ABOUT
Jaclyn Winters is a classical pianist, accompanist, trombonist, singer/songwriter, and music teacher from Sarasota, Florida. She began her musical journey at two years old when her mother began teaching her the basics of music. After beginning piano lessons at age four, Jaclyn developed a deep love for playing and a desire to teach. She poured herself into the piano and won several competitions including the Florida Music Teachers Association Hymn Competition, Sarasota Music Teachers Association Original Composition Contest, the Margaret Allen Summer Music Camp scholarship, and the Sarasota Orchestra Young Artist's Competition. She also received the highest possible ratings in every musical assessment she entered annually for 12 years. The trombone was also a large part of her life, as she participated in the Sarasota Youth Orchestra, received Superior ratings in both district and state Solo and Ensemble, and was a featured soloist for the Bradenton Pops orchestra.
Jaclyn has a Bachelor of Science degree from Olivet Nazarene University in music education and piano performance. She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, an educational honors society committed to empowering and educating teachers everywhere. She also is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, a prestigious and invitation-only musical honors society dedicated to helping music educators. At Olivet, Jaclyn won several piano competitions and scholarships, was a featured soloist for various special events, participated in multiple master classes, accompanied surrounding middle school and high school band and vocal students for several events including solo and ensemble and organizational contest, spent a semester teaching band in a local school system, and taught private lessons.
Through her 20 years of performance experience and her passion for teaching, Jaclyn helps her students foster a love for music and confidence in their own playing ability. Jaclyn strives for excellence in all she does, as it is important for her to develop not only as a musician, but as an ambassador for Christ. She finds the best part about being a teacher to be letting God work through her in order to build relationships with students and impact them in a positive way. Some of the greatest influences in her life have been her music teachers; therefore, she takes the role of an educator very seriously knowing that she has the power to encourage, guide, and shape her own students in the same way that her instructors have for her.
teaching philosophy
A teacher can “make or break” a student’s educational experience. Not only can teachers influence the way students think about a specific subject, but they can impact their view of themselves and others as well. A teacher who constantly tears his student down can cause them to constantly feel self-conscious and lack the confidence they need in order to thrive. On the other hand, a teacher who overly-praises her student may lack in giving constructive criticism to help the student learn and grow. Therefore, the role of an educator is one that cannot be taken lightly and requires much balance.
Students have different styles of learning. Though everyone can learn through a vast majority of ways, the best teachers get to know their students and find out how their minds work with the goal to help them not only obtain information more efficiently, but how to enjoy the topic as well. Some students have a more difficult time concentrating and need more breaks in between their work, while others have the ability to focus for extensive periods and want to conquer the task at hand as quickly and perfectly as possible. The rates of learning and proficiency may develop at different rates, and that is okay. The important part is that students are stretched and grown to reach their goals and go beyond what they imagine they can achieve.
There are many aspects that come into play to accomplish this. Students need an encouraging and understanding teacher who pushes them beyond their limits. They need parents or guardians who are willing to work with them (even if they don't know music), keep them accountable for practicing, and support them in their musical endeavors. They also need parents or guardians who will not let them give up even if it gets difficult. Whenever I have told people that I play piano, the first response I receive is, "Wow, I wish I could play. I used to take piano lessons, but I told my parents I wanted to quit and they let me." Students need to be pushed beyond what they think they can and want to do. It's never easy to watch kids' frustration because of how difficult a task may be. But did you let them quit trying to walk when they cried after their first time falling? Did you let them quit when they complained that writing their name was too difficult? Of course not! Once kids are pushed beyond their limits and they see what they're capable of, there's no stopping them.
It is completely possible to learn while having fun at the same time! However, this comes in a variety of ways for different students. Some have the most fun when they accomplish a lot during the lesson. Others enjoy lessons the most when they learn something new and exciting. Still others find the most fun in being able to share a bit about themselves to someone who will listen while engaging in an activity in which they can succeed. Ultimately, students enjoy what they're doing when they find they are good at it. But they must remember that becoming proficient at something requires time, energy, and effort. If the student, teacher, and parents have this understanding and work as a team, the student will develop a gift that they will be able to use for the rest of their lives:
The gift of creating music.