Take big swings this year. But acknowledge that that come with challenges.
I am a big believer in a big-swing approach to programming. I choose music right on the edge of attainable for my ensembles, because I think that’s whether the most growth happens. When we work on music that challenges us, we grow.
Big swings come with a chance of failure, thought. Just as a batter taking big swings has a possibility of striking out, tackling truly difficult music sometimes means you have to put it away, or postpone performing it as you do the work to prepare it.
As an educator, you risk seeing students disappointed, frustrated, or accusatory (of themselves or each other) for a perceived “failure.” I just don’t see it as a failure. Any chance to learn is a success, even if the piece isn’t ready to perform when you thought it would be.