to get the results that you want in the end. Furthermore, growing up, I’ve had some unfortunate events occur that also made me rethink studying music. Life took some bad turns for me, and I felt as though I couldn’t continue playing piano. Nonetheless, deep down inside, I knew that my passion for music was still there, and I knew that I could not give up. I am glad that I never gave up, because now I am here at the Don Wright Faculty of Music making my dreams a reality.
4. I believe that the passion I acquire for my music is a quality that makes me a strong musician. I don’t necessarily believe that a strong musician has to be ‘the best of the best’. I think that along with my passion, my hard work and determination to succeed make me a strong musician. In my opinion, if you believe in yourself and in your abilities, you can achieve anything and everything you wish to achieve. I do not think that I would be studying music in university had it not been for all of my hard work and determination. I had a goal in mind, and I did whatever needed to be done in order to achieve it. I believe that this kind of mentality does not solely apply to music, but everything in life. You should always set goals for yourself, because this way, you may discover new abilities that you may not have known that you had.
I hope my answers gave you further insight as to who I am musically!
Thanks again for your questions,
Marija Ristic
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi Marija,
Thank you for your insightful responses! It is great to know that all your hard work throughout your childhood has paid off, and that it got you here today. It is also great to know that you had a lot of musical support from your family and from your teacher. Hopefully you and I can become the type of teachers who make such a wonderful impact on their students.
Katie Mukhtarian