Welcome!
My name is Lindsey Creel and I'm thrilled to be your child's music teacher. The 2017-2018 school year will be my 13th year teaching elementary music, and my second year at CCE. Please email me with any questions. I look forward to building a relationship with your child as we make music together.
My Philosophy for Music Education
1. Music is for everyone! Enjoying music, both listening and performing, is one of life’s greatest gifts. Shows like American Idol, where only a select few get to make music while everyone else is relegated to the audience, are not in line with my philosophy. (Not to say they are not entertaining!) Every person is musical and can learn to be a better singer, instrumentalist, or dancer with a lot of practice and hard work. I think talent is overrated in our culture and hard work is underrated. It’s my job as a teacher to help students persevere in refining their skills: performing, listening and connecting with others.
2. People learn best when they feel emotionally safe. Kids like to feel a sense of belonging with the group, and they want to know the teacher likes them. I spend time in my music classroom getting to know students and communicating that I care about them as people. I am excited for my students’ success!
3. Class moves along at a quick pace. We have many different activities: singing, playing instruments, playing musical games, moving to music, listening for specific elements in recordings, using technology to create and explore music. I make class engaging and challenging, but put the emphasis on having fun. It is called “playing” music, after all! This cuts down on behavior problems. If someone is having a hard time, I don’t give many warnings. I speak with them quietly, and if the problem persists, I ask them to sit out for a few moments. Then, I invite them back once I can see they are ready. Students usually don’t want to miss the fun. I believe you get more of what you pay attention to, so I focus on the positive.
2. People learn best when they feel emotionally safe. Kids like to feel a sense of belonging with the group, and they want to know the teacher likes them. I spend time in my music classroom getting to know students and communicating that I care about them as people. I am excited for my students’ success!
3. Class moves along at a quick pace. We have many different activities: singing, playing instruments, playing musical games, moving to music, listening for specific elements in recordings, using technology to create and explore music. I make class engaging and challenging, but put the emphasis on having fun. It is called “playing” music, after all! This cuts down on behavior problems. If someone is having a hard time, I don’t give many warnings. I speak with them quietly, and if the problem persists, I ask them to sit out for a few moments. Then, I invite them back once I can see they are ready. Students usually don’t want to miss the fun. I believe you get more of what you pay attention to, so I focus on the positive.