At a music education symposium last week, I was asked a question that really gave me pause. Actually, it stopped me dead in my tracks. Ready? Here it is: “Dr. Boonshaft, if you could change one thing about yourself as a teacher, what would it be?” See why I was floored? So, I responded with a cute, “Oh my, there are so many things, do you have a few hours!” I thought that would get me off the hook. It didn’t. The person came right back with, “give me the one thing.” So I did. But far more important than my answer, is your answer. So, I ask you, “If you could change one thing about yourself as a teacher, what would it be?” Then we have to answer the follow-up question: “what’s stopping us?”
Peter Loel Boonshaft, Director of Education
KHS America
About the Author
Dr. Boonshaft is the author of the critically acclaimed best-selling books Teaching Music with Passion, Teaching Music with Purpose, and Teaching Music with Promise. Dr. Boonshaft is currently on the faculty of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, where he is Professor of Music and Director of Bands. He has also been named Director of Education for KHS America. He was honored by the National Association for Music Education and Music For All as the first recipient of the “George M. Parks Award for Leadership in Music Education.”
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