Eric Gaudet, Ӱר14, is using his music education degree to share his love of music with students of all ages.
ӰרOne of the things I really enjoy is getting students to really enjoy music with the hopes of developing a lifelong love of music,Ӱר he said. ӰרThe thing I like the most is at the end of the concert and all of the kids are feeling really accomplished and theyӰרre super excited and they canӰרt wait for the next time they get to perform.Ӱר
Eric is a band teacher at Edgar Martin Middle School in Lafayette during the school year. He spends his summers as the brass captain for the Ӱר an arrangement that he calls Ӱרthe best of both worlds.Ӱר
ӰרI really enjoy teaching middle school because, especially when they first get their instruments, thereӰרs this awesome spark of interest and theyӰרre so eager to start playing,Ӱר he said.
With high school and college-age students in the Louisiana Stars, Eric focuses on working through more challenging pieces of music, and then pairing their musical abilities with the more physically challenging experience of marching.
Learning to Teach
EricӰרs primary instrument is the trumpet, but music education majors have to learn every instrument and learn the theories and practice behind effective teaching.
ӰרIt was a lot because it was pretty much like double majoring because you have to do all the music courses and the education courses separately,Ӱר he said.
ӰרWe had to do three semesters of piano work and then we ended up also having to take classes to play all the instruments we would end up teaching Ӱר so I ended up taking courses on woodwinds, percussion, and brass. I also took a strings class to help boost my resume for future job searches.Ӱר
The focus on educational technology also benefited Eric.
ӰרThe idea that thereӰרs always new stuff and you need to be checking it out was kind of ingrained in us,Ӱר he said. ӰרNever feel like youӰרve learned everything Ӱר always be a student.Ӱר
EricӰרs become an effective teacher because of the preparation in the classroom combined with the range of performance experiences he had in school.
ӰרIn the music department, I got the opportunity to play in the top ensemble right away Ӱר so I got those awesome performance opportunities that I donӰרt think I would have gotten anywhere else,Ӱר he said.
At the Ӱר, Eric was in the marching band, jazz band, orchestra, wind ensemble, student brass quintet Ӱר and even a polka band in 2013.
Eric also performed concerts with the and , musicals with the , wedding and holiday services at local churches, and at .
Outside of these ensembles, he gave private music lessons through local schools.
ӰרGetting out into the community and not just staying in the Ӱר Ӱר I tried to really focus on that,Ӱר he said. ӰרNot just sticking to my book work but also going out into the community and applying some of the stuff that IӰרm learning to real-world scenarios."
ӰרLafayette is a great city to be able to explore and really be involved in the world of education and music. That gave me extra practice before I got my first job.Ӱר
Getting involved in LafayetteӰרs active music community was transformative for Eric.
ӰרMy first year, I drove home to Thibodaux every weekend,Ӱר he said. ӰרThen I got more involved with the city, and halfway through my sophomore year, I was like Ӱר'This is my new home away from home!ӰרӰר
