Literacy Profile Blog

Literacy Profile Blog

Throughout my study of becoming a teacher, I have learned to define “literacy” as a combination of knowledge, understanding, ability, and awareness within a specific context.  I am willing to admit that I am literate in music, especially with the guitar.  

I witnessed my cousin’s husband play a bunch of my favorite Beatles songs at a family party when I was 15, and I have been devoted to learning, improving, and playing the guitar ever since that day.  Although I had musical training with the trumpet through junior and senior high school, my love for music grew from my own desire to play the guitar and sing like my cousin’s husband did that day.  Since then, I have performed hundreds of times as part of a band and also as a solo act.  I have also written and recorded many of my own compositions and I have developed a repertoire of songs that allow me to play by myself for well over five or six hours.  My hobby has also turned into an alternate source of income.  I often play in pubs across Rhode Island, which is not only quite fun, but it sometimes pays very well for only a few hours of work! 

My literacy in music has grown and expanded over the years and it has driven me to explore other musical instruments such as piano, percussion, trombone, and the baritone horn.  Through learning the form and chord structure of numerous different songs, my music theory knowledge has improved and it has allowed for further learning to seem much easier to understand.   My knowledge of music has also drastically influenced my taste in the music I personally listen to, because I am conscious of musical talent, effort, and ability.  Through learning and listening, I have developed a balanced approach and understanding of music, especially how it is commonly written and performed. 

I am literate in music because my ability and knowledge of music allows me to hold detailed conversations with anyone about the many different aspects of music such as style, history, or theory.  I will not claim to be a master of music or guitar, but within this context of music I can certainly be among professionals, or those who actually consider themselves masters, and completely understand and contribute to what is being discussed.