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(and there are some that are), find a new job. Don’t let that one experience be the measure of your entire career.

7. Take care of yourself:

• Give appropriate attention to exercise and diet.

• Pursue other interests. Personally learn something new every year. Professionally, when possible, vary your teaching assignment…teach something new, such as a semester music survey class or guitar.

• Take time away from students…and from sound saturated environments.

• Spend quality time with family and friends.

• Remind yourself of the good things that regularly occur. Keep a journal in which you note the high point of every day.

Coda:

An affirmation of these general tenets is revealed in interviews with 25 experienced teachers. Uniformly, they felt they were better teachers after 15 or more years, and they agreed on these factors:

• Their teaching became more student centered. Emphasis shifted from their career to what was best for students.

• Continued education and learning were most influential in their growth as teachers.

• There was increased emphasis on a healthy balance between professional and personal life.

This rewarding profession comes with multiple challenges and stresses. Identify those that are beyond your control and then turn your attention to other things that you can change. Don’t try to fix everything at once. Focus on music making and being a joyful teacher. Most of your students and the people in your environment are eager to join with you in that pursuit.

Bibliography: Culietta & Thompson (November 2000), Voices of experience speak on music teaching, Music Education Journal, p. 40.

Haack and M.C. Smith, Mentoring new music teachers, ibid, p. 23.

Hamann and Gordon, Burnout: An occupational hazard, ibid, p. 34.

Hornstein, Daniel, (October 1997) Burnout— A danger for those who care too much, North Dakota Music Educator.

McManus, John, (1988) Music teacher burnout, a workshop presentation.

Radi, Ann, (February 2000) Burned out in only three years, North Dakota Music Educator.

Sandene, Brent, (unknown date) Determinants and implications of stress among music teachers, UPDATE.

Members speak out, Teaching Music, (August 2000).