In this post and on episode 263 of The Elementary Music Teacher Podcast, Starr Loutsis and I discuss the transformative power of sharing your story with your students. Music teachers often grapple with the question of how much of their own experiences to reveal to their students. In this blog post, we’ll explore why sharing your story is essential, what aspects of your story to share, and how it can benefit both teachers and students. So, let’s dive in!
Know Your Audience
Starr emphasizes the importance of understanding your audience when sharing your story. For music teachers, your primary audience is your students. Think about what aspects of your journey as a music teacher would resonate with them. Do they want to know how you discovered your passion for teaching music? Or perhaps they’d be inspired by stories of successful musicians who started where they are now.
Advocate for Music Education
Sharing your story isn’t just about connecting with your students; it’s also about advocating for the importance of music education. Starr points out that music teachers are in a unique position to demonstrate the positive impact of arts programs. By sharing stories of how your classes have transformed students’ lives, you contribute to the broader cause of preserving and expanding music programs in schools.
Balance the Dark and Light
While it’s crucial to be open and relatable, Starr suggests that teachers should strike a balance when sharing their stories. Dwelling too much on personal challenges or hardships can potentially overwhelm students. Instead, use your experiences to show how you overcame obstacles and found your passion in teaching music.
Start with the Basics
Don’t feel pressured to share deep, personal stories right away. Sometimes, the simplest stories can be the most relatable. For instance, sharing anecdotes about your daily life or even discussing your favorite foods can help break the ice and create connections with your students.
Empowering At-Risk Youth
Starr also highlights the work of authors like Tammy Vincent, who specialize in empowering educators to connect with at-risk youth. Music teachers can learn valuable lessons from such experts and apply them to their classrooms. These students often possess incredible creative potential that can be nurtured through music education.
Share Your Passion in Writing
For music teachers with a passion for writing, Starr encourages you to start putting your experiences into words. Even if you don’t plan to write a book, sharing your stories through articles, blog posts, or social media can inspire others and spread the message of the importance of music education.
The power of sharing your story as a music teacher goes beyond building connections with students—it’s about advocating for the arts and inspiring the next generation of musicians. Remember to know your audience, strike a balance between the dark and light aspects of your story, and start with simple, relatable anecdotes. By doing so, you can make a significant impact in your classroom and your community.
Do you share stories with your students? Tell me about it in the comments below or share your thoughts on social media as you share this post. I’d love for you to share this post or any of the resources on my website with a friend or colleague who you know NEEDS to see it too.
P.S. Are you feeling frustrated or stuck as an elementary music teacher? Check out these free resources to help you teach elementary music with confidence!
Also…I wrote a book called “Make A Note: What You Really Need To Know About Teaching Elementary Music” to help music teachers move forward in your teaching career. You can get your copy here.
