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• Want do you want from a job or career?

• Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?

• How will having a family affect your job?

• How does singleness and not having someone to talk to at home affect your job?

• What are the most important priorities in your life?

• How does your personality affect your job choice?

• What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

• Do you mind evenings away from home?

• What ages of children do you enjoy teaching?

• Do you prefer living in urban or rural areas?

These are personal questions; band directing affects your personal life! University music professors and mentor teachers will best serve their student teachers interests and lead them to greater success by asking just these kinds of questions.

Everyone

All music teachers need the freedom to choose what is personally best for them. Once the right people are matched with the right job, based on their strengths and needs, I believe more directors will stay and not leave this treasured profession. The “burnout” syndrome even might be prevented if new directors were to understand what they need, what they want, and where their true talents lie.

Let’s encourage each other to focus on strengths, personal needs, and desires to create and maintain successful band directing careers everywhere.

What color is your band director parachute?

Tracy Hafer teaches six bands, plus extra-curricular marching band, grades 5-12 at 3 schools (Lewis and Clark Elementary, Astoria Middle School, and Astoria High School) in the Astoria School District.