My name is Ellie Swanson and I will soon be beginning my second year as a student of the Cormier Honors College at Longwood University. My primary majors are Music Education and Flute Performance. After my time at Longwood, I plan to teach either teach K-12 music or teach flute in a private studio (ideally both). I also hope to further my music education studies in graduate school, while still continuing to play flute.
Most who know me were not surprised when they found out I would be studying music in college. I have always had a musical life, including my parents who are musicians, violin and piano lessons at an early age, flute lessons in later years, youth orchestras and bands, etc. Music was always something that felt natural to me, and turned out to be something that I was very good at. Up until I had completed only a couple months of college, I had assumed the performance track. I never had really considered myself a teacher. However, as I spent more time around music education students and faculty, I began to reconsider. I decided that I actually did want to share music in more ways than just through my flute playing.
Looking back to a year ago, I would have never expected that I would be studying music education at Longwood. However, being here has opened up my perspectives as to what the possibilities are for my future. I have realized that there are so many ways for me to “do” music in my post-college life. After I finish college, I plan on pursuing my interest to teach music at the elementary level, while maintaining a flute studio wherever I live. I know that four years from now, I could have a completely different idea of what I want to do in my professional career, but if this past year has shown me anything, it is that as I mature my perspective on life will change and so will my aspirations.