I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “those who can’t do, teach.” Let’s talk about this for just a quick minute. First of all, teachers (especially music teachers) are used to developing thick skin. We’re constantly hearing comments like “oh you need a degree to teach music” like I discussed in this blog post or even “well at least you don’t have to make lesson plans” like I shared easy tips on how to do it in this blog post. Um…yes we do.
Every teacher chose to teach because they have a serious passion for fostering a love of learning in the lives of their students day in and day out. But, here’s the thing. We had goals, dreams, and talents way before we became teachers. So when I hear the phrase “those who can’t do, teach”, I want to rephrase it to say, “we teach because we do.” What I mean is, we teach because we’re talented at a certain instrument or skill and can’t help but share it with our students. Here’s the talent you may not know a music teacher truly has.
A music teacher has always been musical
Just like a regular classroom teacher used to teach school to her baby dolls, a music teacher has always practiced their instrument every day. In fact, these same music teachers have probably won numerous competitions or have been the lead singer in a performing opera. As kids, these music teachers would practice daily for 30 minutes to an hour after coming home from school. Then, as they got older, they probably even started teaching private lessons to kids younger than them. They just couldn’t help it.
Music teachers were musicians first. Therefore, they realized how much music changed their lives and they had to share it with others. Music education is so important (as I discussed here), and elementary music teachers share the love of music with not only one student at a time, but hundreds of kiddos every day. In fact, this is exactly what happened to me. I started playing piano at the age of 6. Immediately, I knew I had to play this instrument and years later went on to teach privately, and then in a public school setting.
Music teachers are still performers, directors, and private lesson teachers
After teaching music for 7 hours a day, not only are music teachers staying extra hours after school, and bringing extra work home, but they’re also being musician’s. Just because a teacher teaches music doesn’t mean they lose who they were as a musician all those years ago. In fact, it’s hard for musician’s to choose just one career path to go down (I know it was for me like I talked about here). So, what does a music teacher do sometimes? They choose more than one path.
Most of the time, you’ll find elementary or secondary music teachers teaching full time in their school, but then will see them directing, accompanying, playing in ensembles or orchestras, and teaching private lessons. You see, music teachers can teach and do at the same time. In fact, keeping up our musicianship is what makes us a better music teacher. We love music so dang much, it can’t help but rub off on our students. They may not go on to love the same instrument that we love, but may develop a love and passion for their own instrument of their choosing. Music teachers plant that seed in the minds of our students, and then the seed grows and flourishes in the following years.
Music teachers do many tasks at once
Have you ever seen a musician at work? As a pianist, I can speak for my experience. I’m able to sight read a piece of sheet music for a choir, all while listening to the singers, watching the director, and flipping the pages all at the same time. Musicians brains are amazing. Music is one of the only subjects that can help kids use all parts of their brain. So, of course when a musician becomes a music teacher, they’re able to multi task like no other.
There are instruments being played, songs being sung, and dances being danced all at the same time. A music teacher can listen to the sounds happening all around the classroom and pick out who’s talking, who’s on task, and who played a wrong note. A lot of students will say “you have eyes on the back of your head”. No, it’s because we’re musicians and our brains are just wired differently.
Music teachers love to share their musicianship with their students
In college, music education majors learn an instrument from every instrument family. We do this so we’re able to teach any instrument we’re asked to teach. As a clarinetist and pianist, I have a love and passion for melodic instruments and love teaching recorder. Another music teacher who’s a Classically trained singer loves to teach singing. Then, there are teachers who are great at playing guitar, so teaching ukulele comes naturally to them.
Just like every person is uniquely made, so are music teachers. We’re all talented at different instruments and that’s actually a good thing. How boring would it be if every student just learned recorder, or just learned to sing, or just learned rhythm instruments. A great music teacher takes their individual love and passion for the instruments their proficient in and transfers that love and knowledge to their students (like I discuss more in detail in this podcast episode.)
So, I want to encourage you to not lose your musicianship. As you teach music to your students every day, don’t forget to play music for yourself as well. You won’t be able to find the time to play as much as you did in college, but I promise you can set aside some time each week to truly play for yourself and no one else. Don’t forget that you were a musician first and your students need to hear the beautiful music you know how to play as well.
Why did you become a music teacher? What are ways you make sure to still foster yourself as a musician, and not just a teacher? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below or share your thoughts on social media as you share this post.
Also, 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.
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.
