MTL Alumni

“Eastman provides the most incredible ecosystem for us to grow as musicians, teachers, and humans. The hard work, discipline, time management, and interpersonal skills that I developed in school have contributed to who I am today and led me to many of the unique opportunities I’ve experienced in my career since graduation. When I decided to apply to the music education degree program in my sophomore year, I had no idea that the faculty, staff, and students in the Department of Music Teaching and Learning would become such a wonderful and supportive family. 

Not only did the MTL curriculum teach us how to be better musicians and teachers of all ages/abilities, but it provided the landscape for us to understand people in a deeper way. The music education degree was not just a piece of paper for a backup plan, it was what unlocked the importance of human connection and empathy, communication and listening, and respecting others’ perspectives, all under the umbrella of learning how to be the best music teacher and performer that one can be.”

“What I really valued about my time at Eastman was working towards and being encouraged to reach high standards, both as a musician and as an educator. I was expected to deeply consider WHY and HOW a teacher does anything in the classroom—the music we choose and how we evaluate students, realizing that we send messages in any pedagogical choice we make. The music-making and high expectations I encountered in voice lessons and conducting classes, and the opportunity to be with other musicians who were incredibly serious about their art, all strengthened my teaching.”   

“Eastman quickly became a home away from home for me. The close relationships formed in the double bass studio felt more like a family than a competitive incubator. I am grateful for my professor’s patience and diligent teaching style, which helped me grow and flourish as a musician. Receiving a Music Education Degree from Eastman has opened many doors in the education field over the years, and I am proud to be an alum.”

“The best decisions I made while at Eastman involved versatility. I sang in the choir, played celeste in the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra and played in Jazz Ensembles and small groups. I also accompanied for lots of different teaching studios, learning lots of great repertoire and being exposed to lots of different pedagogical styles. I am grateful that this department encouraged me to take advantage of so many opportunities!”

“I’ve reflected often about my Eastman experiences, which provided a powerful continuation of studies that I had completed previously. The value of the Eastman doctoral program was attributable not just to the expertise but also to the caring nature of its music education faculty. Those are precisely the qualities that music education programs must model and elicit, so their graduates are inspired to carry those qualities into the classrooms they subsequently lead.”