With the 2010 SAA Conference theme being TEAMWORK, we are interested in hearing what teamwork means to you. Please post in 35 words or less how you define teamwork. How does the concept of teamwork play out in your life and work?
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2010 Teacher Scholarship Application
Sep 1, 2009
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Kingsport, TN
9 posts
Teamwork means noticing what needs to be done and pitching in to do it, realizing that although it may not be your responsibility and that you may never get credit for having done it, it makes a difference to the overall outcome, and that in and of itself is enough. Noticing requires alertness and involvement. Making the decision to get involved requires action. Not needing to be the one who receives the kudos requires a servant leader attitude. It is a pleasure to work with team players and the results increase exponentially.
Rebecca Paluzzi
Teamwork means noticing: being alert to people’s feelings, attitudes, insecurities and then being sensitive to them. It means being kind. It means telling the truth. If all of the above work together, we cannot miss! Musicians are constantly put in situations where we must work together intimately and for a greater good. Suzuki teachers understand about teamwork because of the triangle we work with and the example that Dr. Suzuki gave.
In my studies at school I am looking at how corporations and organizations operate, and I am seeing that we Suzuki teachers and musicians have a lot to teach about teamwork.
1 posts
None of us teaches in a vacuum, and especially not me. I dont like doing anything by myself. I will tackle any task, no matter how menial, if someone is beside me, maybe not even doing the same thing, but just “there”. Practising is lonely, and I do it because I love music, and that’s just about the only thing I do alone! Of course, I’m in the habir of inviting friends in to hear my latest practising, and I ask them for comments! Sometimes I wish I hadn’t! As a piano teacher, I dont have the orchestra for my students, so all my students are encouraged quite strongly to take up a second instrument; yes, you guessed it! A stringed instrument. I also want them to sing in school and church choirs. By adding instruments my students are becoming musicians, not just pianists.
7 posts
My experience as a Suzuki Voice teacher
Dr. Suzuki taught us that practice is needed to develop the ability, that we have to work hard, having practice and motivation for our permanent development. Teamwork ability needs also work; students, parents and teachers need to “practice” how to work together successfully. The key is to enjoy being together and working together following the same goals and bringing to the team the better of ourselves.
Teamwork is part of our human being nature. We understand the world by the interactions with others from the very early beginning. As an adults with “open mind” we are able to learn by the interaction with other persons around us, growing individually and building communities.
The Suzuki Method gives us a wonderful possibility to work in a team with our students and their families; in this “growing together” -spirit generated by the Suzuki triangle and supported by our love to the music. The Suzuki Method gives us also the opportunity to continue learning in every day situations; from experimented teachers and colleges but also from our own students and their families by self evaluating our actions; knowing that in our Suzuki lessons we learn as much as our students. Addressing our students´ needs and following their spontaneous naturalism we are able to understand more about human development and cognitive and emotional behavior.
But on the other hand, we are part of bigger communities -our students´ families, our Suzuki associations, our local teacher´s groups and international teachers´ teams. The phrase “little things can be big issues” remembers me the importance and need of every member´s little contribution for the good of our Suzuki Programs and communities. Work in a team teaches us to be open to give and to receive, to share with others the best we can give and to accept from others new knowledge and ideas that could help us to continue growing. This would be the reason why we are better working together! Every person has something unique and special to bring to our teams.
When we are together we have much power, we have much fun! Following the same goals we work to make real our dreams. Working together, we realize that nothing is impossible. And at the same time our communities grow, we also grow individually. If each member of the team offers to the community his best, it will result also to an excellent opportunity for individual motivation and development. The motivation of working together for an important purpose gives us the energy, the enthusiasm and the happiness needed to work hard and to enjoy it!
Thornhill, ON, Canada
120 posts
TEAMWORK —- being a Suzuki method teacher means TEAMWORK is a way of working and living every day — our students, their parents, and ourselves must grow and work together for the happiness of all. If we are really working as a team, then our teaching is energized and our students and parents are motivated to learn. It does not seem like work then! Being a part of the SAA, means we agree to work together with our colleagues as well — as part of a learning community — sharing our ideas, giving support from the experienced teacher to those with less training and fewer years of teaching, reaching out for help and ideas asking the experienced colleague to come and be a workshop clinician, joining forces for the fun of it or for charitable fund raising. TEAMWORK means keeping active as a musician — whether in a band or orchestra or small ensemble or as a soloist being a “team” with the audience — communicating our love of music to those around us. TEAMWORK means keeping active as a learner — when we grow, we translate that enthusiasm to our students, their parents, our colleagues, our listening audience and we keep a childlike, young and open mind. Having an openess of mind and young spirit means we can be ready and willing for TEAMWORK, for change and growth, for the happiness of all.
Canggu, Kuta Utara, BALI, Indonesia
15 posts
Teamwork starts with me. It is recognizing that as an individual I need other people that I cannot do it alone. With a humble and open mind I must listen to parents and students and teachers ideas and opinions and willingly let go of my own preconceived notions that might distract from the good of the whole. As a busy violin teacher and leader in our country association it means releasing parts of my work to those who have more time or better skills and abilities in an area. It is also taking full responsibility for the work assigned to me toward a shared goal. Teamwork means mutual respect for the unique talents and abilities of every person in the organization and a healthy dose of forgiveness and acceptance for the times when a person may not be able to contribute optimally. Its understanding that no single person has a ‘better’ position on the team than another or that one person might ‘win’ a decision or position because that means someone has to lose which in turn damages the team.
If each person in our community views him/herself as a team member, looks inwardly first and reflects on their own capacity to contribute and then takes the initiative to use their gifts then we can surely make a difference. I have personally experienced tremendous support of others, through the Teamwork found in our newly formed Suzuki Association. It is what provides the sustenance, the ability to go on toward our very worthy and noble goals. Thanks for this discussion topic!
Teamwork is the collaborative effort towards a shared vision. The significance of teamwork lies in the process of sharing different life experiences and knowledge bases, melding ideas-then testing them-reflecting-changing-testing-reflecting again. It is an ongoing, creative process whose impact lies in deeper understanding and growth.