Communication, Organization, and PD

A music educator is one of the most visible teachers in a community and needs to be highly organized and great with communication and public relations. With today's technology world, there are a number of programs and apps that allow a teacher to be very effective when scheduling events, contacting parents, and sharing information with the public.

One way a music educator can stay organized is by creating a calendar. Ensemble directors are typically responsible for scheduling performances almost a year in advance and then need to share this information with parents, administrators, and the community. A director can easily create a year-long calendar on Microsoft Word, or can even do so using a Google Calendar. These calendars can then be printed and distributed or even shared via Google Docs, Dropbox, Evernote, or even uploaded to a website or social media apps like Facebook. This will allow both educators and students and their families to be aware of what is happening well in advanced, and keep them organized throughout the year.

A music educator is also responsible for organizing instruments, uniforms, and music, and setting up trips and budgets. Creating and maintaining databases through Google Docs or Mircrosoft Excel, is extremely important for teachers to know what they have, what condition it is in, and what they need in the future. Nowadays, music programs can invest in program like Charms Office Assistant which is a fantastic management, communication, assessment, and financial system that brings all aspects of the job into one program.

As Bauer (2014) states, "the ability to communicate clearly is one of the most important qualities of effective music educators" (p. 170) Purchasing Charms is beneficial but it is extremely expensive for small music programs. Social media apps and websites have made it easy for to spread information to most parents and students, but it does not reach every family. A music educator can create an email list, use an all-call system through their school, or even set up a text message system such as Celly. It is important to have a multitude of methods to reach families in order to run successful programs and classrooms. It is also important to share what your students are doing through newspaper articles, adding performances to YouTube, and even sharing successes in district newsletters.

Being organized is very important for a music educator and his music program, but it is also important to take part in professional development that is relevant to the needs of the educator. Technology such as personal learning networks (PLN), blogs, and online degree programs have been highly educational and useful, but have not always been the most beneficial to my particular needs. I have experienced that my most beneficial professional development happens with "informal experiences such as conversations" (Bauer, 2014, p. 175) with my mentors and administrators. Almost daily, I will call or email more experienced band directors in my area. If needed, I will use these opportunities ask questions about concerns I am having with my own program or will share my thoughts about concerns they have. I will also invite highly successful educators to come rehearse my students so that I can learn and grow with my students. Regardless of how a teacher develops professionally, it is essential for them to do so to stay informed of new approaches for child development and pedagogy. Bauer (2014) states, "the best way to develop one's TPACK utilize it" (p. 185). Regardless of what method they use, they should use these methods daily and continue to seek new ways to use technology for quality student learning.