Wellness & Self-Care
Top 75+ Ways to Say No and the Value of Saying Yes
As teachers, we all know how hard it can be to say no. We often feel obligated to take on more than we can handle, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Thankfully, there are ways to politely decline without sacrificing our own needs. But don’t worry, we don’t have to narrow it down to just five. I may have gotten a little carried away as I came up with 75+ ways to say no, while also remembering there is value in saying yes.
The Zero-Energy List: Releasing Unnecessary Burdens of Teacher Life
Teachers are emotionally connected to their work in a deep way. After all, students are more than numbers on a spreadsheet; they are long-term investments involving untold hours of planning and care. Essential as it may be, it’s that very emotional connection that sometimes leads us down the wrong path.
The Value of Volunteering
“I don’t have time.” But do you have time to gain knowledge and experience while expanding your professional community? Do you have time to seek a greater sense of purpose while enriching your personal network? The value of volunteering is greater than the time given.
The Laws of Human Nature
While reading this book, I was often stopped in my tracks by its profound and sometimes brutal truths, yet I ultimately found a great sense of peace and purpose as I worked through its pages. If you manage people, work with people or are a person, this book will help you.
The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success
I recently read The Gap and The Gain, by authors Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. In this book, they introduce a powerful mindset shift that can transform the way we measure success in any aspect of life. They argue that people tend to focus on the gap between where they are and their ideal. This comparison trap often leads to frustration and unhappiness. Instead, they advocate focusing on the gain, measuring how far one has come rather than how far there is to go. “Always measure backwards” is a principle that has profound implications for music educators, studio owners and performers alike. By shifting our perspective from what is lacking to what has been achieved, we can foster greater motivation, resilience and long-term success.
Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
Practical Insights for Balancing Fun, Organization and Wellness in Summer and Beyond
Original Broadcast: February 2, 2024 Telling our individual human stories is a powerful way to connect to one another. As musicians and teachers, we tell these stories when we are engaged with our students or an audience. Composers tell stories in their music, and the joy, surprise, tragedy and humour are woven into the text of harmony, rhythm and melody. These musical scores entrusted to us are the story scripts, and like actors, we must study, explore, and embody the story of the composer’s music. By embracing both our own stories and the stories of the music, we have a guiding purpose that links the artistic choices we make along the way. In this webinar, we will examine some of the remarkable stories in the music that we teach and perform, and explore different ways to highlight character, phrasing, timing, tone, touch and other elements of artistry to ensure that those stories are told with meaning and respect.
Paradise Lost, Strength Gained: A Music Teacher’s Path to Mental Wellness
Imagine waking up every morning in paradise: your gated community, a gym and other amenities just steps away and the beach only a few yards from your door. Your piano studio is filled with students, buzzing with energy. Each year, you hold your piano recital at a beach house, where after recitals families walk out onto the sand, leis around their necks, smiles wide.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. How we can learn to fulfill our potential
Do we each have an innate way to process information and work on projects, or can we cultivate a new, more open way of thinking? Mindset: The New Psychology of Success is an updated version of the original best-selling book Mindset. Dweck offers ample valuable insight into her research, personal experiences, setbacks and victories, while reflecting on her own mindset and how the mindsets of others impacted her. She contrasts the “fixed mindset” with the “growth mindset” through the use of personal stories, research and contributions from well-known personalities and scientists. Dweck makes the case that we all have preconceived notions of what makes us or our students “talented” or “intelligent.” In this fascinating book, you will discover new ways to frame questions and accolades for yourself, colleagues and students. You’ll get fresh perspectives on how to motivate others to want to learn more and to discover the joys of accomplishments. Dweck debunks myths of inborn talent, entitlement and superiority that tend to cloud our judgements and our achievements. Ultimately, she offers us a way to use our mindset to thrive and persevere in our studios and professions.
Invigorating Our Studios
We all want our studios to be thriving centers of learning and enthusiasm. Yet at times, boredom, stress or exhaustion can creep into the studio of even the most enthusiastic among us. In the business world, companies constantly evaluate efficiency, assess causes for success or failure and strive to improve products and services. As independent teachers, we need to take a similarly proactive approach to create a studio with refreshed, invigorated and innovative teaching.
Invest in Yourself: The Value of Attending a National Conference
Would you hire a CPA who is not up to date on the latest IRS regulations? Would you retain a lawyer who doesn’t stay current with the latest rulings? Professional development is an essential element of staying relevant in any profession. An investment in yourself is…priceless.
Studio Refresh! Essential Business Topics to Revisit Annually
Times change, but strong business practices never go out of style. An annual refresh keeps a studio vibrant, relevant and meeting the needs of students and parents. Compiled by the MTNA Business Network, the highlights important studio topics that warrant regular review. Follow along as we explore these key studio topics in more detail.
Career Choices in Music Beyond the Pandemic: Musical and Psychological Perspectives
Better than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits
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