“What’s the best advice somebody’s given you about teaching?” a recent MENC Collegiate poll asked. Here are a few more helpful tips for new music educators about attitude, passion for music, and practical advice:

Attitude

• Be patient. Don’t quit after your first two years. Stick with it through the hard times, and you’ll find more success.
• Every day you have to walk in with so much excitement, because not all kids have someone who is excited to see them.
• You can only teach, conduct, sing, or play as well as you can imagine yourself doing those things. If you only imagine the bad things that could go wrong, then how do you ever expect to succeed? Expect the best from yourself and your students every day.
• Have a sense of humor. Being 100% serious will get the job done, but if you don’t enjoy it, what’s the point?
• Do whatever works; you have permission to be yourself.

Love of Music and for Students

• Do it for the love of music and teaching others to appreciate it.
• Teach for the passion of music.
• Be yourself and be vulnerable; have passion and be ready to work.
• Just love and nurture the students.
• Teach from a place of love. Love your students – it doesn’t mean you go easy on them, and you can’t go out there just trying to get them to love you back, but love them and empathize with them with all your heart. You will reap the benefits.
• Never underestimate how much influence you can have on a child’s life.

Practical Advice

• Don’t take things personally.
• Your first year teaching will be your hardest, but don’t be discouraged … it only gets better.
• You don’t know everything and you never will … but try.
• Your classroom won’t be filled with little versions of yourself. You’re going to have to teach differently than you learn.
• The music is the least important thing we teach. Character qualities and life skills are more significant.
• Teach children, not a subject.
   

For more teaching tips, read Getting to Know You, Part 1.

Do you have helpful advice for future music educators? Share your tips on the Future Teachers forum.

Resources:

Charlene Ryan, Building Strong Music Programs: A Handbook for Preservice and Novice Music Teachers (MENC, 2009)

Colleen M. Conway (Ed.), Great Beginnings for Music Teachers (MENC, 2003)

Teacher Success Kit: How to Succeed in Music Education (Interactive CD, MENC)

Spotlight on Transition to Teaching Music (MENC, 2004)

Traits of a Great Music Educator (MENC, 2009)


--Shauna Leavitt, June 10, 2009, © MENC: The National Association for Music Education