Happier Music Teacher

I'm going to take a few weeks off from the podcast to be with my family.  I'll be back in June to catch up with you.  My insight for you today?  Work isn't life.  Life is life.  I love you and thank you for being here.

Feeling almost burnout about the month of May as a music teacher?  Here are tried and true tips to make May go more smoothly for you and your family.  Let's start with buying an outfit for all the events that makes you feel amazing! Don't forget to purchase my book to read this summer.  Links below! Happier Music Teacher Book on Amazon Buy Beth's E-Book

Being a music teacher can be overwhelming, especially at the end of the school year!  We're going to get organized and stop multi-tasking to stop the overwhelm.  Because there aren't actual sight-singing emergencies! Buy Beth's Book Buy Beth's Book as an E-Book

Are you an introverted or neurodivergent music teacher?  Or are you a neurotypical music teacher that just gets overstimulated by all the noise and activity in a general music classroom?  There's nothing wrong with you!  Elementary schools and music classrooms are very stimulating.  Here are some tips, habits and strategies for you to protect your peace during the school day.

Many music teachers are frequently the only one in that subject matter on their campus leaving them feeling isolated and lonely, not to mention misunderstood!  There is nothing wrong with you but there are some practical steps we can take to help you be happier at school. Beth's Book

First in a series on Music Teacher Struggles.  Too much on your plate as a music teacher?  There's no quick fix but here are my thoughts and mindset shifts on how to handle overcommitment.  Also, see you at TCDA in July!

Have you completely fallen off the self-care wagon the first quarter of the calendar year?  Me too!  Here are 9 tips for both of us to start taking better care of ourselves when our efforts at healthy eating, exercise, hydration or sleep have failed lately. Beth's Book on F-Flat Beth's Book on Amazon

We just finished spring break but now it is time to plan your summer PD.  Whether you take Orff or Kodaly Levels or maybe World Music Drumming, here are all the practical considerations to make your summer professional development successful!  Don't forget to register for TCDA and come to my session.

Whether you are pursuing a master's degree or National Board Certification while teaching, it is a challenging season.  Here is the actual advice that I gave to a friend that turned into a podcast episode!  You can still have work life balance while you are working on a higher education degree or the gold standard in teacher education.  Especially when we aren't kids anymore and have a partner and...

You've earned one of the best part of being a teacher: Spring Break!  Now, let's make it the right type of self-care for you by being intentional.  It might be travel, a Netflix binge or spring cleaning.  Listen in at the start of break to make this one of the best yet!  Also, my F-Flat Books instagram takeover and upcoming TCDA presentation! Buy the Happier Music Teacher E-Book Buy the Happier Mu...

Time for your district letter of intent?  Wrestling with important career considerations, possibly even leaving the profession?  I'm no career counselor but here are some points to ponder as you think about what direction to head next in your career. Happier Music Teacher Book on Amazon

If we're going to have balance in our lives, we're going to need some ideas on how to be more productive at home and at school.  Here are the tips that I use on a daily basis to get more done at home and at school.  Welcome to my new friends from TMEA and Musicplayonline.com! Happier Music Teacher Book on Amazon Happier Music Teacher Book on F-Flat Books  

Welcome to the 100th episode!  Today, we are looking at the habits that make the biggest difference in my happiness at home and at school.  They are small and easy!  You can do this!

Sometimes a house doesn't need to be gutted.  It just needs a refresh with some new paint and maybe some throw pillows.  Same with our jobs!  The whole premise of Happier Music Teacher is that small actions can increase your job satisfaction.  Try one of these this week!  See you at TMEA for Social Media and the Music Educator: Better Boundaries on February 12.

Some teaching days are monotonous or have some of our least favorite tasks!  Maybe you've had one too many days of indoor recess.  But, if you are constantly lacking joy as a music teacher, there may be other causes.  Let's tackle the second half of what might be stealing your joy as a music teacher!  P.S. It has nothing to do with whether you choose Orff, Kodaly or MLT!

What are the things that are taking our time, energy and enjoyment as music teachers?  Here in part 1, we'll name some of those culprits.  Once we name them, we can fight them better and reclaim our joy!

Just like my intro says, music teachers have no time.  Just because our time is limited doesn't mean that we should give up hope on our planning period!  Using your planning period well is a great strategy for being a Happier Music Teacher.

Grab a notebook and pen!  These are tried and true tips to make the most of your limited planning time that you can use today.

Say it after me.  Teachers are professionals!  Here are some straightforward ways to up your professionalism in 2025.  You are worth it! Maximizing Musicplay Webinar with the HMT How to get started as a speaker, podcaster and author in music education Submit to be an F-Flat Books author Buy Beth's Book on F-Flat Books Buy Beth's Book on Amazon s 

Feel overwhelmed with New Year/New You energy?  Here is a menu of really small actions that you can take in your personal life to be a Happier Music Teacher at home.  No bullet journals here!  Just easy micro-actions that you can gently incorporate into your daily routine. Buy Happier Music Teacher on Amazon Buy Happier Music Teacher as an E-Book HMT Final Stretch Challenge Episode Move Forward Sc...

Merry Christmas!  One of the perks of our job is time off at the holidays.  Sometimes we're overly optimistic about what it should look like or what we can realistically fit in.  When you are teacher tired and the expectations are high, here are some holiday hacks to take the pressure off.

Winter break?  Spring break?  Thanksgiving break?  Summer break?  Name the break and you can guarantee that the week before will test you as a music teacher!  Here is my best wisdom on those weeks when the finish line is in sight but feels so far away!

In need of some December self-care but you don't have any time, energy or money?  Me, too!  Here are my simple hacks for taking care of yourself when it needs to be fast and easy.  You're worth it!

Feeling a little teacher burnout and we are still at the beginning of December?  Here is your friendly reminder that what we do as music teachers matters!  You can do this!

Let's face it.  Sometimes we are going to be grumpy and stressed with our busy schedules at home and at school during crunch time.  However, we don't have to live in that zone!  Here are my unusual suggestions for what to do when you're feeling out of sorts.