My suggestion to music educators starting out: decide what to save.
These are some common ones, and I recommend all of them.
- A file of letters and notes from students and former students. Great for rainy days (and emotionally rainy days).
- Concert programs. All in a file, ready to review.
- Group photos. From each year, at festival, local concert, or a staged concert dress photo. Even better if they’re signed!
- Repertoire lists. Have a spreadsheet.
- Special plaques. From featured performances. I have every ensemble member sign the back with a permanent marker.
Things I don’t save, but you might.
- Certificates from festival performances.
- Concert tickets.
- Music folders. My friend has a closet full of his rehearsal folders from every ensemble he conducted. Wow.
- Conference detritus. The program books, the ensemble programs, the swag.
When I look back, I want the things that help me remember the moments; I don’t want to take up a huge amount of space. The tension between those two things help me decide what to save.
Someone’s going to have to move it out of your office when you retire, someone’s going to have to go through it when you downsize your home. Make the decisions right from the beginning that will work for you for the duration.