BrassClef Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 (edited) So this weekend, re-affirmed my passion for teaching: The hornline circled the staff up after the last run through of the season, and played the corps song for us. At finals, when the corps hit the final push in the closer, I lost it. As we circled up outside the stadium waiting for retreat, the members coming up, giving me hugs, expressing their thanks and just seeing them truly enjoying the moment. THAT is what is all about. And now I'm sitting at work haha. Edited September 3, 2013 by BrassClef Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv4corps Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I started to get burnt out just while marching drum corps. While I found a way past it, burnt-outness is something I want to avoid at all costs. I also read about the existential crises people who make their passions their careers experience if/when they start to get burnt out. Never want that to happen to me. I would never discourage someone from becoming a music educator if that's what they really want but the above post rings true for me. I am not a band director, but an elementary music specialist. I do teach very beginning band instruments to 4th and 5th graders but that is not my main focus. I guess you could say I have a hand in creating the spark that motivates kids to join band in middle school. Anyway, after teaching music for 17 years, it has affected my enjoyment of music - a lot. I still love listening to music but I rarely play or sing anymore. I used to participate in various music groups around town. I do none of that anymore. I also have to deal with fundraising, constant budget cuts, unwanted transfers, school politics and...suffice it to say I have reached total burn out at this point. It is sad but it happens. I am considering early retirement and finding something completely different to do with the rest of my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drilltech1 Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 (edited) Dude. It's really not that bleak. If you are great at what you do, you will get paid to do it. I was the first person in my graduating class to get a directing job even before I graduated and I turned it down to go do Blast. Now one does have to be good, but to me if you have a passion and you are good at it and you choose something else out of fear or looking for security, then you've missed out. C'mon man. The Road Less Traveled. Honestly don't listen to me. Just watch this. Absolutely beautiful. And this video inspires me to keep coming back to teaching drum corps because I love it so very very much. And they do pay me a reasonable fee to do it that puts food on my table. Imagine that. Look again sir, the jobs are no longer out there for the ones beginning. I am glad your experience was different but it is far from the universal experience. Fine arts are now, unfortunately, considered luxury money and are often subjected to the first cut backs. For some many regions of our nation, it is that bleak. Looking at your drum corps teaching resume on your DCP profile does not challenge how vunerable and unstable the choice as a life profession really is, does it? You don't seem to stay for tenure... Edited September 5, 2013 by drilltech1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hirsbrunner Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 (edited) Actually, job opportunity is looking up now and especially in the future. Some music education departments at universities have close to 100% job placement after graduation. The odds of getting a music teaching job in say your home town are rare but if you're willing to go where the jobs are there are plenty out there. I've heard that a high percentage of jobs are held by the older population of directors who will be retiring within the next 5 or so years. For those graduating college at this time they have a decent shot at jobs. Edited September 3, 2013 by Hirsbrunner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tylercrawford Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 (edited) Moral of the story: You can pursue your passions, and it doesn't have to be YOUR DAY JOB. It's safe to say I still have an impact on kids lives, and get them excited about music, it's just after rehearsal I go home and don't have to deal with the school. Great post BrassClef. I, like many other 15/16 year olds at the time of their first band experience, toyed with the idea of being a band director after hearing the full ensemble and watching how cool it was back home on tape. My HS band director never persuaded me otherwise but told me he wanted a serious conversation with me if I was ever serious about being a band director. Never had that conversation with him because I decided on not doing music education and instead ended up in machining/engineering. I say that to say this: I know now that I probably wouldn't be that great of a director. I absolutely love the experiences I've had and my current HS related position of woodwind caption head of a local HS and visual tech but I experience the BEST parts of education. I only deal with the kids and their playing for 10+hours a week . . . I'm not responsible for scheduling camps, buses, food, homecomings with chorus, dealing the the band parents association, dealing with the school faculty, setting/agreeing to the fiscal year budget, acquiring new instruments, scheduling repairs, and all the other administrative responsibilities a director has on top of teaching our young people. I literally show up before practice, leave after practice, attend games/competitions and work with the rest of the staff in the off-season on what next year's show will be. I literally get the part EVERYONE loves and none of what they don't. Marching band is my escape from work (love my job but its nice to be able to think musically when not in a machine shop) and I'm never burnt out which is really how I would like it to be. Edited September 4, 2013 by tylercrawford 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
normy diploome Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Actually, job opportunity is looking up now and especially in the future. Some music education departments at universities have close to 100% job placement after graduation. The odds of getting a music teaching job in say your home town are rare but if you're willing to go where the jobs are there are plenty out there. I've heard that a high percentage of jobs are held by the older population of directors who will be retiring within the next 5 or so years. For those graduating college at this time they have a decent shot at jobs. Perhaps it would be good to cite and specifically name what universities are so revered and successful in placements. I'm sure others would be interested as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcbari Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Perhaps it would be good to cite and specifically name what universities are so revered and successful in placements. I'm sure others would be interested as well. Morehead State in Kentucky. Small, but a powerhouse music school. The head director is rather well known in the music education field... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangelego2 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Perhaps it would be good to cite and specifically name what universities are so revered and successful in placements. I'm sure others would be interested as well. Central Michigan is a university I know of that's dangerously close to 100% job placement after graduation from their Music Ed program. They have the strongest (undergraduate) Music Ed program in the state. They have an incredible head band director there as well. But yes, jobs are out there if you're willing to travel to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hirsbrunner Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Perhaps it would be good to cite and specifically name what universities are so revered and successful in placements. I'm sure others would be interested as well. University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA) for one and I know there are a few others but not off the top of my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadets98 Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Look again sir, the jobs are no longer out there for the one's beginning. I am glad you're experience was different but it is far from the universal experience. Fine arts are now, unfortunately, considered luxury money and are often subjected to the first cut backs. For some many regions of our nation, it is that bleak. Looking at your drum corps teaching resume on your DCP profile does not challenge how vunerable and unstable the choice as a life profession really is, does it? You don't seem to stay for tenure... Fair criticism of my drum corps career. However, all of my changes have been for moving forward or taking a break from drum corps. I've never been fired. I can tell you that I'm very happy where I am now and plan to stay there as long as they'll have me. I still would rather have the life that I have now which is not making much money to a life that may be more secure but not as satisfying. I still believe if you love it, practice it so you are great at it, and then do it no matter what it is. I think about Jeff Prosperie as an example. He plays snare drum for a living!! Would he be happier if he sold insurance? I can't speak for him but I couldn't imagine. Nothing wrong with selling insurance but if someone with great musical talent is not using it to be more secure financially then I think they are making a mistake. We would all be missing out if Properie would have taken the road more travelled. And that's just one example. 1000's of examples of people who have followed their dream and 1000's more of people who wished they had. Don't let fear hold you back is my advice. Sure some band programs are dying. And also some band programs still spend a whole lot of money if not more than ever. As you know, many people's careers involve just writing for drum corps, marching band and winter programs. And they do just fine. Get to stay at home with the kids. Anyway, I could go on forever but I think my point is made. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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