Ashley Willits

Inspiring students to be the creators and molders of their work is my core teaching philosophy. While conducting and accompanying choirs, I always encourage students to direct, conduct, sing solos, and accompany on the piano. Rather than hire professionals in the community, putting leadership roles into students’ hands reigns most important. When students take ownership over their work to perform at concerts, an incredible confidence evolves as well as positive self-efficacy. I teach by first demonstrating the technique appropriate for the genre of music, by singing and playing on the piano classical, contemporary, sacred, and secular works. Creating a safe space in the classroom to permit self-expression and ownership of work evolves when I smile, am gentle in my communication and express a sense of humor. The environment is relaxed, yet never intimidating, as inviting and encouraging words are communicated amongst students. All learning modalities are implemented in the classroom kinesthetic, auditory, visual and analytical. In order to discover rhythm, meter, and phrasing students are invited to move through pieces with the goal of feeling the song in their bodies. Through auditory learning, students are listening to me play piano and sing to give proper performance techniques. Students also listen to one another play and sing when encouraged to lead through their voices or various instruments. Visually, students are sight-reading music in various key signatures, time signatures, and rhythms. The ergonomics of the room encourage community connection, to encourage eye contact and active listening to one another for timbre blend. Analytically, students are inspired to close their eyes, and reflect on the music to find personal meaning and connection.