Rcoll029
ABOUT ME
HI my name is Ryan Collins. I am currently a rising sophomore, majoring in Music Education at Old Dominion University. I currently play saxophone in the university's Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, Pep Band, and the newly formed Marching Band. I realized that I wanted to be a teacher my junior year in high school. I contribute this to the new band director we got that year. He showed me that what we were doing could be fun and could take you many different places. He opened my eyes to parts of the musical world that i had never been exposed to before. Also in the spring of 2008 I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in The Boy Scouts of America. That also took me many different places. I attended The National Boy Scout Jamboree in 2005 and Double H High Adventure Base in 2007, Where we backpacked over fifty miles over the course of six days. I believe those trips helped me become the person I am today. This summer along with taking ECI 301, I would like to start learning to play the flute and clarinet. I will also be going to Ireland for about a week and a half with my family. Aside from music I like to go Snowboarding and Wake-boarding when ever I can. Also hockey is my favorite sport, Detroit Red Wings all the way. I would love to start playing hockey again.
MY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
I have always liked school, but everyone had that one class that they dreaded going to because the teacher was unbearably boring. The way that each class is run should be different depending on the subject matter. For instance a history class will not be taught the same way that I will teach a band class. In a band class the assignments will be more hands on versus a lecture setting. I think that the class should move along so that the students do not become bored with the material. An example of how I would do this is by not spending a great amount of time "practicing" parts for students, but rehearsing the whole ensemble.
As far as students that are classified as special needs I do not plan to treat them any different than the rest of the class. Just because they have this disability does not mean that they should be treated any differently. There are many different people that have been successful in the music field that have been physically and mentally disabled. As far as parent involvement I have seen firsthand that without help from the parents of students in the band program, it is almost impossible to run. I know that I will try to keep my rehearsals busy to keep the students interested. I will also try to program music that will not only broaden their musical horizons but challenge their skills.
THE FUTURE
After I finish my course work here at Old Dominion University I have been thinking of a few things that I would like to do. I would like to conduct my own band program either at the middle or high school level. Depending on the job market after I graduate, if I can't find a job I would like to continue my studies at The University of Michigan. I would either like to major in Saxophone Performance or Graduate conducting. Hopefully I would be able to get a graduate assistantship. In the mean time I could always substitute teach, which would get me more in class experience. But who knows what the future will have in store for me.
File:The Gang in New Mexico.JPG 
The Picture on the left is in New Mexico during our hike. The Picture in the middle is of me before a concert in Myrtle Beach, SC. The right picture is me wake-boarding in the summer of 2008. The Bottom Picture is of my dad and I at my Eagle Scout Court of Honor.