We’re back just in time to be thinking about kicking off a new year! A couple months ago I put out a call for podcast ideas for the next year or so and I was overwhelmed with the response from our music educator community! So many ideas of what we all need to hear. As I was reading them over, I noticed a pattern. Almost all the topic requests fell into two buckets: innovations in music education, and music teacher lifestyle.
Today’s episode is the latter and I couldn’t be more excited. When I met Michael Raiber in the summer of 2019 I was going through a huge transitional period of my life and so was he. Mike was transitioning out of his 25 year career being a teacher and mentor for music education majors to go back into the middle school classroom. We met at a NAfME Collegiate conference where we both had the opportunity to run workshops with the students. It was an honor to be there and not just mentor the students, but to hear from Mike and the other speakers. He has always stood out as a true master educator and he’s proving that every day.
In this episode, Dr. Raiber is going to coach us through areas of focus that we can create or shift to ensure the longevity of our careers, which at times can feel so elusive. Where can we go for support when we don’t feel supported? How do we get back on track when we’re feeling off the rails and out of control? How can we serve all the experts who demand so much from us? Where should our focus lie: On performance? Competition? Or something else entirely? And is there one thing we can do every day to change our perspective?
This Episode is Available On:
Topics Covered:
- Is it the love of music or the love of teaching that is more important?
- How do we get back on track if we’ve lost our way?
- How important is it for us to have passions outside the classroom?
Liked this podcast? Check out more Music Ed Mentor Podcasts.