Would You Rather? National Parks Edition

Hi! My name is Rebecca Britten, and I teach private music lessons. I am deeply passionate about arts education and rekindling a love for learning, especially in teenage students. 

I have two degrees from Texas A&M University, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. My certifications are 7-12 English Language Arts and Reading, EC-12 Music, and EC-12 English as a Second Language. My latest job was working at an arts nonprofit in the education department. Previously, I spent three years teaching English at public high school, one year teaching middle and high school band, and one year offering private music lessons to middle and high school students. I am hoping to transition to a full-time private lesson teacher.

Music (and the arts in general) are an essential part of any students' learning. Music provides a way for students to express themselves as well as nurtures empathy and strengthens learning in other areas. It also relieves stress and promotes brain health, as evidenced by the field of music therapy.

I believe a major focus of education should be to develop our students’ characters in addition to their intellect. They should be knowledgeable about the world they live in and be able to see things from multiple perspectives while forming their own opinions, seeking to discover their place in society. I am a strong advocate for a liberal style of education, in which students learn critical thinking and leadership skills that they will need no matter their future goals, rather than just preparing for a specific career.

I live with my husband, two sons, and three cats. When I'm not playing instruments, I enjoy reading, writing stories, and watching movies. My dream job is playing the music in movies.