Many of the music teachers who are active today studied at Ingesund School of Music. One of these teachers is Henrik Bengtsson, who graduated in 2016. Today, he teaches music in a primary and lower-secondary school in Trollhättan. In addition, he also works as a freelance musician, on his own as well as together with his wife, who also studied at Ingesund.
To be able to apply a broad approach as a music teacher is important to Henrik. Teaching includes both theory and practice and Henrik likes to integrate the two.
"I learn something new everyday, still. Partly through teaching but also in connection with projects together with other subjects at the school. In my case, I get to follow the pupils from year four all the way to year nine, which I find rewarding and fun. Not only through teaching music, but also by being a part of them growing up and guiding them along the way. The musical components of the teaching often include a lot of play. Play is important regardless how old we are, I find. "
In year four and five, pupils are taught in full group, and after that, they are divided into smaller groups as they learn more and more specific components.
"Performing, creating and understanding are three important words to me in my teaching. I try to mix theoretical and practical components so that the pupils really can embody the knowledge based on both worlds. All lessons include playing instruments or singing and follow a logical progression so that the pupils can see the common thread running through the lessons."
When Henrik began his studies to become a music teacher, he first envisioned becoming a percussion teacher, but things took a different turn along the way.
"It was during my teaching placement that I realised that I wanted to teach in lower secondary school. When I later chose Music in Class as my second subject, I got to practice teaching a lot in connection with practice teaching sessions in class, and it really suited me. It was fun to organise projects for school classes, for example, when groups of pupils were invited to Ingesund and got to stand in front of a symphonic orchestra, try folk dance and sing in a choir."
Music in Class is one of four subjects that teacher students can choose from at Ingesund. Music in Class also includes learning how to play accompaniment instruments.
"I was given concrete examples of how I as a teacher could work, for example, through assignments in cross-disciplinary projects where music was the common denominator. I also received a lot of training in playing drums, bass, piano, guitar, etc., which I have had great use of as music teacher. I was better prepared for my role as a music teacher than I thought, which I’m grateful for!"
