Interview with Audrey Murphy, January 31, 2014

Partial Transcript: I’d like to start off by asking you: when and why did you become a music teacher?

Segment Synopsis: Murphy talks about changing her plan for attending law school to choosing music education as her career. She describes the mix of emotions during her first day as a 21-year-old music teacher. She talks about the extra duties required of a teacher that she did not anticipate as a student. She describes how she would have benefited from having more patience during her first year.

Keywords: Charlotte, North Carolina; Fulton County, Georgia; GMEA; Hopewell Middle School; Law Enforcement Explorers; band director; clarinet; conference; handbook; law school; music education; red tape; rural; teacher evaluation

Partial Transcript: And what can you tell me about the quality of your teacher training?

Segment Synopsis: Murphy describes the major differences of approach she experienced during her music teacher education. She talks about how her love of teaching outweighs the negative aspects outside the classroom. She talks about the lack of support that causes teachers to leave the profession.

Keywords: BM; Bachelor of Music; Blue Cross Blue Shield; East Carolina University; GMEA; Midwest Clinic; administration; bassoon methods; brass methods; independent study; music education; step and lane; step increase; student teaching; teacher salaries

Partial Transcript: Tell me about a time when music teaching made you feel proud.

Segment Synopsis: Murphy talks about the pride she felt at leading her students to earn all superior ratings at “Festival.” She talks about her appreciation for middle schoolers’ humor. She talks about maintaining a strict teaching style while expressing a more relaxed demeanor outside of the classroom.

Keywords: GMEA; classroom management; strict; superior ratings; “Festival”

Partial Transcript: Tell me about the best teacher you’ve ever had, music or otherwise

Segment Synopsis: Murphy talks about her middle school band director’s hands-off approach to letting her learn a difficult Mozart piece on her own. She talks about motivating her youngest students by encouraging them through the early stages of learning their instruments.

Keywords: Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; Mozart clarinet concerto in A major, K. 622; band director; clarinet; clarinet barrel; clarinet bell; clarinet headjoint; extrinsic motivation; intrinsic motivation; middle school; music education; music theory; piano

Partial Transcript: You do a lot for your students. What do you need most for your own professional growth?

Segment Synopsis: Murphy talks about attending conferences and workshops to further her professional development. She talks about mentoring one of her former student teachers after they became a full-time teacher. She describes a student who inspired her through their perseverance and strength during a family tragedy.

Keywords: conferences; networking; professional development; student teaching; workshops