R&R Resource Article
Spencer Wiley
Your Summer, Your Tempo: Rest, Recharge, and Reignite
Congratulations on almost making it to the end of the school year! For most of us, the month of May tends to be the time when we get ready for the final concert of the semester, audition students for the upcoming school year, and tie up loose ends before the last day of school. The thought of summer vacation is the light at the end of the tunnel that motivates us to remain vigilant as we count down the days before we get our much-needed summer break. After almost nine months of working long hours into the evening, waking up early for before-school rehearsals, and working on weekends, our summer is the time where we get an extended opportunity to focus on ourselves. Summer vacation is in place to give teachers the chance to relax and recharge so that they can be ready to tackle the upcoming school year.
Regardless of where we teach, many of us face the same challenges and issues in the fall when we return after our break. We start our fall with hours of professional development that can sometimes leave very little time to be in our rooms to truly prepare for the first few weeks of school. Then when students arrive, we have the arduous task of making sure that they are scheduled for the correct choir class. Once we get them in the correct class, we need to assess their voices to ensure that we put them in the correct vocal section. Of course, we must devote time to get to know our students and for them to get to know each other. And with any time that you have left, you have to get your kids ready for their first concert of the year, which tends to be only weeks after the first day of school. The beginning of the fall semester demands so much of us as music educators. The transition from the lazy days of summer to the hustle and bustle of the fall can feel like you’re going from zero to a hundred miles an hour in just a few short weeks.
The fall semester brings a multitude of challenges that require a vast amount of our energy and attention. Even though there is normally a two-week break between the fall and spring semesters, we really don’t get a lot of time to rest and recharge. In many cases, we use the winter break to prepare for the upcoming spring semester. Whether it be finalizing music for a competition or festival, choosing literature for solo or ensemble contests, or prepping for musical rehearsals and performances, we really don’t get a lot of time to focus on what WE need during the winter break. Being an effective music educator can take a lot out of you. The time that we invest into our programs and into our students leaves very little time for us to invest in ourselves.
Finding the right balance between work life and our personal life is an ongoing struggle that changes with time. Like many brand-new educators, at the beginning of my career I spent countless hours creating lessons plans, answering emails, and completing all the many administrative duties associated with being a choir director before school, after school, and on weekends. My car would be the first car in the parking lot in the morning and the last car in the parking lot at night. This lifestyle left very little time to spend with my family and loved ones. I felt like all I did was wake up, go to work, come home, go to bed, and then I wake up to start the cycle all over again. It’s not only new-to-the-profession teachers that struggle with achieving a work-to-personal life balance that works for them. Even educators with more teaching experience can sometimes fall into the trap of over-working themselves without finding time to recharge.
When you get on a plane, during the safety briefing, the flight attendants always say that it is important that you put on your mask first before helping others put on their mask. We know that we must take care of ourselves before we can take care of others, but sometimes that’s easier said than done. Teachers are self-less, a characteristic that sometimes emphasizes the needs of their students ahead of their own. Though this is a trait that many of us share, it is important that we also prioritize taking time to do the things that gives us joy and fulfills us as musicians so that we can have the mental capacity and patience to have a positive impact on our students.
Every person’s work-to-personal life balance is different. There are several different factors that must be considered when determining what balance looks like in our lives. Having a significant other or children can vastly change the amount of time you have to spend at work. For example, if you have young ones at home or rely on childcare during the day, you may not be able to devote extra time at work because your family needs you at home. Your vision for the trajectory of your choir program and what you want to achieve can also affect the amount of time you devote to work. If your vision for your choir program is to be selected for an honor choir performance or to a win choir competition, you may need to invest more time at work for rehearsals. It is important that we do not compare our definition of balance to that of our peers. Remember that each of us comes to the table with different life experiences, different students, and different resources at our disposal.
What is ironic is that we spend almost nine to ten months of the year devoting most of our time to our choir programs but only have around two months to find time to recharge so that we can be ready for the next school year. Because we have such a small amount of time to invest in ourselves in the summer, it is crucial that we spend that time doing whatever we need to do to be refreshed for the fall. So, what are some of the things that we can do during the summer to recharge so that we can be ready for students on the first day of school in the fall? I believe these activities can be organized into two separate categories: Rest & Relaxation and Investing in Yourself as a Musician.
Rest & Relaxation is just that. It is taking time to do activities that do not correlate or have anything to do with work. Activities such as spending time quality time with friends or going on a family trip fall under this category. Taking time to get caught up on your favorite TV show, having a movie marathon, and even rekindling your love for a hobby or personal project can also be a part of rest & relaxation. These are things that we love to do, but do not necessarily have the time during the school year to accomplish. For some people, doing activities in the summer that have absolutely nothing to do with music is exactly what they need to recharge. Others may feel that the summer should be used as a time to enrich their skills as a musician and as an educator.
Investing in yourself as musician during the summer can look like several different things. Attending conventions, workshops, and conducting symposiums fall into this category. Others may use the summer to enroll in graduate-level courses to further their education. If you are fortunate to have a community chorus or ensemble in your area, consider using the time during the summer to perform. Many of us joined this profession because we loved singing in choir when we were younger. You’d be amazed at how singing and being on the other side of the conducting podium will reignite your love for choral music again. Getting a chance to “fill their musical cup” through professional development or performing in the summer is exactly what some people need to be ready to encourage and inspire students when school resumes in the fall.
Whether you prefer to use the time in the summer for rest & relaxation or to invest in yourself as a musician, take things at your own pace and follow the beat of your own drum. The school year is rigid, structured by set schedules and calendar obligations, leaving little room for flexibility or personal choice. In contrast, summer offers the freedom to shape your days however you like. One of the greatest gifts of vacation is the ability to choose how you spend your time. Let your interests and desires guide you, rather than just your obligations. In a profession as demanding as music education, it’s vital to acknowledge the immense time, energy, and dedication it requires. Summer break exists for a reason: to give us the chance to rest, recharge, and reignite our passion and love for teaching people how to sing together as one. Use this time intentionally—whether that means total relaxation or pursuing professional development opportunities—so you’re prepared energetically and emotionally reignited for the year ahead. Remember, your summer doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. Let go of comparison and guilt; your well-being and what you need comes first. After all, as the saying goes: You need to put on your own mask before helping others.
