I want this story to inspire you, so I want you to hear it from him. Jake Douglass, today’s guest, was raised by affluent parents, and was introduced to music at a very young age. Throughout childhood, he studied Suzuki flute, piano, saxophone, voice, and percussion. He still practices drums for hours each day despite a busy schedule founding and running a music education company.
Read MoreBring in others to listen
Have the vulnerability to bring somebody in to observe your rehearsals. It’s important to get this outsider perspective. Of course you can pick someone you’re comfortable with and from whom you’d welcome feedback and constructive criticism.
Say no more often
It’s okay to say no sometimes to somethings, both at work and at home. This is an important thing for us all to learn and practice. Take a minute to step back, evaluate, and prioritize.
The best educators delegate
You need to have open communication with parent boosters, student leadership, music staff, and other partners. Asking them for help doesn’t mean you can’t do things; it means you’re a good manager and that you value the contributions of others. Remember that people do like to hear “I need you.”
Read MoreRight now many teachers are in the throes of Back to School, which can cause a fair amount of stress, anxiety, and excitement. To help, Adam walks us through how to hack our classroom by helping us answer some of the most pressing questions, including:
How do we optimize our student’s focus, even if something has shaken them emotionally before they come to our classroom?
How should we set up our room for optimal flow?
What should our room feel like for our students and how do we craft that feeling?
Most of all, why is all of this important?
