An Attitude of Gratitude: 4 Gifts of Being a Music Teacher

Thanksgiving is an amalgamation of several wonderful holiday components. First, there’s the food... lots of food! This one-day pass to indulge in all the turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce we can eat often ends with me falling asleep on the couch to the sounds of college football. Then, there’s the opportunity to gather together with loved ones. If your family includes the equivalent of the Griswald’s (from National Lampoon’s Vacation), you may be glad Thanksgiving comes but once a year.

While food and family are great, the central focus of Thanksgiving, of course, is the chance to be demonstrably grateful for all we have and to those who bless us. This Thanksgiving, here are four items specific to our work as ensemble music directors to be mindful of, and grateful for:

1. Our students choose to be with us.

Our students sign up for band and orchestra for a variety of reasons, but often we’re one of them—or maybe they sign up in spite of us!—regardless, they stay despite our practice requirements, the sometimes-heavy instruments they have to lug around, and a host of other things that might derail their participation.

Years ago, my son and I were driving to see a parade in a neighboring town. On the way, we passed a sousaphone player from one of the local high school bands walking to the start of the parade route. What was remarkable to me was that we spotted him about a mile from the start of the parade, wearing a wool uniform, on a hot September day, carrying a sousaphone! This kid had heart for sure, but he isn’t too dissimilar from the students I see lugging bari saxophones, cellos, and more off the bus and through the hallways every morning. How lucky are we that these are our students?

2. Those who helped launch our involvement in music.

Each Thanksgiving, my mind is drawn back to fond memories I have of the “Turkey Day” game that took place between my high school and its cross-town rival. The game was a hotly-contested matter of town pride. Nonetheless, the marching bands from each school had a special tradition of performing together for the crowd each year. Both units and their directors would report to the field early Thanksgiving morning—hours before the game—to rehearse the collaborative show. I honestly can’t remember whether we won or lost, but I do remember the thrill of the game and how much fun it was performing for the crowd. I also remember returning home after the game to a sumptuous Thanksgiving meal prepared by my mother.

As I reflect back, of course, I realize how that day was full of wonderful, generous people making it all happen for me and my bandmates. Parents got up early to drop us at the field to rehearse. Others assisted as chaperones, by staffing the concession stand, by moving instruments and equipment around the field, and in many other ways. The directors, their staff, and their families made sacrifices to be there on that day, too. Moms like mine, who attended the game, somehow still miraculously got home in time to whip together an entire turkey dinner for the whole family following the game! We will probably never know the full extent of all that parents, directors, private lesson teachers, etc. did to facilitate our involvement in music, but we can and should be grateful.

3. Those who support our work (our “mission”) now.

The 17th Century English poet, John Donne, had it right: “No man is an island.” All we accomplish is, in part, due to the support and help of those around us. I know many band directors whose spouse or partner is on staff with their band, working for a small (or no) stipend just to help the endeavor succeed. The cooperation and support of building and district colleagues is huge as well. I’m blessed to be part of a smart and talented music department that pitches in to help one another, both professionally and personally. I’m so grateful for the classroom teachers who work around our “pullout” lesson schedule and those in my professional learning network (face-to-face and online) who share great tips or words of encouragement. Certainly if an administrator has come alongside you, with empathy and understanding to help facilitate what you do, you are fortunate.

4. The unique nature of our job.

Ensemble music directors—who work with students over multiple years, often beyond the school day—are well-positioned to make a significant difference in the lives of their students. One of the things I love about the school band experience, when so much of society is geared toward serving the personal preferences of individuals, is that it is still a place for youngsters to learn the value of working together in deference toward one another toward a shared goal. I also value the opportunity I have each day to express my creative self and to unlock creativity in my students. Our jobs give us the chance (and responsibility) to shape young lives, imparting crucial life lessons along the way.

An Attitude of Gratitude

An attitude of gratitude is something we should carry with us throughout the year. Even a cursory online search for studies that validate the benefits of being grateful turns up hours of reading. There really is a lot, and I don’t have the space here to enumerate even the best, most recent studies. Suffice it to say, people who are grateful are happier, healthier (physically and emotionally), sleep better, enjoy more and better relationships, have better self-esteem, and more! I’ve heard it said that “It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy.”

I hope when you count your blessings this Thanksgiving, you will consider your students, those who gave you your start in music, those who support you now, and your job itself among them.

Wishing you and yours a happy, and grateful , Thanksgiving!