Effective music educators often recognize that there is more than one way to teach a musical objective and understand that a specific approach may be more appropriate than another in a given setting. To meet contemporary demands, music educators need to be smart--understanding the nuances of various theories of learning, savvy--understanding their own learning style and how that may affect teaching effectiveness, and sensitive--understanding that teaching is situated in particular contexts. The music teacher's full potential may not be fully realized, however, unless that person is skilled enough to teach in a variety of ways. In this article, the author provides a basic overview and examples of diverse approaches to the classroom and offers practical suggestions for implementing these ideas in music classrooms.