1. As the director, your own morale and happiness are an important part of your program's success. Brian Balmages shared a great message recently: "You are not defined by the grade level music you play with your ensemble." It's so true and such a great reminder. Your students won't remember the grade level music you played, but they will remember the positive impact you had on them.
I read this message from a financial planner recently:
"One of the most stressful aspects of investing can be the emotional load we experience during volatile times. Research has shown that the most successful long-term investors remain patient during market swings."
That feels incredibly true about our profession, doesn't it? If we swap a few words, it's a great reminder about the importance of patience as an educator:
One of the most stressful aspects of teaching can be the emotional load we experience during volatile times. Research has shown that the most successful long-term educators remain patient during these uncertain times.
2. Keep a notebook by your desk or in your classroom and write down any and all ideas you have as the year progresses. Write down things that went well, or things you will do differently next time. Log those moments where students really excelled. Keep a list of instruments or equipment you may need when budget time rolls around. We all have so many wonderful thoughts and ideas that get away because we simply forget to remember.
Also, take a few moments to write a personal note to your principal or administrator and all of your students’ classroom teachers thanking them for their support for your school’s music program. Let them know you are always available should an issue arise where you can help in its resolution — and a box of cookies or a dozen doughnuts in the teacher’s lounge will go a long way in letting them know you value them as colleagues and friends.
3. Start planning what music you want to perform with your groups in the spring now. Order scores as soon as you have settled on what you want to play so that you can use the pockets of free time that tend to show up during the school day before long holidays to study those scores and be even more prepared for great rehearsals in the spring. While everyone who is able should use their Thanksgiving and winter breaks as a break, it doesn’t hurt to have your spring scores around just in case you want to work ahead.
Thinking in advance about concert programming doesn’t only provide you more time to get acquainted with the scores — this foresight allows you more time to order any mutes or percussion equipment that you may need to acquire to perform a piece. It also allows more time to think of and create any supplemental materials that could help you teach the theory, history, and specialized technique needed for a specific work. If you order the entire set when you order the scores, you can send parts home with students over vacation in the event they want to pick up their instruments and get a jump start on learning their parts!
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These retention tips are written by various authors and are compiled from "More to Start, Fewer to Quit" a recruitment, retention, and success newsletter brought to you by The Music Achievement Council and Instrumental Music Center.