Choose to Teach - March 2024
Here's the next video in our Choose to Teach series! Today's uplifting message comes from Tennessee band director Emma Lang.
"Somebody told me one time that I needed to make sure that I was having fun. It's important that we put the stress aside and make sure we're enjoying our job — and if we're not, then change something in our teaching to make it enjoyable."
A Message from Emma Lang
My name is Emma Lank. I teach in Tritten Tennessee. It's about 30 minutes outside of Jackson, Tennessee. It's a very small community. The school itself only has about 400 students in it. The best advice I have received is somebody told me one time that I needed to make sure I was having fun. So I think it's important that we put the stress aside and actually make sure that we're enjoying our job. And if we're not, then change something in our teaching to make it enjoyable.
Older music educators are not there to judge you. Like I'm now going into my first band camp. I was so scared to actually teach because I was teaching with two older directors as well. And I was just like, I should just let them do it. They know what they're doing more than I do. When really they're there to help you and guide you. They have been honestly a lifesaver on just getting resources to me like Mr. Barry Trouble. He came out to my program twice last year and he just helped me get better myself but then also my kids. And I saw him using teaching strategies and I was like, I should be doing that. And so watching other people teach helps me get better.