Study Notes on Values and Motivations

Class Roll Call and Attendance

  • Teacher initiates roll call to recognize students attending the class.
  • Mentions specific students by name and acknowledges their presence or absence.
  • Others are noted as present or absent, encouraging students to feel included.

Introduction to Values and Motivations

  • Overview of Class Session

    • Teacher describes the session as free-flowing and not too structured.
    • Topic focus: Personal and artistic values and motivations.

  • Definition of Values and Motivations

    • Values: Principles that guide an individual’s actions or decisions.
    • Motivations: Factors that drive individuals to engage in specific behaviors or activities.

Discussion of Personal Values and Motivations

  • Personal Reflection
    • Students are prompted to reflect on their own values and motivations.
    • Activity: Write down three personal values and motivations.
  • Sharing Values
    • Teacher shares their own values related to music and audio engineering:
    1. Belief that music should be an inclusive space for all styles and genres.
    2. Valuing the tuba’s potential beyond common perceptions.
    3. Acknowledgment of multiple ways to learn audio engineering.
  • Student Responses
    • Jack shares values:
    • Giving 110% effort, being respectful and humble, and finding happiness in actions.
    • Maddox shares values:
    • Being the best, originality in jazz studies, and Christian values.

Encouragement to Share and Discuss Values

  • Teacher encourages students to share their values without pressure.
  • Interesting anecdotes from students about their experiences with mentors and personal growth are discussed.
  • Key points:
    • Importance of humility in the arts.
    • Learning from both positive and negative experiences.

The Challenge of Motivation

  • The Complex Nature of Motivation
    • Students discuss what motivates them.
    • Examples include:
    • Desire to perform well.
    • Not wanting to embarrass oneself.
    • Peer influence and inspiration from successful musicians.
  • Motivations and Goals
    • Follow-up discussion on how to transform values into actionable goals.
  • Personal Motivation Examples
    • Professor shares humorous anecdotes related to handling pressures of performance and the necessity of practice.

Practical Applications of Values and Motivations

  • Concrete Action Plans
    • Setting specific goals based on personal values and motivations.
    • Example: Organizing workspace to foster productivity.
  • Woodshedding Concept
    • Definition: Intently practicing a skill to develop it; believed to stem from jazz culture and the iconic musician Charlie Parker.
    • Emphasis on the value of dedicated practice time.

Addressing Challenges to Values and Motivations

  • Recognizing obstacles such as stress, social distractions, and unrealistic comparisons fueled by social media.
  • Discussion on personal life paths varying widely among individuals, encouraging a focus on personal development rather than comparison with others.

Future Classes and Homework

  • The professor plans to assign a reading from "Beyond the Talent" by Angela Miles Beachy related to values and the development of skills.

  • Next week’s topic will focus on defining success, with students tasked to bring examples of successful figures from any field for discussion.

  • Teacher wraps up with good humor, encouraging a productive week until the next class.