Trying on Teaching is a special project designed to recruit pre-collegiate students to the music teaching profession. Oriented toward a social justice mission, Trying on Teaching aims to cultivate an artistic disposition through music that enables young adults to develop an understanding of how the music-making process can reflect the world around them.

We believe the best way to train music teachers is to provide authentic teaching opportunities while engaging in a community of reflective practitioners. Creating a program designed to meet these goals allows a community of passionate, well-prepared teachers to be cultivated and developed to serve as the next generation of great music educators in our public schools.

Outstanding high school students (open to all grades) who participate in this 6-week program during the Spring 2025 semester will get extensive experience teaching more than 100 young band and orchestra students during weekly rehearsals of the Colorado State University Middle School Outreach Ensemble (Wednesday evenings from 5:45-8:15 p.m., March 5 to April 19, at the University Center for the Arts at CSU). Under the supervision of undergraduate and graduate music education majors, high school participants will join a staff of over 40 teaching artists that include CSU faculty, CSU music education graduates, and undergraduate students. With the assistance of master teachers, high school students work alongside undergraduate and graduate music education students to design, implement, and teach all aspects of the program, culminating in a formal concert for parents, friends, and community members on Saturday, April 19, at the UCA. Participants will also be asked to attend a training seminar on Friday, February 21, and Friday, February 28, from 4-6 p.m., and the Super Saturday Rehearsal on April 5, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Please note that while this project is being implemented by music education faculty and students from CSU, ethical guidelines prohibit a direct link being made between this project and recruitment efforts. Our goal is simply to give students the opportunity to explore a potential career in music teaching, regardless of which institution they ultimately may attend.

  • Part A

    Please provide your personal information and instrument.

  • Part B

    Check off the dates you can commit to attending (see times and locations below):
    Up to one absence from rehearsals due to your high school’s sanctioned musical events will be excused. Attendance at the final week session is required, as is attendance at all training sessions.

  • Part C

  • Please prepare a written statement briefly describing what you feel you could contribute to the Middle School Outreach Ensembles given your personal qualifications and experiences, and what types of benefits you would like to take away from your experiences in this program.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Part D

Applications must be submitted by January 5, 2025.

Part E

Wednesday event rehearsal schedule (UCA):

  • 5:45 p.m.: High School students arrive at CSU to help set up
  • 6-8 p.m. Middle School student instruction in small and large groups
  • 8-8:15 p.m.: debrief/discussion about the evening’s teaching experiences and related issues

The Super Saturday Rehearsal event will take place on the CSU campus.  

Up to one absence from rehearsals due to your High School’s sanctioned musical events will be excused. Attendance at the final concert is required. 

Email Dr. Johnson: e.johnson@colostate.edu AND jessica.warner@colostate.edu with questions about this process or the program in general.