I spoke to my cooperating teacher about curriculum this week and he believes that there can be many different definitions of the word curriculum. Curriculum can potentially include the written curriculum document, the hidden curriculum, the school-wide curriculum, curriculum as culture, and curriculum as activities. Mr. Chapin told me that he does not find his curriculum limiting because he takes this multi-faceted approach and he uses the curriculum as a guide and a reference, rather than following it exactly.
After some discussion Mr. Chapin and I decided that our own limitations as people and musicians present the biggest limitation to the curriculum that we are teaching. Following some sort of curriculum is inevitable and the individual teacher guides that curriculum. Teachers must find ways to recognize and work past their own shortcomings and realize their strengths to make any curriculum with which they are presented work.