Hands On Mask Up
Experiential Learning Within UTSA Music
E
xperiential learning, as defined by Wikipedia, is the process of learning through experience while also reflecting on the actions involving your learning. The five bright students featured in this article are not only pursuing a degree in their desired concentration, they also are getting hands-on experience working at their craft. They are experiential learners in their respective fields. This article explores the struggles and successes they each experience as a UTSA student who is earning an undergraduate degree (now virtually), while simultaneously broadening their education through opportunities that will prepare them for a rewarding future. Each individual also has a unique tie to UTSA Music, whether it be through the UTSA Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band, a student assistantship, or by simply being an exceptional music major.
Raymond Sifuentes Senior Music Education Major (Student Teacher)
I am connected to UTSA Music through my major, which I began in the Fall of 2017, and I am also heavily involved with the Department’s Greek organizations. The most prevalent example of my own personal experiential learning has been through the teaching opportunities I have been presented with this semester. I work with both middle and high school bands, teaching sectionals and private lessons. The “experiential” portion of this comes from my adjusting to delivering online instruction. It has truly been a case of trial and error: this works, this doesn’t work, and so on. As educators, we have to be versatile in our teaching approaches, and I can certainly say that my ability to adjust has been greatly stretched. While it was necessary to find practical and appropriate ways to teach virtually, I found it more challenging to incorporate fun and excitement into my lessons. In the
beginning, we had to try one method for a rehearsal, and if it didn’t work or if I felt that there was room for more effectiveness, I would change the format and try again the next day. Through experiential learning, we were able to find our “niche” within every group of students I work with. Getting placed in the educator role has given me a new level of understanding of what my own professors have had to go through. Not being able to meet for in-person instruction is frustrating, but we must be adaptable during these times. Although it took me a bit to adjust, I can confidently say that my work ethic has improved throughout this whole experience. Self-discipline and responsibility have been the two main things keeping me going, and I feel as though my level of patience and understanding is through the roof by this point! Teaching through this pandemic will only make me a better educator in the future. My flexibility in the classroom has been tested, and I now realize that there are many different ways that you can teach one topic. I plan on incorporating a multitude of teaching strategies in my future classrooms so that I can deliver information in the most effective ways possible. I’ve learned that it is okay to feel failure now and then, just as long as you are able to pick yourself back up and grow from it the following day.
Kae Roemershauser Senior Politics and Law Major (Spirit of San Antonio Trumpet Student Staff)
This season marks my 4th consecutive season with SOSA and my third year being on trumpet music staff. I have also been in The University Band, in fanfare trumpets for commencement, and in the spring pep band for 3 years. When I applied to be on student staff, I was not confident that I could teach music to a 40+ trumpet
