Music is an essential part of every child’s education. Truthfully, it’s a fundamental part of the human experience. Scholars, poets, and philosophers throughout history have praised music as being one of the highest forms of art.
Helping Students Persevere When They Want to Quit
Learning to play a musical instrument is hard. However, my experience as a middle school orchestra teacher led me to discover that most adolescent musicians believe that learning to play an instrument is easy.
Music Ed Mentor Podcast #58: Meditation and Mindfulness in the Music Classroom
Every music teacher I’ve ever met has had a horrible-day experience where they thought something like: I love my career but I hate my job.
Music Ed Mentor Podcast #57: How to Burn Out of Teaching Music
Last July, as I was preparing to present to the NAfME Southwest Division Collegiate Summit, I decided to do a quick poll in one of the big music teacher groups.
Helping Parents and (Other Potential Volunteers) Say: “Sign Me Up!”
My parents have had the same hairstyles for over 50 years. They’re incredibly immune to cultural pressure to change and phenomenal at ignoring (or diplomatically refusing) public and personal requests.
Upbeat! Creating a Positive Culture in Music Ensembles
When you wake up in the morning, do you look forward to your day of teaching music with excitement and anticipation?
Suicide Awareness and Prevention
My experience with suicide began in 1988 with the loss of one of my students who was suffering from depression and anorexia, and continued with the loss of another student in 1997 whose family life had taken a jolting turn for him earlier that year.
Keys to Success in Small Schools
In small schools, you may start your band students in the fifth grade and work with them through their senior year.
Prevent Teacher Burnout
It’s easy for anyone, let alone an overworked music educator, to feel overwhelmed at this busy time of the year.
Music Ed Mentor Podcast #036: 7 Secrets for a Healthy and Happy Holiday Season
This time of year it is crucial that we prioritize taking care of our mental and physical wellness.
Most of us got into music education as a career because we are givers.