Tri-M News Sarah Sacco, Tri-M Chair
Our Bad Habit and How Tri-M Can Help Fix It
I would bet that 99.9% of us all share a very similar bad habit… We overwork ourselves. Sure, we’ve gotten better about it over the years. Or, more accurately, our spouses and children have forced us to be better about it because they want to see us more. So, for the sake of our families, our own mental health, and our career longevity, how can we truly get better at this problem?
Here’s an idea! Use your Tri-M chapter to get stuff done so you don’t have to! If you were able to attend the Tri-M session at MMEA you were fortunate enough to hear Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, the leading voice in music advocacy, speak about why you should “get out of your own way” and start/utilize your Tri-M chapter. He hit the nail on the head as he pointed out that most of us either didn’t have a chapter or weren’t utilizing it enough, all because we thought it would be more work. The thing is we ALL overwork ourselves when we don’t have to! We CAN trust kids to get stuff done. A wise man once told me, “Don’t do anything that doesn’t take a degree in music to do.” So, let’s stop with our bad habit of overworking and replace it with training our kids to do the work for us.
A simple Internet search told me the best way to break a bad habit is by replacing it with a habit that
spring 2017 |
www.mmea.net
provides a similar benefit. Ok… What has the similar benefit of overworking myself? If I do the job, it’s going to be done right. That’s typically why we overwork. We all tend to be “control freaks” at times. Sometimes we need to let go of the reigns and let the horses run wild. No, actually don’t do that… Let go of the reins and let the horses run in the predetermined space that you have already fenced in. In other words, teach your kids how to do the work for you. There is no need for you to set out every chair for every rehearsal. There is no need for you to fold the programs for all of the concerts. There is no need for you to stuff every folder with music. All you need to do is establish the expectations and let your kids take ownership.
Tri-M is a music HONOR society. These are your TOP kids! If you invest time in training them how to do all of the things that do not require a music degree, things will run smoother and you’ll be happier! Much like National Honor Society, I require my chapter members to earn a certain number of points each semester. There are several ways they can achieve this but my favorite way is by participating in activities that will not only better themselves as musicians, but also take some of the load off of my fellow music teachers and myself. For example, our elementary
music and after school strings program teacher uses at least three Tri-M kids at every concert. They take pictures for her; help get kids on and off the stage, and anything else she needs during that stressful time. It is a huge relief for her! Another way to earn points is by organizing the music library for any of the music teachers. I have heard and seen so many horror stories of new teachers coming into a school and the music libraries being a mess. Music is everywhere, nothing is filed, and most music isn’t even in score order. A nightmare. If only they had Tri-M kids! We all hate to file music but if you give it to a Tri-M member they will be glad to help you and feel proud doing it.
It’s not too late! You can change this bad habit and you have kids sitting in your classes right now who are dying to help you. So, use your Tri-M kids. They have proved themselves musically and will now contribute through more than just reading music. You’re teaching them life skills that will help shape them forever.
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