FACULTY PROFILE
Philip Montgomery: Instilling a Passion for Music “Music is for everyone” was the guiding principle of composer and music education pioneer Zoltán Kodály—and it’s also what drives longtime music teacher and department chair Philip Montgomery. Now entering his eighteenth year at Fay, Philip has overseen the development of the music program at Fay and has embraced the challenges and joys that come with creating a cohesive and engaging music curriculum for Pre-Kindergarten through ninth grade. Philip completed his undergraduate degree in music at the University of Vermont and later went on to earn two master’s degrees—one in organ performance at The Boston Conservatory and another in music education at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is also a certified instructor in the Orff-Schulwerk and Kodály methods of music education. Philip has “done it all” at Fay, including teaching music at every grade level and directing the vocal and bell choirs. Currently, he spends the bulk of his time in the Primary and Lower Schools, teaching general music and building the program for Fay’s new Pre-K and kindergarten classes. Fay’s music program is based on the Kodály Method, which focuses on giving children opportunities to experience sound and rhythm through folk music and the masterworks. Through listening, singing, and movement, children develop an understanding of the building blocks of music. “It’s all about discovery,” explains Philip. “This makes it a perfect fit for the inquiry-based curriculum in the Primary School, and ties in with our core value of Wellness of Mind, Body, and Spirit.”
By the time students complete Fay’s general music program in fifth grade, they are ready for Upper School, where they have the opportunity to participate in a range of performance groups, including band, string ensemble, choir, and bell choir. “We prepare them to make their own choices,” says Philip, “so they have the skills to pursue their own musical interests.” Students in Fay’s music program learn to read and write music, develop an understanding of the role of music in world history and culture, and participate in choral singing. But, Philip notes, the benefits of music education go far beyond the discipline of music itself. Students learn how to listen, how to ask good questions, how to work with others to achieve a goal. Most importantly, says Philip, “We’re educating the emotional intelligence of our students, introducing them to the emotional response to the stimuli that the arts can provide.” What keeps Philip at Fay after so many years? Certainly the excitement of working with young people and introducing them to the joys of music. For Philip, also, the challenge lies in the continuing growth and evolution of the program. “My goal is to become a master teacher and create a model program here,” he says. “It’s like mountain climbing—there’s always a new peak to scale.”
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