Philosophy of Music Education
Marlene Claire Rua
Music is an expression of the heart. Music touches the Heart.
Music is a part of everyone.
The creation and sharing of music are uniquely human activities that bring many of us great
joy. Throughout the world, music is the universal language through which we express that which
cannot be communicated adequately in any other way. Music addresses the whole person,
eliciting responses and presenting challenges which are at once emotional, physical, intellectual,
creative, and spiritual. Music is all around us, enhancing just about every aspect of culture. Great
music endures in value and appeal over centuries, adds a meaningful dimension to our lives, and is
among the highest achievements of humanity.
Music is an expression of the heart. Music touches the heart. Music is a part of everyone.
I believe that everyone should have opportunities to explore and develop their potential
in music, just as they do in academics and athletics. Learning to sing or play an instrument is
exciting, rewarding, and fun. It is also highly challenging, requiring a complex interplay of
intellectual, aural, kinesthetic, and creative skills. Individual music instruction that is sensitive to a
student’s developmental level and personality nurtures the student, provides rewarding
opportunities for self-expression, contributes to the formation of a personal identity, promotes
healthy self-esteem, and enhances all areas of learning.
All of us blossom and thrive when our efforts are praised in an atmosphere of warmth and
encouragement. We achieve the best results when we set realistic and flexible goals and proceed
with patience and a sense of adventure and fun. Each sequential activity prepares, motivates, and
challenges the student to progress to a more complex level of musical understanding, achievement,
and creativity. The student thus experiences musical and artistic growth, personal fulfillment, joy,
fun, and meaning in the learning/creative process. With continued study, students’ innate love and
enthusiasm for music grows. Students feel proud of their efforts and achievements and become
confident and independent musicians who look forward to sharing their musical gifts with others.
I am fortunate to live a life immersed in music. I have sung and played the piano for as far
back as I can remember. My maternal grandfather, composer John F. Carabella, Sr., was the
founder and first conductor of the Albany Symphony Orchestra. My uncle, John Carabella, played
the French horn in the New York Philharmonic for over twenty-five years. Along with my family, I
happily attended concerts, plays, musicals, operas, and the ballet frequently and from an early age. I
eagerly participated in the arts programs offered by my schools. These experiences were profoundly
enriching, enjoyable, and vital to my personal development. As an adult, I teach and perform music
and enjoy a rich and rewarding musical life. Yet music is not only for musicians. Music has value
for every person at every stage of life, and for society as a whole. I am passionately committed to
developing in my students the knowledge and skills they need to enjoy a lifetime of meaningful,
joyful, confident, and rewarding music making.
