The arts, especially music, are for everyone, not just those who are naturally inclined to perform. Music has applications in every facet of life, from empowering and inspiring confidence, physical coordination, mental awareness and growth, communication and aural skills, the ability to perform, and create community and connections. Therefore, it is the teacher’s vocation to foster growth in every aspect. This requires a foundation of respect and communication with the instructor and student. I provide a respectful, trusting, learning environment so students have a platform to grow as musicians, artists, and human beings. In my choirs, studio, and classroom, mistakes and failure are a part of the process for growth- necessary for learning and accomplishing goals. In my years of teaching experience, I found that prompting students with questions enables them to discover connections. These discoveries fuel motivation and interest. Comparing unfamiliar concepts with familiar ones shows them they already possess the ability and knowledge within themselves to learn and grow. I have witnessed students grow when they create connections for themselves. While many students can learn through mimicking an example, the skills sets they develop prove to be stronger if they learn through discovery. As a music educator, I facilitate those discoveries, so students can grow in music and in life, with confidence to communicate and connect.