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100 Ways to be a Happy Music Teacher - 2 24 25 10.53 AM 6

[Jeanette] (0:00: Today's episode is brought to you by the Happy Music Teacher Academy, the ultimate online community where elementary music teachers build confidence, sharpen their teaching skills, and collaborate with like-minded educators. Join us for expert-led professional development, creative lesson ideas, and the support you need to thrive. Ready to elevate your music classroom? Head to the happymusicteacher.com forward slash academy and unlock your full potential today.

[Speaker 22] (0:37): This podcast is a proud member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better today, better tomorrow, and a podcast to get you there. Explore more podcasts at www.teachbetterpodcastnetwork.com. Now let's get on to the episode.

[Sally Richie] (0:52): It's the happy music teacher.

[Jeanette] (0:59): Are you an elementary music teacher who's frustrated and overwhelmed? I'm Jeanette Shorey, a happy music teacher who loves teaching every day, but it wasn't long ago I was in your shoes. Join me Wednesdays to help you find happy in your music classroom.

I am so excited today to welcome you to the 100th episode of my podcast, The Happy Music Teacher, and I can tell you it has been a labor of love. I have literally loved every single episode. This is something that I have a passion for, that I am always excited to share ideas with you and to help you with your challenges, and today I don't want to spend too much time talking because what I want to do today is I want to share 100 tips on how to be a happy music teacher, and I am not the only one that's going to be sharing. I was able to get tips from some amazing wonderful music teachers, not only names that you will know like Franklin Willis and Matthew Trevino and Debbie O'Shea, but I was also able to get tips from music teachers just like you who are part of my email community, Happy Highlights, and who wanted to share with you their tips for being a happy music teacher. So without further ado, I present to you 100 ways to be a happy music teacher. Enjoy!

[Bethany Main] (2:51): Hi everyone, Bethany Main here. My top tips for being a happy music teacher are don't try to be anyone but yourself in your classroom. Pick lessons and repertoire that excite you. Your music is your textbook. Don't reinvent the wheel every day. Kids thrive on repetition. The way you take care of yourself outside the classroom translates directly into the energy you bring into the classroom, and last but certainly not least, building your music program is like building a skyscraper. Every interaction with your students and your community is like a brick, and you build it one brick at a time. It's your job to make sure you're pouring love, care, and positivity into it.

[Cassie] (3:35): Hi, I'm Cassie from Moorhead, Minnesota, and I'd like to share three tips related to classroom management that have really transformed my teaching the past couple of years, and I hope they help you too.

 So the first thing takes a little bit of time, but it's really important to have a procedure for everything. I'm talking literally everything, so from how students enter the room, how they get materials, instruments, a pencil, and paper, even how they ask for a drink. I use some visual cues posters in my room, and we practice a lot so kids always know what to do, even if I'm not constantly reminding them, and it's great if you have a guest teacher. It's just very calm, and kids know what to expect.

 The second thing is kids need to be taught everything. We can't assume they even know how to pick a partner or start a conversation or how to talk about music, so I like to print out some very simple prompts, almost like scripts, and I put them on the wall and model, and then we practice, and so then it doesn't seem so scary because they've already done it in a very safe and controlled way, and that really helps, especially with younger grades, build on so that when we get to fourth grade, it's easy.

 The last thing is, and I know everybody has heard this before, but it's so true and it's so valuable, the less talking and more showing you can do, the better. So instead of repeating instructions over and over or giving students reminders about how to sit or don't blurt or things like that, if you have some visual aids that you can simply point to in your classroom, that will make your instruction so much less disruptive and just flow that much nicer, and it helps students too so that they don't feel like they're in trouble and it doesn't call attention to students. If a student is laying in somebody else's space or taking up too much room, and I can point, oh, you can be Pretzel Mermaid Mountain, you know, on one of my posters, I don't even have to stop teaching, I can just point to those posters. So yes, less talking, more showing, and as I'm rambling on, I realize that's even really tricky for me. So small changes though can make a big difference in your classroom. So if you have any more questions or you want to brainstorm with me or even just want to chat, feel free to reach out to me. My email is Cassie, c-a-s-s-i-e, at rootedinrhythmresources.com. I'd love to chat. Thanks.

[Christa Jones] (6:27): Hi, I'm Krista Jones from Enharmonic Education, and I'm excited to share a few tips on how to be a happy music teacher.

 Tip number one, build connections with your students, families, and school community. So a fulfilling music classroom starts with genuine connections. Of course, you can build relationships outside of the classroom by volunteering at school events and family nights, but music itself is a powerful way to connect. One of my favorite projects that I did was a few years ago. We did a school-wide folk song collection where families shared songs that were important to their home musical cultures. It was an amazing way to engage with students and families while celebrating the diversity in our school. Finding ways to bring your community into your classroom makes your role as a music teacher even more rewarding.

 Tip number two, establish positive relationships with school staff. Yes, it is frustrating when teachers are late for pickup or when schedules don't run perfectly, but you need to remember that you might be working with these colleagues for years, and a good relationship really makes everything easier. Find small ways to connect and lift each other up, whether that's a quick check-in, a kind word, or simply being supportive. A strong rapport with your fellow teachers and staff makes your day-to-day life smoother, and it helps create a positive school culture.

 And my last tip, tip number three, take time to celebrate with your students. Music class isn't just about instruction. It's about joy, connection, and shared experiences. One of the best ways to keep students engaged and excited is by making time for fun celebrations. Celebrating can be as simple as playing music bingo as a class reward, wrapping up a unit with a fun listening game, or recognizing student milestones with a musical activity. If you are looking for quick prep class reward games, you can find music bingo and other classroom celebration resources in my Teachers Pay Teachers store, Enharmonic Education. Taking the time to pause and enjoy these moments with your students makes a huge difference in your classroom culture and in your own happiness as a teacher. If you have any questions or want to connect, you can reach me from my email address at Krista at enharmoniceducation.com. My first name is spelled C-H-R-I-S-T-A. I also just started sharing behind the scenes of my TPT journey on my personal Instagrams, and I would love for you to follow along. You can find me at, at Christa Jean Jones, that's C-H-R-I-S-T-A J-E-A-N-J-E-A-N-E-S.

[Kristina] (9:35): I'm Kristina from Katie ISD, and I want to let everybody know it is okay to make a mistake and own it, because when those kids see you own it, they know you're real.

[Claire] (9:46): Hi, I'm Claire from Musically Minted, and one thing that helped me keep joy in my classroom when I was teaching is being able to pause and have fun with the kids. Sometimes it's okay to stop the lesson and laugh, because sometimes the kids get really funny answers, and going with it makes the day more fun.

[Christy Clark] (10:00): I am Christy Clark, music teacher at Andalusia Elementary. Some helpful tips that keep happy in my music classroom is to plan at least two to three different activities, such as movement, singing, playing instruments, and reading a book. This will help make all students feel happy in at least two to three activities. Also, always be positive.

[Danny] (10:22): Hi, my name is Danny from Danny Plans It on TikTok and Instagrams, and one thing that makes me happy as a music teacher when I'm planning, I plan for joy. I do things that make me happy, because when I bring my joy to the classroom, the kids feed off of it, and then my room just becomes this explosion of creativity and joy, and that's what makes me happy.

[Daria] (10:45): Hi, my name is Daria from World Music with Daria, and I have a tip to help you be a more happy music teacher in this crazy busy world.

 My tip today is to learn to play a really simple folk instrument, because one, it's a fun activity as a music teacher that's not planning or performing related. It's just fun, and we all need a little fun.

 Secondly, folk instruments are so easy that you can take all the skills and all your knowledge and just be able to do them right away.

 Thirdly, it will wow your class. So here are the three folk instruments that I think you might want to try.

The first is a Cajon, that's c-a-j-o-n, a box drum. I grew up in Peru, and this is one of the drums we love. It is a big box with a sound hole. Now, sitting upon the box, you play it just like any of the hand drums that you know how to play, with your doom and your back, and you will wow your classroom. It's an amazing sounding instrument with an awesome history from Afro-Peruvian culture. Email me if you want to know more, get some of my free worksheets on it.

Second instrument, my dears, spoons. You can go to your pantry, grab two spoons of the same size, and in five or ten minutes, you can be playing these really, really fun spoon songs to accompany your class. When you're not playing your ukulele or your guitar, you can be accompanying yourself up there in the class with two spoons. Again, if you need some ideas or help, I actually do spoon lessons. Just email me and I'll give you the email at the end.

Third instrument, washboard. Oh, could not be easier. Put two thimbles on your fingers, multiple thimbles, or if you're working with really young children, bring your washboard to class and bring, for instance, things like q-tips for sound-sensitive kids. You can bring a mixing spoon. You can bring anything, and they're really, really fun to play a washboard like a guiro or like any other rhythm instrument by just moving your hand or your beater or your thimbles up and down the ridges to get a wonderful rhythm. So simple, so easy. Let diverse books bring world cultures into your classroom. Now, no matter how much we know about music, it would be impossible for any of us to be complete experts on all world cultures, their music, and their musical instruments. So this is where great books by diverse authors that have music as part of the subject can be a wonderful thing for your classroom, and the cool thing that I think is that I always learn something new and wonderful even when it's a culture I'm familiar with. So I have a list of amazing books that are written by authentic or indigenous authors, authors that I call our own voices, meaning that the author is from the culture that they're writing about, and in most of the illustrator as well.

So if you'd like a link to all my book plus lesson resources, just email me. It's super easy. I'm dariamusic, one word, d-a-r-i-a-m-u-s-i-c at yahoo.com. Now, I know you've heard of vision boards where you get kind of a large piece of paper, and you put in it all the things you want to achieve. Now, most music teachers I know have already achieved an amazing amount of things. So my tip is to create a success board.

If you're like most music teachers juggling your home life and your friendships and your obligations, plus your love for your kids, your lesson planning, you probably kind of move from one activity to the next, and you may not take the time to say, wow, I am pretty amazing. So that's where a success board comes in. Instead of a vision board about what you want to achieve, put together something. It could be a list. It could be actual visuals of the things you have achieved so far, and that's the kind of thing you can spend a moment or two in the morning or a moment or two scrolling on your phone and begin to see, wow, I've done that. I've done this certification. Wow, I've taught this many years. Wow, I've had this influence on that many children. Wow, I succeeded at my personal goal of learning X, Y, or Z. Now, that way, instead of running from one activity to the next, you take a moment and you go, wow, I have achieved all these things. I am capable. I am powerful. I am adaptable. I am successful. And that really helps ground you and center you for the challenges lay ahead. So instead of just looking to the future, I'd love for you to take a moment and think of how great you already are, how many mountains you've climbed, how many things you've learned, how many lives you've touched.

[Debbie O'Shea] (16:09): Good day, I am Debbie O'Shea from Crescendo Music Education. And thank you for inviting me to share my tips. Jeanette, I would like to share just five tips to help you be a happy music teacher, or should I say a happier music teacher? Because I'd like to think you're happy anyway. Let's go for happier.

 Number one, decide you will be happy. It's actually all about your mindset. If you decide I am going to be happy, I am going to enjoy this job. I will find the smallest moments of that childlike joy that you can feel in those tiny seconds in your music classroom. Just make the most of that joy and connection and happiness. And if you focus on that and not the other stuff, which I won't even talk about, like administration or should I say administrivia and pressures and all sorts of things, don't focus on that. Just decide to be happy. Once you've made that decision, it's almost a fait de complete, just decide to be happy. That's my first suggestion.

 My second tip is a really important one. Make or create or join networks. You need to connect with like-minded music educators. You need their support. You need their understanding. You need them on so many levels. You need a network, more than one. I have several networks. There is no way I would still be in this job without my networks. Make sure you've got these networks and that they're strong and that you're active inside them. Don't just be a passive network person. Contribute. You get great joy out of contributing as well as gaining their support. So number two, networks.

 My third tip is learn, learn, and then learn some more. Never stop learning. I really honestly believe that the best teachers, the happiest teachers are those who keep learning, who keep trying to improve. Go to professional developments. Watch. There's so many available now. Goodness, just the ones online are amazing. Learn. That is my third tip. Just keep learning. It will fuel you. You will be happier. So that is tip three.

 Tip four, to remind yourself that every child belongs. You actually will be happier and can I say your students will be too if they all belong in your music classroom. You're in such a unique position in your school. You're teaching everybody. It's a special place, the music classroom. Every child belongs there. You will be happier. They will be happier. It doesn't matter if they're bright, if they're challenging, if they're all quirky, whatever their neurodiversity, whatever baggage they've bought from home. We can't help all of that stuff, but we can help them belong. So by helping them to belong in your classroom, then you will be happier as it's a place you belong as well. Our job is to help every child to learn and grow and to give them all a place in the music room. So that's my fourth tip.

 My fifth tip is look after yourself. I know we've heard it before, self-care. Yeah, yeah. But you know what? It's true. It is true. I made a very big effort. Oh, actually probably starting just over 10 years ago as age was creeping up on me and leaving a bigger mark. And I thought, okay, I need to do what I can do. Oh, the difference it made when I gave myself a bedtime because I'm naturally a bit of a night owl and I like to sleep in the mornings. But I certainly just went, no, no, I can't keep going like this. I had a bedtime. I get lots of sleep. Oh my goodness. The difference it makes to my life. Sleep well. Sorry, I won't. I'm going off on a tangent here, but sleep well, eat well, make sure you move. You don't even have to call it exercise. Just move. Make sure you move. Just doing those basic things for yourself will make you so much happier in your job.

Let me just quickly go over my five tips. One, mindset. Decide to be happy. Two, network with your tribe. Three, learn, learn, and then learn some more. Four, every child belongs in your classroom as well as you. Five, look after yourself. They are my five tips to be a happy or happier music teacher. And if you want to connect with me beyond this podcast, I have a podcast as well, the Crescendo Music Education Podcast, or find me at crescendo.com.au and on all of the socials. Remember that you do one of the most important jobs in the world. So please be happy about it.

[Erin Elliott] (22:28): Hi, my name is Erin Elliott, and I am a K-5 elementary music teacher in Northern Indiana. And I'm also the teacher author behind From Dairy Me to You. One piece of advice I like to share with others is that it is okay to go home without your to-do list finished. It's also okay to not take work home. Parkinson's law states that you will fill the time that you allot yourself. If you give yourself unlimited time to plan your lessons and answer emails, those tasks will take longer than necessary. So instead, set firm time limits for planning, grading, and all of your other projects. For example, give yourself one hour to plan next week's lessons. It's not an open-ended afternoon. You'll be surprised at how much more you can accomplish when you work with focus and intention. And no, your lessons and slides do not always have to be Pinterest worthy. Done is good enough.

[Franklin Willis] (23:24): Hey everybody, this is Franklin Willis from F. Willis Music.

 One tip that I would give to teachers is find your joy. Remember the reasons why you signed up to be a music teacher. Is it that solo? Is it that one teacher that touched you?

 Because now you have the opportunity to be that for young people in your classroom. Find your joy. Find the thing that makes you get up in the morning and that gives you that extra push to show up for your babies. They're counting on you. They need you. Your voice is important and you matter. Find your joy.

[Bill Henry] (23:58): Hey there, it's Bill Henry from Mr. Henry's Music World. And first, congrats to Jeanette for 100 episodes. That's amazing to offer so much great content for music teachers to listen and learn from. So thank you, Jeanette. Here are three tips to help make life as an elementary music teacher happy.

 And for me, the most important and really just very basic idea is to make it fun. And not just for your students, but for you. And actually, if it's fun for you, it will be felt by your students, and they will also have fun. Picking repertoire, progressions, games, and so on that sparks your interest makes the week something to look forward to. If you really enjoy playing instruments of different sorts, make sure to use them throughout each lesson. In my classroom, I have an electric drum set, and there are times I just play along with a track that students are performing just for fun.

 Tip number two, if you can, invite your administration into the classroom for an observation. This may be, and I'm sure it is, different from state to state, district to district. As for some of you, this may be the only way it is set up, meaning that the date and time is preset for your observation. In the county I teach for, they do have unannounced observations, which means that they can just roll in whenever. And honestly, I'm fine with this in the end, but there is a level of anxiety and stress that comes over me all at once when they unexpectedly come into the room with a computer in hand. Also, I never liked that the admin didn't really know what was going on that day or what teaching took place the week before and what would be taught in the future week. So long ago, I decided that I would take the initiative and set up an announced observation, which includes a pre- and post-observation meeting for me to discuss everything that would occur during the lesson. Every principal I've had for the 10-plus years of inviting them into the classroom has loved this approach, and it turned into something I was looking forward to rather than dreading. And I started to look at it through the lens of asking admin, how can you help me make this lesson better? In the pre-observation meeting, I would ask them to try and find holes in the lesson that they would see. And that mindset took away the pressure of it all. Either way, you have to be observed, so you might as well make it an experience of learning rather than feeling like you're on stage.

 Tip number three, it's okay to say no. Music teachers especially get asked to have students perform for this event or that event, and it can turn into where a good bit of your class time is to prepare for these different events. Of course, we want to be a part of certain events, multicultural assemblies, veterans assemblies. And what's great about these examples specifically is it can be easily woven into your lessons.

But there comes a point where it can be too much, and the curriculum learning can take a hit. If I feel like performance request overload is occurring, I let the admin know that the preparation time would take away from the curriculum objectives. And let's face it, it can be stressful to prepare for multiple performances throughout the year. So saying no is okay. Those are my top three tips. I hope it helps. And congrats again to Jeanette. Thank you so much, Jeanette, for your 100 episodes.

[Jessica Peresta] (27:56): Hi, my name is Jessica Peresta from thedomesticmusician.com. And I'm so excited to share some tips with you today that will hopefully help you as an elementary music teacher.

 My first piece of advice is to be yourself. I know this sounds so simple and something you're already doing, or you might think you're doing. But I know for me, I got so wrapped up in the be like everyone else. And am I doing this right? I would get stuck in my head. And I want to say that it's okay to have mentors. It's okay to learn from others. It's okay to take courses, listen to podcasts, read blogs, talk to other music teachers in person, see what others are doing at workshops and all those good things. But sometimes you get so wrapped up in the how everyone else is doing things mindset that you forget to be yourself. You are uniquely you. There is no one else like you. So be yourself in the music room because your students need who you are.

 My second tip is to have a growth mindset. We tell our students this all the time. Have a growth mindset. Things will be hard and you teach them ways to get over the hard things and to grow in them. And so the same thing goes for us as teachers. And I think we forget that to have a growth mindset. You are not going to know how to do everything right away. And that's okay. And sometimes it's years down the road where you feel like certain things start clicking with you as a teacher. But I want you to give yourself grace to completely understand that some things just take more time to grow than others. Have a growth mindset. Continually get in there. And instead of beating yourself up about things that didn't go right, think about what could you do next time to make them feel better. What was a learning opportunity from that experience to help you grow as a teacher?

 My third piece of advice is to teach to your students. Your students are your students. They are going to have different needs, different ways they learn, different learning styles, different types of music they enjoy learning, and all those good things. You may have already come from a different school and you're noticing this that you're going to be teaching different students than you did at your previous school. And so certain songs or activities that worked at one school may not work at another. And it sometimes isn't about scrapping the entire song or activity. Sometimes it's just about teaching it differently. Changing up the approach to teaching. Maybe taking it slower. Maybe taking it a little bit faster. Maybe you're adding in more instrumentation. Maybe this group of students needs more movement. Maybe they need to slow it down a little bit and practice steady beat and rhythm. But know your students.

They are not going to learn the same as other students at different schools because you need to know who you're teaching, and the culture they're coming from, and what they enjoy learning, and what is their background in music, and all those things come into the teacher that you're going to be to the students you teach.

 My last piece of advice, and I could go on and on, but I picked four that really matter to me, is to not just focus on the day-to-day planning. Just, oh gosh, I need to teach something tomorrow. What's it going to be? But really focusing in on long-range planning. Having that curriculum map, that scope and sequence laid out so you know where you're going from the beginning of the school year all the way to the end. Not just week to week and day to day. When you have that long-range planning in place, which is something I'm so passionate about, so please email me and ask me more questions, then you will notice how much easier the day-to-day planning becomes. Not only the planning part, but how much easier the day-to-day teaching becomes because you know where you're going. You're able to assess your students better. You're able to track where they have been and where they're going better. You're able to plug and play different songs and activities based upon where you are in your scope and sequence for the school year. I would love to answer any questions you have or to talk more a little bit about this, so you can email me at jessicathedomesticmusician.com and you can find my website at thedomesticmusician.com. Thank you and have a great day.

[Speaker 10] (32:16): Two things come to mind immediately when I think about staying a happy teacher.

 The first one is every day on lunch, whether it's five minutes or 10 minutes, even when I have a lot to do, I still take at least five minutes and do something for myself. My favorite thing is to read a book while I'm eating. Five minutes, I get a chance to relax, focus on me before I have to kick the energy back up when kids come back to class.

 The second thing that I have learned helps me stay happy is schoolwork at school. I used to bring it home all the time and I was missing out on things with family and friends and losing that connection and I learned that if it doesn't get done, the kids don't care. Music class is still going to happen. They're still going to learn. We can still have fun. So sometimes that means I have to be at school a few minutes earlier or stay a few minutes later, but I get it done and I don't take it home. Those two things have become my daily routine. I have to have a few minutes for myself during lunch and I have to leave my work at school.

[Kim] (33:26): Hi, I'm Kim from Music Teacher Resources and here's my one big tip for staying a happy music teacher and it is protect your joy by keeping music fun for yourself too. You know it's really easy to get caught up in lesson planning, classroom management and all that behind-the-scenes work that comes with teaching, but at the end of the day and at the heart of it all, you fell in love with music first before you became a teacher. Keeping that passion alive is the key to staying happy in your career and that one big tip can be broken down into five simple actionable tips.

 Number one, play or sing for yourself every day, even if it's just for five minutes. Keep music a personal joy, not just a job.

 Two, choose at least one just for fun activity in your lessons each week. Give yourself and your students something fun to look forward to.

 Three, laugh with your students. Music should be a source of joy, not just instruction.

 Number four is connect with other music teachers for support, for fresh ideas and for encouragement. You are not in this alone.

 Five, let go of perfection. Progress and encouragement matter far more than flawless execution. When you nurture your own love for music, that energy will naturally flow into your teaching and a happy teacher creates a happy learning environment and that is where the real magic happens.

[Christopher Brown] (35:21): This is Christopher Brown with Sound Thinking Interactive, happy to support teachers for the past four years in curriculum. Draw your lines early and quick and it is totally acceptable to walk away when your health and safety are on the line.

[Laura Bartolomeo] (35:38): Hi, I'm Laura Bartolomeo from Oodles of Music and here are three ways that help me stay a happy music teacher.

 The first idea is to learn and accept that it's okay to prioritize yourself. No guilt for taking a sick day or planning a lesson that's easier to teach.

 Second is to give yourself grace about everything. We are constantly learning, growing and adjusting and things aren't always going to be the way we want them. Instead of laying blame on yourself, you have to learn from the experience and move on.

 And the last way and the most meaningful to me is realizing that the best moments are not teacher of the year awards or hall of fame accolades, but the small moments during the day when it's just you and the kids. From the look on a child's face as they sing a much loved song, to the child who might not be the best reader in their classroom, but is a total rock star in your room. I learned to stand in the room and realize I was having a very special moment. If you have any questions or need help with anything, feel free to reach out to me on oodlesofmusic.com or email me at oodlesofmusic21 at gmail.com.

[Leslie] (36:45): Hello, my name is Leslie and I am the lead trainer from Quaver Ed. Now as a music teacher, one thing that always kept me happy was getting a chance to see my students in action, watching them move, hearing them sing, especially when it comes time for those performances. So sit back, relax, enjoy your students and let them be the reason why you smile.

[Matthew Trevino] (37:14): Hi, my name is Matthew Trevino from Roan Forest Elementary in San Antonio, Texas.

 And my one tip is to not take yourself so seriously. Sometimes you can just let it go, just enjoy things, have fun.

[Sally Richie] (37:30): Hi, I'm Sally Richie from Keys to Imagination, and I have created a group of games to help you make learning music skills just a lot more fun for your students. It makes it so satisfying to see them enjoy learning. It can make your life easier.

[Sarah Gulish] (37:49): Hi, this is Sarah Gulish from FLAT Books, and I'm sharing three tips on how to be a happy music teacher.

 My first tip might seem kind of strange, but it's actually that I think you should be okay with being sad. Here's what I mean by this. So often I see young teachers and even veteran teachers pressuring themselves to always love everything they do with their job. And by doing that, they're not allowing themselves to be human. And to be human means to experience a range of emotions. And if we don't work through tough emotions, then we can't work through the positive ones either. So I want to say it's okay to have hard days. It's okay to feel sad or frustrated at times, and acknowledging that and moving through that will actually help you be happier in your job.

 The second one is that you should empower your students so that you can have less on your plate. The first time I went on maternity leave, I was shocked at how much my students stepped up and it made me realize that for a decade, I was doing things that my kids could have managed. And not only would it have helped me have more space and time in my schedule, it would have empowered them and given them more engagement and autonomy and agency in the classroom. So use your student empowerment as a way to make sure that you have the space that you need to take care of yourself.

 And then my final tip is find the joy in the things that you love when it comes to music. If you're not having fun in music class, if you're not enjoying the music that you're making, the students are going to notice that and they're not going to find joy either. Get connected with the things that really light you up, whether it's going to a concert in your community or making music on an instrument you haven't played in a while. If you can recapture that joy of music making, you'll be able to help your students do the same. And I truly believe that these three tips helped to make me happier as a music teacher and I hope that they'll do the same for you. If you have any questions or want additional support for any of these tips or just teaching in general, you can always reach me, Sarah at fflat-books.com or on social media at F Flat Books.

[Steve Hayden] (40:09): Hi, I'm Steve Hayden. I'm an elementary music teacher at Martin Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas, Northside ISD. And my favorite part about teaching is just connecting with kids and seeing their smiles and when they say, yay, today's music day, I can't wait to go. And I often get in trouble because I don't close class on time because we're just having so much fun and the teacher will come knock on the door and say, it's time to go. And I'm like, no. And all the kids are like, no. But yeah, it's the kids.

[Tyler Swick] (40:46): I'm Tyler Swick and my advice is to teach the music you believe in because the students will believe in it much faster if you do too.

[Jeanette] (40:56): This was so exciting because I also reached out to my email community, Happy Highlights, and I had some amazing, savvy music teachers who shared their favorite tips for how to be a happy music teacher. April says, keep those kindergartners constantly moving. If their little bodies are tired by the end of class, then you have succeeded. A tired kid is a well-behaved kid. Julie from Illinois says, this is my quiet signal. Five, four, three, two, one, talking's done. Ruby says, if space allows, display relevant themed picture books. Oh, she's speaking my language here with the picture books. For your students to notice when they come into the music room. I have found that since I display books on a rotating monthly basis, based on the content we're covering, my students will actively go and look at them during transitions or free time. For Black History Month right now, for example, I have books about Trombone Shorty, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, and Beyonce out, as well as other titles like Sing Your Song or We Shall Overcome. And my kids go over them and thumb through the pages for a few minutes during transitions.

I love that she's letting her kids get up and do that. So cool. Sometimes I do an actual lesson with the book, but I don't have lessons for everything. But my kids can always go and look at the display when there's time. And if enough kids ask about a book or an artist, I might seek out something special to appeal to that particular interest. Pure gold. Plus, it's a way to keep the displays fresh. The kids do notice the theming and variety every month. And some of the books I buy on my own, but I utilize our library as well because getting books can get really expensive. Don't I know that, Ruby? Rhonda says, for years, I would painstakingly check the names of the course students on the winter and spring program. One year, I missed a student's name. The student was so disappointed that I vowed to never miss or misspell another name again. And I have had that happen to me too, Rhonda, the exact same thing. After 20 years of checking names, I finally realized that I could print the program and have the kids check out their own names.

Brilliant. A huge stress was taken off my shoulders. Just wish wouldn't have taken me so long to figure that out. And again, I feel you, Rhonda, because the exact same thing happened to me. All of a sudden, a light bulb went on and I was like, oh my gosh, why should I not be having the kids check their own names? Now, my thing was, I would always wait till the last minute so it would be a total scramble. So probably that's not happening to Rhonda, but excellent tip, Rhonda. Shelly says, focus on the music, not the plan or the curriculum outcome. The music.

We foster enjoyment, SEL, and well-being in what we teach. Holy cow, that was amazing, wasn't it? I hope that you've learned some things and that you'll take these tips back to your classroom and just use them to be a happy music teacher, too. If you got some great tips and tricks that are going to help you be a happy music teacher, I would be so thankful if you would go on and leave me a five-star review. So how do you do that? You open up whichever podcast app you like to use, go to my podcast, The Happy Music Teacher, scroll down to Ratings and Reviews, and click Write a Review. You can rate the podcast with stars, five is my favorite, and you can write your review and then submit it. I would be so thankful. Well, that's all I have for you today, but before I go, I want to remind you, keep learning, keep growing, and keep being fabulous you.