Dear colleagues,

“Time flies when you’re having fun!” I guess that means I’ve been having way too much fun because I can’t believe yet another school year is rapidly drawing to a close. Hopefully this finds you relaxing with a cool beverage catching up on some well-deserved rest and enjoying time with family and friends. For teachers, summer is an important time for renewal and reflection.

People who are not teachers or familiar with the personal and professional life of teachers are often envious, even critical of teachers’ extended vacation time. They don’t realize that to be an effective teacher takes tremendous effort. I know I’m biased, but think this is even truer for music educators. Music programs are generally activity driven. The schedule of concerts, Broadway musicals, festivals, and tours can be relentless and exhausting. Furthermore, unlike most other subjects, there is no ‘down time’ when teaching music; the music teacher is ‘on’ all the time. Consequently, being a successful music educator comes at a personal cost. Stress, time away from family, and constant fatigue can seriously compromise personal health and relationships.

So as I said at the outset, summer is a crucial time in the music teacher’s year. Teaching is a giving profession and you can’t give what you don’t have. If we burnout because of too many 14 hour workdays and working weekends we can no longer share our passion, joy, and spirit with students. Whether through relaxing days at the cottage or some form of professional development, we need to regain our sense of humor, energy, and passion for the important work we do. I hope this summer is filled with wonderful times that enable you to recharge, reflect, and renew.

Best wishes for a wonderful summer!

Take care out there,

Ed Wasiak, D.M.A.
President, Canadian Music Educators' Association/
L'Association canadienne des musiciens éducateurs (CMEA/ACME)

“Together We Are the CMEA/ACME - Promoting Excellence In Music Education”