Before You Rebuild the Program, Rebuild Yourself
- 4 days ago
- 1 min read
by Aaron Noë
Summers can be an emotional rollercoaster for band directors.
On one hand, you feel the release of making it through another year. You’ve started new initiatives, created some amazing musical moments, noticed things that need to change, taken inventory, and finalized the gradebook.
On the other hand, there is a sense of anxiety about the coming fall. You worry about recruiting efforts and what the band will look like in the fall. There’s wondering whether any students will move out of the district or move in. There’s the mountain of tasks that “need to get done” in order to start the year off on the right foot.
But one thing a lot of us neglect is taking care of ourselves.
Summer needs to be a time of reset. Not just to reflect and plan new initiatives for the fall. But a reset for your own well-being.
I want to encourage you to be intentional about your rest over the next few weeks.
Taking a rest and giving yourself space isn’t laziness. It’s an important part of being the best band director you can be. Burnout can put you into a reactive state. You become less patient. And affects your creativity.
Give yourself permission to take a break from band directing.
Before you plan another event, answer another email, or think strategy, take time to rest.
When you give yourself to recover, you will discover the energy and creativity to build the systems that will help your program grow without requiring you to sacrifice yourself in the process.
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