"My ultimate goal for my students is to foster the ability and desire to continue learning about music and music education beyond their time with me.  While I strive to provide my students with the abilities and opportunities to express themselves musically in my ensembles and classes, my greater wish is that I provide them with the skills, knowledge, and dispositions they need to continue making music after they graduate.  Similarly, I hope to encourage the development of numerous soft skills key to life-long learning, namely courage, discipline, and humility.  Most importantly, I practice what I preach, as I continually reexamine and reflect upon my own teaching practices, making constant adaptations in the best interest of my students. "

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Matthew Erpelding

Statement of Music Education Philosophy