Growing Musicians with Encouragement and Respect - Teachers Honor Teachers
- Jennifer Davis, Benjamin Logan High School
Mr. Bowers encourages all students to be themselves and makes it clear that each student’s participation is expected and valued.
“Mr. Bowers fosters an encouraging environment in the jazz setting that focuses on development and growth rather than the product itself.”
-Jennifer Davis
Myles Bowers, Instrumental Music Teacher at Benjamin Logan High School in Bellefontaine, provides excellent learning experiences for his students in a focused, rigorous, and positive environment. His rehearsals and classes are very productive and exciting. His high school bands perform in concerts, adjudicated contests, showcases, and community events. He creates these opportunities to allow students to apply their music education towards something they can be proud of, with ample opportunities to get feedback from different sources, ultimately making them better musicians.
Mr. Bowers uses differentiated instruction in his bands, giving accelerated students and new musicians opportunities to grow and improve. Many of his students have pursued music in college and careers and have become teachers. The BLHS concert band is unique in that there is only one band, so every student participates, no matter their ability level on their instrument. This community encourages all students to be themselves and ensures that each student’s participation is expected and valued. It also provides a strong sense of motivation to improve and match expectations. Mr. Bowers’ band room is a safe space for students to socialize, escape, or discuss difficulties in their lives. These social aspects of his teaching contribute directly to the consistent success of his program because students feel valued and thrive.
One of the strongest aspects of Mr. Bowers’ teaching is his ability to connect with his students. His relationships are successful because he shows respect for everyone. In turn, his students respect him greatly and are willing to work hard to achieve their goals. Mr. Bowers encourages his students to grow and gain confidence in playing in multiple ways, especially in the context of a jazz band. Jazz is unique in that it allows its musicians to express themselves through improvised solos, where the musician creates music spontaneously on their instrument. This can be daunting for students still developing socially, as they might feel added pressure from their peers and may become embarrassed if they make a mistake.
Mr. Bowers fosters an encouraging environment in the jazz setting that focuses on development and growth rather than the product itself. He understands that even though a student’s anxiety is heightened while playing a solo, the fact that they are willing to try shows growth. He praises students for stepping out of their comfort zone and encourages all other students to do the same. By understanding these emotional aspects of students and connecting with them positively, his students express themselves in ways they initially did not know were possible.
Mr. Bowers is always willing to share his experiences and learn from others.
He has presented at the OMEA Conference on multiple occasions on topics such as developing a jazz band program at a rural school and developing techniques for encouraging young musicians to overcome anxiety when playing solos. By sharing with others, he has encouraged teachers in similar situations to strengthen their programs while also opening himself up to feedback from his peers, which he uses to grow as an educator. These experiences have positively impacted his teaching. Mr. Bowers is a great role model not only for his students but for other teachers as well.
Teachers Honor Teachers
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation has launched a new program this fall inviting teachers to recognize a colleague they know is doing exceptional work in the classroom.
In the above post, Jennifer Davis expresses her admiration for fellow teacher, Myles Bowers. Thank you to both educators for your dedication to students and for taking the time to showcase what it means to deliver challenging, innovative, and student-centered lessons that result in powerful and deep learning.
Through the Teachers Honor Teachers Program, The Foundation is seeking Ohio public school teachers to share great things about a teaching colleague in an Ohio public school that ensures deep learning for students. If we choose to post your story, we will award $500 toward that teacher's classroom for their great work and $500 toward your classroom for honoring their excellence. Apply here.