college & university Take a Hike! Judith Kirby, WMEA State Chair, College & University
On December 17, 2013, USA Today published an arti- cle by Scott Christ, titled, “20 Surpris- ing, Science-backed Benefits of Music.” Scott Christ is a health and wellness writer, editor and
entrepreneur. The article suggested that music might help a person cope with pain, relieve depression and reduce stress, insomnia and overeating. Mr. Christ also mentioned that music could motivate athletic ability. Through the help of the media, we have noticed Olympic and pro- fessional athletes preparing for a game or match with their ear buds intact. As I am writing this, the Chicago Cubs are trying to win the World Series for the first time in 108 years. I find it interesting to note what song a batter chooses as he approaches the batter’s box. In a September 4, 2015 article titled, “How MLB Walk-up Music Became a Designated Hit,” Jim Caple, a senior writer for ESPN, states, “walk-up music is as crucial and identifiable as the names and numbers on their jerseys.”
The effect that music can have on one’s physical, mental or emotional state is fascinating, but what about the physical mental or emotional state of the person
producing the music? As I read the article from USA Today, I thought about my own 34 years in public education as a music teacher for the Kenosha Unified School District and wondered how many times was my job the cause of stress and insom- nia? Even though I logically understood that lying awake at 3 a.m. was not going to fix page 7, measures 40-46, or more recently since I changed jobs, what edTPA score my Carthage College students will earn, there were nights that sleep eluded me. After a challenging day at work during my tenure as a middle school choir direc- tor, I can remember coming home and the first thing I did was find the Cheetos. As we music educators strive to be the very best we can be in our chosen profession, we may not be reaping the benefits that music offers our listeners. It is vital that as teachers of musicians we are aware of our own health and discover strategies to maintain physical, mental and emotional wellness.
No two teaching situations are the same. Teacher candidates and beginning teach- ers have a completely different set of challenges compared to a person who has been on the job for a number of years. Balancing family responsibilities, continu- ally raising the bar for ourselves and our students when it comes to performances, meeting the expectations of an adminis-
“It is vital that as teachers of musicians we are aware of our own health and discover strategies to maintain physical, mental and emotional wellness.”
tration or professional organizations and attempting to work full time while attend- ing graduate school are all scenarios that may result in emotional or mental strain. That strain can lead to physical maladies as researched by the late Hans Seyle and author of The Stress of Life (1956). Seyle was nominated for a Nobel Prize in 1949 for his work on helping to promote the understanding and management of physi- cal, emotional and mental strain.
Recently, James Schatzman, director of the Choral Arts Society of Southeastern Wisconsin received the “Lifestyle Change Award.” Jim’s cardiac care rehabilitation nurses nominated him for the perseverance he demonstrated as he recovered from a heart attack in June of 2016. He was highly motivated to take much better care of himself. Jim made changes in his diet
Get Connected to Music Advocacy Resources!
Visit the Wisconsin Advocates for Music Education (WAME) website – your hub for resources dedicated to teachers, parents, administrators and community members. Here is just a sampling of what you’ll find:
• Featured Videos Supporting Music Education • Links to Key Sources All in One Place • Tools for Sending the Right Message and Speaking the Right Language • Legislative Interaction Guide
• Notable Quotes • Tips for Working With the Media • Research Supporting Music Education Plug in at
wame.wmea.com. Stay even more connected by “Liking” WAME on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/WAMEWI.
20 January 2017
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
