YELLOW BRICK ROAD MUSIC

The Surprising Benefits of Music Education Blogs

INSPIRATION
Creativity is a well-known perk of working in the arts. However, that doesn’t mean that music teachers are always brimming with lesson ideas. Sometimes, the ideas just don’t come, and when that happens, it’s nice to be able to turn to music education blogs for inspiration. Some of my favorite lessons came from my time scrolling through music education blogs. After all, nobody appreciates pool noodles, tiny erasers, and colored magnets like music teachers!


EXPOSURE
As a blog reader, you’ll be exposed to teaching ideas from all around the world. These ideas will include multiple approaches and methods, all of which add to your knowledge base of music education. If you’re looking for a new lesson idea or simply want to change up a familiar activity, music education blogs are a fantastic resource. As a blog author, you’ll be surprised to discover how your ideas might transform and grow in your readers’ classrooms.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
I learn so much while reading music education blogs. I’m exposed to new methods, music technology, apps, and literature, all while sitting at home in my comfy office chair. Even better, I can initiate a conversation with highly-skilled teachers through their comments section. I adore music conferences, but I’ve learned just as much (if not more) from reading music education blogs.

EMOTIONAL HYGIENE
As teachers, we wouldn’t hesitate to refer stressed out students to a professional counselor.  Yet, it seems that we are not nearly as eager to place the same importance on our own mental health. I believe very strongly in maintaining psychological heath. I believe that when I take good care of myself (both emotionally and physically), then I’ll be able to take better care of the people around me.

Stress relief and emotional hygiene look different for different people. For me, emotional hygiene is seeing a counselor and practicing Yoga every day, which helps me to build a strong body and mind. For others, this might mean venting in music teacher forums or seeking the advice of a trusted teacher-mentor. Whether the camaraderie comes in the form of professional therapy or a music education blogger you can relate to, it’s important to seek the support you need to be your best and healthiest self.

Guy Winch, a licensed psychologist, author, and public speaker gave an inspiring TED Talk on the topic of emotional hygiene. In his talk, he points out the absurdity that we teach children all about their physical health, while often ignoring the importance of their education in maintaining their psychological health.

Sometimes, I hear people mistake mental health issues as weaknesses, but one insightful blogger refutes this beautifully:

“It is becoming more apparent among health professionals that depressive illnesses are often the preserve of the hard-working and conscientious. Strong characters such as Winston Churchill have suffered recurrent depressive episodes due to their obsession with doing things well and trying to be all things to all men. It is by no means an illness caused by weakness.”


VALIDATION
As teachers, we strive to do our very best, so it’s refreshing to read music education blogs which simultaneously reveal our biggest frustrations and need for emotional hygiene, while also validating our best teaching practices. This is especially true in the area of music education, in which you may be the only music teacher in your building or district. As a blogger, I love to read comments from other teachers telling me that they’ve used the same activity or lesson idea in their classes. It’s inspiring to know that we can have shared success through music education blogs.

Okay, so where do you go from here? That part’s easy. Whether you are familiar with the world of music education blogs or not, I encourage you to visit the following page to find inspiration, resources, and a listening ear –> MusicEdBlogs

8 Responses

  1. Wow. I totally needed that video. Thank you for sharing it. I really appreciate your blog and I'm so thankful for people like you. Be well!

    1. Your comment really made my day!! I loved the video, and I'm so glad it spoke to you. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me 🙂

  2. I love this post, and agree whole-heartedly. Blogging has been so helpful for my own emotional health, and I know other teachers feel the same! And the ideas I get from music teaching blogs is incredible. I am a much better teacher because of the lesson ideas, organization tips, behavior management strategies, and more ideas that I have gotten from blog posts. The biggest benefit for me is when I am planning out my lessons and I want a fresh idea for teaching a particular concept- I know exactly where to look! Thanks so much for sharing this post, Jennifer. #fermatafridays

  3. When you think about it, there are a lot of similarities between communicating through language and communicating through music! Both forms of communication require you to express emotion, follow certain guidelines, recognize rhythm, and respond to cues from others involved in the ‘conversation’.