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Brian Henson, Excellence in Teaching Awardee
Philosophy of Teaching
As I start writing, I remember completing this very same paper for a college class as I was preparing to graduate. The paper was filled with my love of music, and my hope to champion that cause in our education system. After sixteen years, I realized that along the way I love teaching kids, and the gifts that I have to share are in music. However, rather than teaching music to kids, I now see that what I love to do is to teach “kids” through music.
'There are moments in a child’s education that can last forever.'
I can remember asking my past orchestra directors about their philosophy of music education in order to learn why they chose to share their life of music in education. I know now, that there was no way I could have developed my own philosophy prior to coming to the classroom and learning the life of a teacher.
There are moments in a child’s education that can last forever. The beginning of each school year brings the hope that one moment will last forever. Even for only one student, this is what drives me to get started. Sometimes you can plan, but often these opportunities to teach have to present themselves.
We play “Happy Birthday” for all of the Murphy Staff on their birthday. The kids love it. What I could never predict was having a teacher say, as she holds back tears, “I have never heard an orchestra before, nor has anyone ever done something like this for me.” This is an appreciation that cannot be duplicated in a classroom.
Incredible, Lifetime Experiences
This past October, I was invited to bring a dozen or so kids to SMU to see the virtuoso Midori teach. The kids were completely captivated for three straight hours of emotional insight. When she picked up her violin and began to play Sibelius, the kids even noticed you could hear the absence of breath in the room.
In November, a full year of work was celebrated when the world famous Barrage! came to Murphy Middle School. I stood in a packed auditorium and watched almost 100 Murphy orchestra students set up on the stage and then play their hearts out with Barrage. This was an incredible, once in a lifetime experience.
In December, the students asked me, while we were playing for a holiday luncheon at a local care facility, if I would ask if it was anyone’s birthday. We played an original arrangement of “Happy Birthday” for two lovely ladies. One was 87, the other 92, and seeing some of the facilities staff in tears for that moment is a powerful display of the impact one small gesture can make on a life. This has truly been a magical year full of moments that will last forever.
'I work constantly to keep the kids wanting to play for each other as they would play for me.'
There are a few things that I hope each of my students will be able to take away from their experience in orchestra. I hope the kids see how much fun it is to be a part of the orchestra. I feel middle school is the ideal place to be a group and really enjoy the effort. I work constantly to keep the kids wanting to play for each other as they would play for me.
Anyone who will listen has heard me say that Murphy Middle School is a terrific place to be. The faculty is like family, and it has been this way since the building opened. There is a feel that we are all in this together with one goal. I look forward to that feeling each year when we meet in August. The students see this, and it carries into the classroom.
Finally, I hope to talk to my students one day about the idea that brings them lasting enthusiasm. I have the opportunity to do so many things I completely enjoy. I am lucky enough to be thought of as a teacher, director, composer/arranger, musician, Webmaster, sound technician, event planner, special effects organizer, editor, conductor, instrument repairman, and sometimes problem solver.
One of those titles, the first, allows me to enjoy all of the rest. I have taught long enough now to see my former students chase dreams, become teachers, serve our nation, marry, become parents, and become friends. I feel that seeing them make it, is the goal. That is the moment I feel that my job, that our job as teachers, was well done.
Educational / Professional Background
University Degrees / Education
- Masters in Music Education - 1999
University of North Texas, Denton
- Included studies in:
- Music Composition, Op. 1, 2 & 3 Music Literacy
- Thesis project on the “Mozart Effect” String Bass Performance
- Bachelor of Music, December, 1993
Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas
Dr. Carol Smith, Conductor: SHSU Symphony
- Co-Founder of The After School Strings Program in Huntsville, TX
- Student teaching in Klein ISD
- Included studies in:
- String Bass Performance Music Literacy and Composition
- Brass, Woodwind, Percussion and Choral techniques
Teaching Experience
- Orchestra Director, Plano ISD
Murphy Middle School 2003 - Present
- Head orchestra director for 270 students at Murphy Middle School
- Numerous sweepstakes and performance awards
- Ongoing outside of the classroom opportunities to enhance the musical experience
- Nominated Teacher of the Year, 2008
- Developed a lesson plan system to incorporate Bloom’s Taxonomy and upper level thinking skills into our existing teaching materials
- Webmaster for Murphy Middle School website since school opening in 2003, proficient in Flash, Fireworks and Dreamweaver
- Proficient in Finale, Sibelius, MS Office, Charmsoffice, UILForms, Sound recording management, editing and production, MIDI, Photostory, Audacity, SmartMusic
- String and Full Orchestra composition and arranging
School
Principal Recommendation
Dear Selection Committee:
It is with great enthusiasm that I am writing to recommend Brian Henson as experienced teacher of the year. Brian has worked under my supervision as an orchestra director at Murphy Middle School since we opened in 2003. Before that, I had the pleasure of working with him at Armstrong Middle School for the entire time he was there.
First and foremost, Brian creates an extraordinarily student-centered classroom in which he fosters a highly creative learning environment. It is always obvious to me that Brian genuinely cares about his students and their success in his classroom, as well as in school as a whole. Students love and look forward to his class each day. I think you can see from his letter that his time outside of school hours devoted to his students is amazing.
The experiences he provides for them are magical, while offering life-long lessons. He works closely with teacher teams throughout the campus to help students in any way he can and is well respected in our community of parents. I am further impressed with the quality of performance his students produce in each and every orchestral performance and the enthusiasm and energy he brings to the classroom.
Brian brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the fine arts department. His various accomplishments include: Yearly Orchestra Awards in Solo and Ensemble, UIL Concert and Sight-Reading as well as String and Full Orchestra awards at Plano Music Festivals; Web Page designer and Webmaster for Murphy since it opened in 2003; composed and arranged over 500 songs, etudes, and exercises for the Murphy Orchestra program; organizes four opportunities for the orchestra families to grow together: MMSO Game Night, MMSO Family Movie Night, MMSO Main Event Night, and Plano ISD Hawaiian Falls Day in Garland and The Colony; teaches string bass in the evenings to students from Bowman, Vines and Plano West; Founder of the Wired ES, a study of the electric string ensemble, performance, and production (through a Plano ISD Education Foundation Grant); continued invitations to play at “Dickensfest” in Plano each year. There are many other endeavors Brian has accomplished, just too many to name on one page.
Brian is an outstanding choice for Experienced Teacher of the Year and would be an excellent representative of our district in this role. It is with great pleasure that I recommend him to you on behalf of all of Murphy Middle School.
Sincerely,
Ann Aston, Principal
Murphy Middle School
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