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Institute for Music Leadership

  • About the IML
    • Welcome
    • Contact Us
    • Spotlight
    • History of the IML
  • Arts Leadership Programs
    • About
    • ALP Certificate Program
    • ALP Course Information
    • Eastman Career and Leadership Certificate Online
    • MA in Music Leadership
  • Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation and Research
  • Careers
    • Career Advising
    • Résumé and CV
    • Cover Letters
    • Interview Prep
    • Teaching Philosophies
    • Personal Statements
    • Job Openings
    • Freelance and Media Resources
    • Additional Resources
    • IML Video Interview Space
  • Events
  • Grants
  • Gig Service
  • IML Store

Teaching Philosophies

Many jobs in higher education that involve teaching will require candidates to submit a Statement of Teaching Philosophy or Teaching Statement. This statement gives you a chance to highlight and demonstrate your unique teaching style, goals, priorities, and approach.

Teaching Philosophy

A 1-2 page narrative, an effective teaching philosophy should focus on 1-3 topics or approaches you most highly value which, in turn, guide most aspects of your teaching. Outline your ideas in the introduction and then organize your statement to 3 main paragraphs, each with a clear topic and specific supporting examples .

Questions for Brainstorming:
Here are a list of questions to help you assess your teaching style and focuses. You do not need to answer all of these in a statement, but these can help guide you in understanding your priorities.

    • Why do you teach?
    • What is your role as a teacher?
    • What are the goals of your class?
    • What do you always ensure you cover in a lesson or class?
    • Why do you use the materials that you do?
    • How do you assess your students for progress?
    • What are some of your best teaching experiences and why?
    • By the end of your class or lessons, what do you want your students to walk away with?

Writing Tips:

Writing a solid résumé or CV will take time, but it is a crucial part of the application process. Plan ahead to ensure the best product is produced and remember these tips when preparing your own document:

  • Read Teaching Statements – Find philosophy of teaching statements of successful teachers for ideas. These can often be found on individual websites.
  • Describe Yourself – Talk about things that you actively do while teaching rather than describing an ideal teacher. Represent yourself genuinely.
  • Student-Focused – Focus your statements on student-outcomes, what they will gain from studying with you. If you individualize your lessons, detail how you go about doing so.
  • Limit Your Topics – Highlight a few concepts that guide your teaching style rather than providing a laundry list of musical topics and repertoire you cover.
  • Concise Examples –  Describe specific examples of your approach and demonstrate how it has been effective. Help the reader imagine you in an engaging teaching scenario.
  • Present Tense – Verbs should be in the present tense, showing this is something you still currently  and actively do.

Other Resources

How to Write a Statement of Teaching Philosophy
4 Steps to a Memorable Teaching Philosophy


Meet with an Advisor


Make an appointment with the Eastman Careers Advisor to discuss career topics in further detail.

Going to be on the UR Campus? Visit the Gwen M Greene Career and Internship Center.

Quick Links

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CONTACT US

Institute for Music Leadership
Eastman School of Music
26 Gibbs Street, Box 26
Rochester, NY 14604

585.274.1113
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