Music instructor inspires students to think beyond the classroom
For music instructor Dr. Anthony Spain, teaching music is about more than the music itself. It’s about inspiring students to engage in education beyond his classroom. For more than 25 years, he has combined this unique approach at Seattle Central with his professional expertise in the music industry to excite his students about learning.
“I bring professional experience to my teaching. I not only teach music, but I practice it as well,” Anthony said. “I offer my students a strong professional background in music, which helps them learn.”
Anthony was nominated for a Grammy in vocal jazz when he attended college and is an acclaimed conductor. He has guest conducted in Hong Kong, England and France, where he led the choir of UNESCO, the cultural arm of the United Nations. In the late eighties, he helped found the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, where last fall he conducted “Planets Live.” This show was accompanied by real images of the planets compiled by visual artist Adrian Wyard. The sold-out show was highlighted by the Seattle Times when it debuted.
Anthony works to connect his students with his professional experiences as frequently as possible. Because of his role as a conductor, he is able to offer students examples informed by his experience to help them understand concepts from the classroom. He regularly invites students to his concerts, which they continue to attend long after their time in his class.
“There’s nothing like a live concert,” he says.“Especially in a world where we are used to experiencing so much of it on screens.”
While his professional experience most informs his teaching, he says it’s the connections his students make in the classroom that truly motivate him. He aims to create a safe environment for his students to express themselves by encouraging dialogue that extends beyond the subject matter. For example, he’ll challenge students to make connections to music’s philosophical and historical roots. He aims to demonstrate that music is intertwined with many other subjects, and spark students’ interest in those subjects as well.
“The goal of teaching is to get students to think critically both on their own and with each other,” Anthony says. “As an instructor, you set a spark through your class and afterward you hope that spark becomes more of a flame. My goal is to encourage a lifelong desire for learning.”