Tag: Belonging

• The Invisible Act of Belonging: Making Room for Students Long Before We Make Music

  It’s early August, about four weeks before the school year begins, and I’m looking at my class rosters. I’m trying to learn names. Some of the names are familiar. Others are completely new to me. I’m looking at the list and beginning to imagine the students who will eventually walk through the door. I’m thinking…

  Ed Castro

  August 10, 2026

  Music

  artist, Arts Education, Belonging, education, Invisible Act, Invisible Acts In Music Education, music, music education, Teaching

• Invisible Acts in Music Education: What Love Looks Like in Our Schools

  I’ve been thinking lately about the things we do as music educators that are difficult to measure, document, or even name. They rarely appear in lesson plans or assessment rubrics, yet they may be some of the most important parts of our work. One of my teachers, Chris Rosenberg, used to ask our ensemble, “It’s…

  Ed Castro

  July 31, 2026

  Music

  Belonging, Care, Chris Rosenberg, education, educator, independent school, music education, social-emotional learning, teacher, Teaching, trust

• Feeling Safe Enough to Learn

  This summer I accepted a part-time position supervising a music camp. It’s different from my work during the school year teaching middle and high school band and orchestra, but after only a few days, I found myself thinking about a place I hadn’t reflected on in quite some time. Almost ten years ago, I wrote…

  Ed Castro

  July 2, 2026

  Thoughts, Teaching

  Belonging, education, independent school, Music Camp, music education, summer job, Teaching