This post may contain affiliate links. You pay the same and I get a small commission. Yay! (Please see my/our full disclosure for further information.)
It’s hard living on music teacher island. You have other teachers in your building, and maybe even other arts teachers, but none of them really get it. They can’t help you pick out the best folk songs to teach half notes, explain the steps to a folk dance better, or come up with ways to make reading rhythms more exciting. It’s important to have a school community, but you also need to find a music teacher community.
Having a music teacher community gives you someone to call, text, or email when you need an extra hand, when you’re looking for another bass xylophone, when you need help lesson planning, or when you jut need to vent with someone who gets it.
So how do you find this music teacher community? Let’s talk about it.
School Community
First off, you need a community close to home– teachers in your building that can help you with building stuff. This isn’t technically a music teacher community (unless you have some in your school!), but having a school community can help with other questions and issues.
Where are the field trip forms? When is dress down day? What time does this event start? Those are questions you need someone close to home to help you answer.
I recommend finding someone who is close in proximity to you to start cultivating a relationship with. This person is literally close to you, so if you need something, they are close by your classroom.
You’ll also want to find someone in your specials rotation that can help. Since you have the same schedule and the same classes, they can help you stay on track with other things.
But… These people can’t help you with music stuff. So where do we find the music teacher community?
Note: Some of these will apply to you and some won’t depending on where you are and your situation. We’ll start close to home and work our way out to communities any music teacher can join.
Your District
First off, your district! If your district has more than one school, connect with the people at other schools. If you don’t have more than one, connect with people in the next county over.
I live in a larger district (55 schools) and the performing arts coordinator is always helping us communicate with each other. If you don’t have a coordinator, send some emails! Chances are other music teachers are lonely too.
If you have district meetings, this is another great place to meet people. Go to the meeting and connect with the other teachers.
Start a group text, an email thread, or organize coffee once a quarter.
Also read: Easy Self Care Tips for Teachers
Your Alma Mater
You probably graduated with people who were also elementary music teachers– where are they now? Reach out and start a conversation. If they are close, grab a bite with them.
I happen to teach in the district where my college was, so I am the closest to the teachers who came from my program. When I need something, these are the people I start with, because I’ve known them so long. We had a texting thread going for a long time with 4 of us who graduated at a similar time where we’d talk about things like field trips, lesson ideas and more.
Even if they aren’t close by, you can always start a group chat or have monthly zoom nights.
Groups you can join
Whether you have anyone nearby or not, there are many different groups you can join and conferences you can attend.
Many areas have Kodaly or Orff chapters that get together to do Professional Developement, and talk to each other.
There are also conferences like OAKE (Kodaly), AOSA (Orff), or your states’ music education association. These are a great place to meet other music teachers! Sit by someone at a session, then go out to eat and talk about it.
Online Community to join
Don’t have any communities near you? How about an online community, so you can connect with people from all over and get help?
There is a music teacher community run by my friend Bryson at That Music Teacher. This community is great, because there are chances to connect with other people who also teach music PLUS you also get access to professional development as well! There’s new presentations going up every month, plus you get all of the previous stuff too.
It is a paid community, but the professional development is well worth it– not to mention the community where you can chat, ask questions, and more.
Click here to join the community or learn more about what’s included!
Social Media
And finally, you can find free community on social media!
Social media can be such a good asset (when used correctly). Join a Facebook group if you’re looking to chat, or follow other people on Instagram or TikTok if you’re looking for inspiration.
I share a ton on my Instagram, which you can find here.
And here are some of my other favorite creators in the music ed space:
- Bryson at That Music Teacher
- David Rowe at Make Moments Matter Music Ed
- Stephanie Leavell at Music for Kiddos
- Moriah Holmes at Holmes Sweet Music Home
- Victoria Boler at Victoria Boler
Beware this aspect of community
When you’re looking for your music teacher community, you do need to BEWARE– especially on social media– of peoples’ tone. Make sure that you only stay with positive people. Negative communities are worse than having no community at all, because being around negative people will bring you down and make you miserable.
Seriously. If you talk to people who only complain, you will soon find yourself complaining all the time too. Negativity spreads. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH. Be careful who you follow. Be careful who you listen to. Make sure you only stay around people who lift you up, not ones who pull you down.
Of course, there are days that you may feel down. Everyone has bad days. (insert Hannah Montana song here). If someone is complaining once, it’s fine. But when it becomes all of the the time…. Run. Seriously. Run.
There’s a few ways you can find music teacher community! Since you’re looking for inspiration and community, come say hi on Instagram or in That Music Teacher Community!
And I’ll see you in the community!
Happy teaching!
Becca
