Your job with the students can limit opportunities to stay in practice. How do you maintain good instruction when your own fundamentals start to get rusty?

The best thing you can do is find a group to perform with. The need for rehearsal will motivate you to make time to practice. MENC member Joseph LaBrie says, "I am fortunate to perform with the Fairfax Wind Symphony, which is a community band in the area. The various selections help me keep my playing up to par."

Local municipal bands, community orchestras, churches, high-level ensembles, and local college classes open to community members are all good places to start. Private lessons and paid gigs are another option.

You'll make connections and relieve stress in addition to keeping your skill up. Having the satisfaction of both practice and an outside interest will help you maintain effective teaching.

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-- Paul Fergus, July 29, 2008, © MENC: The National Association for Music Education (www.menc.org)