Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

I hope that by now your in-box, voice mail, and teacher mailbox are OVERFLOWING with messages of thanks and appreciation for all that you do. Other than a parent, few adults can rival the opportunity for real impact that a music teacher provides. The overall level of commitment your students make, the emotionally charged environment of making music, and the sheer magnitude of time you spend together creates a virtual perfect storm of opportunity for character enhancement. This something that we sometimes take for granted and other teachers crave. But this opportunity comes at a cost, personal and professional.
 
Listen... I know that you are tired. I know that you are frustrated by increasing demands and decreasing time. I know that you are concerned about budgets, job security, and the future of music education. I know that more than a few of you have considered making a change to your career on more than one occasion. Having said that, I wanted to tell you something.

You matter to your students.
You make a difference in their lives.
You make your school and community a more human place.
You matter to them.
You matter to me.
You matter!
 
Music is important and without you, there is no music, and that would be a tragedy, for you and for your students. I have always believed that your worst day on a podium is better than your best day in a cubicle.