Teaching Philosophy:
The classroom is a place in which an assemblage of knowledge, texts, and experiences should be shared, destabilized, and explored by teachers and students as co-learners, who endeavor to uncover a surplus of knowledge that is greater than the sum of the individual parts. It is a place where appropriate and equitable access points give all people opportunities to learn, and where teachers center and support student needs and experiences.
In music teacher education, we must focus our efforts on producing qualified teachers who prioritize community and cultural goals alongside their musical and professional goals. Teachers who guide students to become musicians, rather than study music from a distance. Teachers whose instructional design is informed by the development of strong relationships with students in their classrooms and is in turn responsive to their students’ intersectional identities.
Biography:
Jamie Gunther is the Assistant Director of Music Education at Longy School of Music of Bard College, where he directs the Master of Music in Music Education In-Person program. Jamie coordinates music teacher licensure, and teaches courses and seminars in music education, runs Longy’s Teaching Assistant program, and directs the Side-by-Side Orchestra. Jamie began his career teaching K-12 general music, 4-12 band, digital music, and drumline in New York City and Boston schools. He has recently presented at the Society for Music Teacher Education, College Music Society, NAfME national and state conferences, and has published in several state journals. Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from The Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree in music performance from Central Michigan University, and a master’s degree and doctorate in music education from Teachers College, Columbia University. His research focuses on music teacher education, student teaching, and cooperating music teachers.