To Your Heart’s Content(s)

Heart-work Heart of Gold

I. Inclusivity as an Act from the Heart 08

II. Heart for the Community 11

The (he)Art of Listening

I. Cultivating an Ear for Students 16

II. Hear the Music 19 Heartstrings

I. Interactions Between Art Forms 24

II. International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) 26

III. (he)Art-based Reflections on the Heart of Music Education 27

06 14 22 28 29

Dr Kelly Tang Master Teacher, Music

Ong Shi Ching Melissa Academy

Officer, Music

Leong Su Juen Academy Officer, Music

At the heart of every classroom lies the significant influence of a teacher. The familiar saying, “we teach who we are,” emphasises the deeply personal and interconnected nature of education. The teacher’s beliefs, values, and character inevitably shape students’ learning experiences, as they bring their unique perspectives and passions into the classroom. The dynamic interactions between students and teachers form the bedrock of effective education. When these connections are strong, students not only learn, but are also inspired to engage deeply in the subject.

By listening to the teacher within, teachers draw inspiration from their own journeys to inspire and guide generations of learners. This not only enriches the teaching experience, but also empowers teachers to ignite a passion for learning within their students, fostering a transformative and enduring impact on the future of education.

In this issue, we celebrate the heart of music education. Teaching music is a work of heart; it is hard work, and it is heart-work. Though we recognise that we may not be able to make a difference for all students, we cannot underestimate the profound impact we can make on any individual. As music educators, we are driven by our heart for our students, our heart for music, our heart for the community, and our heart for teaching.

In the first section of this issue, Heart of Gold, we discuss how we as music educators are driven by our heart for others. It is this heart for others that drives our desires to facilitate inclusivity, and to create opportunities for students to be engaged with the community.

The second section, (he)ART of Listening, considers how our heart for others often compels us to listen to them with care and compassion. Listening is a crucially important skill for music educators. The articles in this section discuss how the ways we listen manifest in the twin aspects of our teacher-musician identity; listening as educators, and as musicians.

Finally, Heartstrings recognises that we are all connected. Heart strings actually refer to the chordae tendineae, which are fibrous tissues that connect the heart’s valves to the muscles. In many ways, music educators help students make connections; between musical genres, subject disciplines, and between what they learn in their classrooms and in real life. Their efficacy in doing so is largely contingent on their connections with students.

Ultimately, our heart for education binds us together as one music teaching fraternity.

Many thanks to the teachers who have kindly agreed to contribute to this issue:

Chua Huay Wen, Boon Lay Garden Primary School

Gooi Tah Choe, Eunoia Junior College

Loh Shao Wei, Yew Tee Primary School

Lee Ji Heng, Eunoia Junior College

Loi Cheng Li Irene, St. Andrew’s Secondary School

Low Sok Hui, Eunoia Junior College

Muhammad Dzuhri Bin Jumahat, Bukit View Primary School

Muhammad Nur Azman Shah, New Town Secondary School

Ong Ting Kai, Pasir Ris Secondary School

Pavethren s/o Kanagarethinan, Assumption English School

Rachel Tham Chin Xin, Boon Lay Garden Primary School

Rebecca Ng, Orchid Park Secondary School

Sandy Soh, Telok Kurau Primary School

Seah Cheng Tat, Temasek Junior College

Tan Gek Hiang, Springdale Primary School

As the ABBA song goes, ‘Thank you for the music’; STAR extends our heartfelt gratitude to all music educators for the heart-work that you do each and every day, and for all the joy you bring to your students.

We wish you an enjoyable read and hope that the upcoming semester is filled with many heartwarming experiences!

Lee Ley Har

Deputy Director, Music

Singapore Teachers’ Academy for the aRts