Recently retired ETSU music faculty member and Professor Emeritus Benjamin Caton was recently named the 2021 National Teacher of the Year by the Music Teachers National Association.

Music has been a strong part of Caton’s life since his early childhood. Caton started playing piano in the first grade when he was given a piano by his parents.

“Then when I was in the junior high, I started playing trombone in the band,” said Caton.

For a while, Caton wanted to be a preacher rather than a teacher, but he soon discovered the correlation between the two. Caton loved several subjects, such as math, physics and English, but he disliked aspects of each discipline, so he turned to music.

Brian Nolan, ETSU president, awarding Benjamin Caton with two awards back in 2020. (Photograph by Benjamin Gilliam/East Tennessean)

“It just seemed logical to choose music,” Caton said. “It has been a part of my life ever since. It just fell into place.”

Caton also reflected on his graduate-level academic journey, reminiscing about his first scholarly publication, and the moment he passed his doctoral examination.

“The first time I had an article published in a national periodical,” said Caton, “I can remember just running all over the place.”

“When I came out of the doctoral examination to become a doctoral candidate, I was in a little daze,” Canton said.

Caton served as interim dean of the ETSU Department of Music several times, although he admits he prefers teaching to administrative duties. After twenty years of teaching, Caton finally felt comfortable in his unique method of teaching oral skills, though he acknowledges that the methods change over the years as the students change.

“Those students who are the most difficult to teach are the ones who will really teach you how to teach,” said Caton.

After 52 years of teaching, Caton has retired with a wealth of knowledge and wisdom on how to succeed in life. He shared some of his advice.

“Work hard and do your best and be good, and do it right now while you have the opportunity,” said Caton. “I also would tell students — motivate your teachers.”

Caton loves when students ask questions he does not know the answer to. Unmotivated students lead to teacher burnout, but motivated students help to motivate the teacher, who in turn helps to further motivate the students.

“If you want something really hard and you’re motivated, you’ll find a way to get it,” Caton said. “That’s what’s so wonderful about the human spirit.”

Author