Learning by Trial and Many Errors: Early Career Teaching

The earliest years of our teaching careers are often the most difficult. As young teachers, we may have great ideas, but can struggle to put all of them into successful practice. We often have dreams and ideas of how we’re going to craft the ideal program but suddenly it’s the first day of school and unless you are extremely lucky, you likely will not have the dream choral program on day one. However, by using our knowledge and learning of the past, being present with ourselves and with our students, and preparing for whatever the future may hold, we can strive towards the goals we have set. This session will address common early-career teaching misconceptions and pitfalls through the lens of personal experience as a new teacher acclimating to two different positions in her first two years of teaching. Participants in this session, primarily early career and pre-career choir teachers, will learn about personal challenges that were experienced in the early years of teaching, and how these challenges varied going from a more rural district and into a suburban setting. Discussion will center around unexpected issues, real-life problems and difficulties in the choral classroom, and solutions and strategies for growth. Attendees will also be provided with resource and repertoire examples. By addressing the realities of the first years of teaching along with solutions and resources, this session will aim to set a motivating foundation for a lifetime of choral teaching.