The desire to be a better teacher

-Stathia Orwig

There are numerous reasons to be a part of a professional music teachers organization, but one of best is attending annual music conferences around the US. I just returned from the MTNA conference in San Antonio, Texas, and wow is all I can say! By the 4th day, my brain was about to explode! The benefits of going to conferences are the relationships you make with other teachers in the nation, learning from each other, hearing about the “new” teaching resources that are out there, and of course, the continuing education you receive.

Why would music teachers need continuing education? Don’t we already know what we are doing? What extent of learning could justify the make-up lessons and the expense of a 5 day conference?

Here are just a few topics to give you the idea of what filled my brain:

• teaching with first time students
• teaching holistically (and what mental health has to do with music)
• learning about the importance of the teacher-student-parent relationship
• getting students to push through their musical slumps
• How to be a successful entrepreneur
• learning marketing techniques
• opening a successful music studio
• teaching students to become independent learners
• how to get students to talk about music
• hearing about cool new piano apps that will help motivate my students

Amazing, right? Did I mention the fact that we got to hear Time for Three perform AND talk with us on making music a career? I was in the front row!! If you have not heard of them, check them out! I cannot say enough about these guys.

I left the conference with what Time for Three said still in my mind: “In teaching music and in performing, you can’t sell something that’s fake. You can only sell what’s real. You have to believe.” I think this applies to both myself, as well as my students. I have to be myself to be successful. My students have to believe that they have the talent and ability to learn music. Regardless of whether they are super serious musicians or making music for fun, learning music helps one to be successful in life. 

The desire to be a better person and teacher is continually on my mind. I’m excited to bring back all of the knowledge I learned and apply it to my teaching. To my students- are you ready!!??