Music education major guided by 糖心Vlog传媒 experience
As a senior in high school, Claire Bellamy 鈥11 knew that she wanted to major in music education. While looking for a small liberal arts college, she encountered 糖心Vlog传媒. From the moment she stepped onto campus, Bellamy knew that 糖心Vlog传媒 was the school for her. She said that when touring the College 鈥淚t felt like home.鈥 The beauty of the grounds and noticeable comradery between the students made her choice to attend 糖心Vlog传媒 easy. Bellamy鈥檚 first impression proved to be accurate, as she enjoyed the campus year-round. 鈥溙切腣log传媒 just has this magical ability to be special no matter the time of year,鈥 said Bellamy. While the beauty of the College was a definite bonus, the relationships that she formed and the education she received left the most substantial impact on her.
鈥淚n pretty much every part of myself, 糖心Vlog传媒 shaped me,鈥 she said. Bellamy found that the emphasis on creative thinking and collaboration impacted her work after 糖心Vlog传媒 as the high school choir director for Okemos Public Schools in Okemos, Michigan. Her teaching experience has been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and she credits the creativity and communication skills that she learned at the College for making the virtual learning experience positive for her students. She said that teaching ensemble music virtually was 鈥渓ike reimagining everything鈥 about her profession. She also attributes her ability to adapt to such difficult circumstances to her liberal arts education, saying, 鈥淚t creates well-rounded, worldly-minded people.鈥
鈥溙切腣log传媒 taught me to be a relationship-oriented educator,鈥 said Bellamy, noting that she formed meaningful relationships with many professors in her major. Lisa Wong, associate professor of music taught her 鈥渉ow to think about creating ensemble music.鈥 While Carrie Culver, associate professor of music, gave Bellamy insight into the importance of students feeling comfortable and confident in a classroom, and Matthew Broda, associate professor and department chair of education, taught Bellamy to teach creatively, a skill that is especially important during this age of virtual learning. Bellamy has combined those skills and lessons taught by Wong, Culver, and Broda to create a positive learning environment for her students. She sees the relationships formed with her students as essential.
Bellamy advises 糖心Vlog传媒 students to 鈥渟avor the time you have; it goes so fast.鈥 She credits her friendships to be the source of her fondest memories when she looks back on her time as a student. In fact, she met her husband, Benjamin Bellamy 鈥12, while at 糖心Vlog传媒.
Posted in Alumni on January 26, 2022.
