Teacher Feature: George Halley

• George Halley
• Posted 12/3/21
• 0 comments

Get to know our authors. In our  ”Teacher Feature,”  you will not only learn about our contributors’ professional endeavors but also get to know them as  humans  too.  Just like our readers – our authors are actively teaching in schools across the United States.

My name is George Halley. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado and my masters from Adam’s State University. I am in my 11th year teaching general music, and I have completed my Orff Schulwerk training and am an active member in the music community, singing in my church choir and playing the tuba for the Denver Concert Band.

Here are some other interesting facts we learned about George…

How did you end up becoming a music teacher?

I wanted to become a band teacher when I first graduated college. Still, after a few years of struggling with it, a colleague invited me to an Orff Schulwerk workshop, and I fell in love with teaching general music instead.

Did a teacher influence your decision to enter education?

My high school band teacher.

What inspires you to share your experiences with other teachers?

My college experience did not fully prepare me for the general music classroom, so I want to help new and experienced teachers find success and joy by teaching music.

What is your favorite music teaching moment?

I always love performances. In my program, they are student-lead, which takes a lot of work. But on performance night, I enjoy seeing the pride and determination in my students’ eyes, knowing they worked hard for this.

What has been the biggest surprise/revelation about being a music teacher?

Every day, something happens you do not expect — whether you get a different answer than expected or students not reacting a certain way. When I was a young teacher I resisted going with it in order to deliver the “perfect lesson” as planned, but now I go with it and see where it leads. If we move alongside our students instead of forcing our “perfect” ideas, we will all learn together, and music will become more meaningful.

How do you deal with stress?

Stress is part of being a teacher — especially a performing arts teacher. We just learn to deal with it in a positive way.

Fun Facts About You?

What is your favorite food?

Bagels.

Do you have any pets? Tell us about them.

One cat named Charles. He is a brown tabby with a great personality, and the only cat I know that enjoys having his belly rubbed.

What is your favorite style of music to listen to?

I love Cuban music. Music that gets me dancing.

What is your favorite school-appropriate beverage – are you a cola or coffee drinker?

Coffee, for sure.

What is your favorite book?

I enjoy the fantasy genre. Raymond Feist would be my favorite author and his Riftwar saga.

If you could be a superhero, who would you be and why?

Spiderman. Ever since I was a kid, he was my favorite.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know George! Check out his Music ConstructED articles below.