The summer can seem all too short for both teachers and students. Before you know it, it’s time to gear up for a new school year, new students, and new challenges. Getting your learning space ready for the next batch of aspiring musicians is an annual job. Depending on the amount of preparation you did the following spring, it will require some effort. But don’t worry if you left your room in a (seeming) shambles before leaving in summer. There are tons of easy ways to make the fall transition less stressful and more productive.

 

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Many teachers face the same money challenges year after year. Discovering ways to meet the funding gaps in your classroom budget can be difficult when combined with all the other back-to-school responsibilities you have on your plate. A number of cash-strapped school districts can barely afford necessities, so extras are usually out of the question. Educators often foot the bill for special projects they’ve planned.

 

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Almost every teacher has been blessed with a gifted student during their career. Learners who display a propensity to grasp rhythm, pitch, and other musical elements immediately are a delight to instruct. Of course, not every pupil has natural talent, however most of them make progress in a fairly similar time frame. Although each student develops at their own unique rate, you can typically measure advancement by curriculum standards.

 

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Teaching a gifted student is a rewarding task. Seeing your instruction applied and helping a talented musician discover their own abilities makes the effort involved seem trifling for music educators. However, it can be difficult when a student who shows so much promise resists your exertions. In that case, teaching a talented pupil becomes a chore.

 

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It’s easy for anyone to get into a rut. When you’re a music student, you work with the same group of peers and teachers for several years. Working with those who know you and your quirks so well is a great support foundation for your growth as an artist. Yet it’s also good to shake things up. That’s where taking a masterclass comes in.

 

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Perhaps you've noticed that one of your students is remarkably able to grasp new concepts. Maybe you’ve recognized an amazing aptitude while instructing a beginner. Discovering that you have a natural talent on your hands can be exciting. However, many music educators wonder how to deliver the best instruction without overwhelming a young musician. You want to encourage their gift and inspire them to learn, but aren’t sure how to go about it.

 

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Music educators and teachers all around the country are preparing to close their classrooms for the summer. Although this time of year can be a little hectic with final grades and end of the year recitals, the last thing you want to do is come back in the fall and find your classroom in shambles. Since the beginning of the year has its own set of difficulties, finding ways to close your learning area so that everything is ready for fall can make it much easier to start the year stress-free.

 

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Ah, the dreaded audition. Although it’s part of every musician’s life, for many students the thought of an audition conjures up all sorts of hideous images like freezing on stage or making an embarrassing blunder. As a music instructor you know that students are exposed to auditions very early in their education. Therefore, finding ways to make auditions fun for students, instead of the frightening and nerve-racking experience they are for most people, can go a long way toward building a healthy approach to auditions later in life.

 

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Private tutoring can be a great side gig or your dream – freelance life. Either way, finding students is hard work and it's never over.  Here are some marketing tips to freshen up your game.

 

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As the end of the school year approaches, most teachers are planning summer fun, dreaming of relaxing at the beach, or blissfully envisioning the opportunity of sleeping past 5:00 a.m. more than twice a week. Those wonderful rewards are right around the corner, but don't forget your students have worked hard this year, too. As a music educator, you’ve probably already been planning to celebrate your students’ accomplishments in some way, but it can be hard to come up with new ideas that will motivate young musicians.

 

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