I am More Than A Music Teacher. 

For some time throughout my career, I felt the need to shout that phrase from the rooftops to truly advocate for all I was doing in the music classroom. During my first couple of years of teaching, my identity centered around being a “great” music teacher. I would get to school early every day to prepare lessons and would usually stay late directing rehearsals and inevitably waiting for the last parent to pick up their child. I loved every second of those days. Some of my fondest memories of teaching music didn’t happen on a performance stage but in my classroom. Students and I were on a magical journey of musical discovery through each lesson, song, and story shared each day. Teaching music allowed me to foster a community amongst my students. Through these experiences, I learned that I was teaching more than music. 

You might be asking, but why do you say you are More Than A Music Teacher? I often hear music teachers say, “being a music teacher is enough. I don’t want to be more than that.” I totally understand that perspective and the need and desire to pour everything you have into your job, but that is not my story. I once was in a post assessment teacher evaluation meeting with an administrator who offered this advice, “Franklin, come into the school, teach your lesson, and GO HOME. You are putting too much thought into teaching music to these students. Your class is a fun class. You’re just a music teacher.”

At the moment, I didn’t quite know how to respond to that advice. I felt insulted, but as a young music teacher, I nodded and said, “ok.” But, as their words stayed with me, I knew I had to speak up. A few days later, I made a post on my Facebook page inspired by the Lebron James More Than An Athlete movement that spoke to my philosophy of being more than just a music teacher. I wore several hats, and music teacher was just one title of who I was. 

Teacher Inspiration

Some of my favorite teachers were much more than “just” teachers. I remember my first grade teacher, Ms. Sherril, who had such a special way of making me feel like the most incredible person in the world. With her presence and charisma, Ms. Sherril could have easily been on Broadway. Storytime with Ms. Sherril was transportive as she brought stories and characters to life. But instead of just using her presence on the stage, she also invested her skills in the classroom. Ms. Sherril was more than a first grade teacher. 

A few years later, I met Ms. Shipp as a fourth grader. Ms. Shipp was new to education and was the first Black teacher I had in my educational career. She brought “the look” into the classroom and helped me focus and get serious about learning. In the Black community, “the look” is nonverbal communication from older Black women to Black children that essentially means, “get yourself together and do it quickly.”  I was familiar with “the look” from my Mom and other women in my family, but this was the first time I received it in an educational setting. Ms. Shipp had already won my respect because she was a great teacher, but with “the look,” she earned my trust. With her command of the classroom and great management skills, she could have been the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. But she chose to bring those skills to the classroom. Ms. Shipp was more than a fourth grade teacher. 

I would also have several more teachers who impacted me as a student. My time in high school was filled with teachers Ms. Williams, Mr. Griffin, Mr. Crenshaw, and my choir teacher Mr. Graham who inspired me through their teaching and the way they lived. However, Dr. Roland M. Carter at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga was pivotal in displaying that it was possible to be excellent in several capacities. Dr. Carter was a masterful teacher, pianist, choral director, composer, father, mentor, community choir founder, speaker, and so much more. As a student in his class, I was mesmerized by his confidence and zeal for owning every space he entered. More importantly, I learned through Dr. Carter’s example that I could be an excellent music teacher and anything else I wanted to be. Dr. Carter was more than a music teacher. 

Spreading the Message

A few years ago, I knew I needed to send this message into the world in a greater way. Educators must be celebrated for who they are and what they do in and out of the classroom. And, as a children’s book author, I knew what my next project would be…More Than A Music Teacher.  This heartfelt book is dedicated to Dr. Roland M. Carter, whose impact on my life forever changed my perspective. I CAN be a father, speaker, entrepreneur, singer, and so much more. I am not “just a music teacher,” and the work I do both in and out of the classroom has essential value. 

The More Than A Music Teacher Book is for students, teachers, parents, and administrators. In essence, it is for everyone! Each person has been touched by a teacher at some point.  Each character in the book is based on a music teacher I know who embodies this message. But, I could have written stories of many more teachers who have been a part of my life and career. If you’re reading this post right now and you’re a music teacher, you are more than a music teacher. And your story is essential to how you teach and what students experience in your classroom. 

Cultivating the #MTAMT Community

To celebrate this work and the More Than A Music Teacher movement, we want to celebrate you! Who are you? What makes you #morethanamusicteacher ? Over the next few months, we’ll highlight teachers from our community on the F-flat blog. If you’d like to share your story, head to this link and complete a quick survey. 

If you want to know more about Dr. Carter, and his impact on music education, check out this article and this one as well.