Blog 20: Exit Interview

1. How can music instruction most influence a child's ability to perform publicly?

Music Instruction can most influence a child's ability to perform by teaching them how to collaborate. Music Instruction can most influence a child's ability to perform publicly by instilling discipline both on and off the stage. By instilling confidence in a child music instruction can most influence their ability to perform publicly. My best answer would have to be, then my best answer is music instruction can most influence a child's ability to perform by teaching them how to collaborate, because in the Chorus Impact Study, Chorus America reported that 71% of parents stated their child who was currently in choir is a strong contributor to group activities.

2. This was my first answer and it was easy to see from the beginning of my mentorship. I got to watch all the kids work together well doing the show and also got to see them in their classes. It was obvious that collaboration was necessary and taught in each class and through music in general.

3. The biggest problem was finding reliable research that supported my answers. A lot of articles could be viewed as biased because of their writer's or the fact that it was opinion and not facts. This just made research harder to find and meant more searching; I used a lot of published writings and studies to come to my answers. They are much harder, and longer, to read and find but gave me important information and reliable information to use for my final answers.

4. Two most significant sources that helped me answer my essential question were my mentor Mr. Billy in our conversations and interviews as well as NurtureShock by Po Bronson. Mr. Billy constantly showed me and helped me come up with answers as well as explain them in a personal context and a teaching aspect through the classes in my mentorship. NurtureShock was one of the first books I read in research checks and it really started my essential question, there were a lot of ways to look at music instruction and different paths I could have chosen but NurtureShock made me want to go toward the psychological and cognitive skills music instruction imparts on a child.