Sustaining the Flame: (Re)Igniting Joy in Teaching Music

Teaching music is an act of vulnerability. Our connections with music and with our students give our jobs--and perhaps our lives--value and purpose. However, these connections are also why it hurts so much when we feel undervalued or attacked. In this article, I describe research-supported strategies for nurturing courage, peace, and resilience and also suggest habits of thinking and action that could sustain or even (re)ignite our joy in teaching music.