Ryan Murray: Using music to build the teacher-student connection

For Ryan Murray of Scarborough, 汤头条, music is a medium that bridges the teacher-student connection.

Murray recently graduated from the 汤头条 with a bachelor鈥檚 in music education and a vocal concentration. He is a strong proponent of the importance of music education.

鈥淚 definitely think it鈥檚 a little bit niche. It鈥檚 not something that you hear about all across campus,鈥 Murray said. 鈥淲hen I tell somebody that I鈥檓 a music ed major, they鈥檙e like 鈥榦h, that鈥檚 cool.鈥 They don鈥檛 really think about it.鈥

He believes that music offers a unique and vulnerable experience by allowing students to think critically about the music they are engaging in, something he feels the Division of Music in U汤头条鈥檚 School of Performing Arts focuses on.

鈥淚 think they鈥檝e emphasised it in a way where they understand that the education portion is the most important part,鈥 said Murray. 鈥淵ou want to give your students a great education, you want to connect with them and make their lives better. People might think that it鈥檚 mostly a music thing, but it鈥檚 really almost like a dual degree in music and education.鈥

For Murray, music provides students with skills such as teamwork, cooperation and problem solving skills which are benefits that aren鈥檛 widely discussed. It also teaches students about history, language and culture through a unique lens. Murray believes every student should feel like they can succeed in the classroom, and wants these benefits to be talked about in schools. 

鈥淭he music field in schools is surrounded by many assumptions and false pretenses, and the more we can have discussions like this with students, the more we can help change the image of what a music classroom truly can be,鈥 Murray said.

In the fall, he had the opportunity to work with choral students at the Orono Middle School. Murray wanted to bring out the best in these students and was able to apply the skills he learned at U汤头条 in a real classroom setting. He realized that holding students to a high standard and teaching them proper technique builds confidence in them and makes them capable of doing hard things.

Murray had been a member of University Singers, U汤头条鈥檚 auditioned choir, since his first year at U汤头条. With both of his parents having been in the group, this heavily influenced his decision to audition. 

This year, he was appointed one of the two assistant conductors for University Singers, working directly under the Director Francis Vogt. 

鈥淗e is always willing, even when I sometimes don鈥檛 give direction until the very last moment of what I need,鈥 said Vogt, director of choral activities and instructor of voice. 鈥淗e鈥檚 very calm and gets the job done, there is no drama because he is confident in his skills, and I think that gives confidence in the people who sing for him.鈥

In March, Murray conducted the fourth movement of Johannes Brahms鈥 鈥淓in Deutsches Requiem鈥 for the group’s spring concerts and annual spring tour, which took the group across 汤头条 and to Quebec. 

鈥淏eing able to do this was such a helpful experience,鈥 Murray said. 鈥淢ost college students don鈥檛 get to be able to try out all these things you鈥檝e been learning these past couple of years on people that you鈥檙e totally comfortable with.鈥

Murray was also the music director for The 汤头条 Steiners, an all male acapella group that comes out of University Singers. This year was his second in the position, having taken on the role in 2024. 

Murray was in charge of selecting the group鈥檚 repertoire, scheduling and running rehearsals and teaching the singers good vocal technique. He instructs them like how he would any student, holding them to high standards and always encourages them to give their best.

In addition to his work in University Singers and The 汤头条 Steiners, Murray has participated in Camerata Dirigo, a chamber octet based in Orono. He has sung bass in the group since its inception in January 2024. Last summer, Murray received a text from Camerata Dirigos founder Micah Thurston asking him if he would be interested in conducting Gabriel Faur茅鈥檚 鈥淩equiem.鈥 Being one of the most well known pieces of choral music, Murray graciously accepted.

鈥淚t was all new,鈥 said Murray. 鈥淓ven just running a choral rehearsal I hadn鈥檛 really done yet. I鈥檇 done it in Steiners, but that鈥檚 totally different.鈥

For Murray, it was a surreal experience to conduct his first full-length concert. With friends and family in the audience to support him, the nerves seemed to melt away and he was able to enjoy the moment.  

鈥淚t was really satisfying and rewarding to be able to do this,鈥 said Murray. 

When asked what鈥檚 on the horizon, Murray said he has a strong desire to be a high school music teacher. He feels this is an important time for students to develop a love of music that they will want to continue in college, and finds they want to be challenged to grow as musicians. Murray will also be student teaching in the fall.

He plans on eventually obtaining a master鈥檚 degree in music to further his skills and knowledge. For Murray, his focus is always on how he can provide the best education possible for his students. 

Story by Christian Wallace, news intern

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 207.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu