Posted by Can't do this anymore on 9/9/2024, 9:06 pm
Hello everyone! I'm currently on my 7th year as a band director and I've been having terrible years back to back for the last 3 years. I really don't feel like I can keep doing this. I feel like this needs to be my last year teaching. My mental health and physical health are suffering due to the immense amount of stress and pressure I have on me. I had considered applying for director jobs at other schools in my area but nobody is leaving and nobody is hiring. I would love some advice on what other career options I have with my teaching and director experience. Anyone in the same boat or gone through a similar transition?
You are not alone. Anyone who follows this board has read similar posts.
I do not know the specifics of why your last three years have been terrible. That can mean more than one thing so the advice I’m going to give is necessarily generic.
I think one of your best options is a change of subject. Only you can decide what that subject would be, but here are the advantages of being, for instance, a history teacher versus band director: — Regular hours. No night practices. No late Friday nights. — No UIL judgments that the whole community knows about.
If those are sources of your stress you could leave those behind in a very honorable way.
There are other options out there but if you think you want to teach (and enjoy summer vacations that you won't get when you leave teaching) maybe it's a priority or organization adjustment needed. What "stress" and "pressure" do you have on you?
It's band. Sometimes we take ourselves WAY too seriously and need to remind ourselves it's just band. Have good rehearsal plans, have good rehearsal etiquette and expectations and teach music. If you are HS and feel like you are behind learning the show, simplify it. If you are middle school or beginning band focus on the fact that you spend 6 hours a day making music. And if you aren't spending 6 hours a day making music something is wrong with your schedule, your rehearsal plans, or your school.
I know when I reflect back the pressure and stress I had were 99% self inflicted. I had much higher standards than any admin or parent around me did. That doesn't mean you change that but it does help put in perspective that maybe the "pressure" you feel isn't really there and you can relax and just keep doing what you are doing. Makes it more fun.
You put in at least fifteen years of work to get to this point: high school, college, and your seven years. Are you sure you want to give up what was something you enjoyed?
If so, consider corporate training, working for an ESC region, or even perhaps a change in subject. It's really quite easy to get a social studies certificate with your music history knowledge and a basic amount of history information (Source: got one).
If you still want to do music, but not what you currently do, switch levels. Go from high school to middle, or vice versa. Take a couple years and teach elementary - it's a blast, and much lower stress. But above all else, if you KNOW it's the situation that's stressing you out, CHANGE the situation.
Don't assume that TMEA has all the postings. Many districts don't post on TMEA at all. Check the ESC websites in the spring as well as individual district website. Apply in the pool.
If you still want to do music but not teaching, maybe consider working as a road rep for a local music store. You won't make nearly the money and you're going to put a ton of miles on your car, but it may be satisfying for you. You could also work in the business side of one of the orchestras or bands - Dallas Winds has a not insignificant staff, and the Dallas and Fort Worth Symphonies have both hired people in the past year or two also. I'm sure Houston and San Antonio, among others, has other places.
Finally, if you have a Masters degree, consider teaching as an adjunct at your local community college.
I'll be completely honest here...I believe that years 6-10 are the most difficult in our field. During that time, I had become a head director for the first time and felt like I was nowhere near prepared for the job. Because of that, I overworked myself instead of working smarter. If you find that you are at work more than you are at home, you definitely need a change. Whether that is a change of workplace or a change of hours and obligations is up to you. I wish you the best. If you hang in there, it will get better. Please prioritize your health over your job!
