What are your summer goals for your students?
I like the message from my kids’ middle school ensemble teachers: only take out your instruments on rainy days. It’s the right level of occasional reengagement with music-making.
I personally have these three goals for students between when I see them in June and when I see them in August.
- Disengage from the grind of daily school responsibilities. Get some rest.
- Discover new music through free listening and sharing with other music lovers.
- Dream about the music you want to make in the future.
If you go to a music camp, or take some lessons, or pull out a guitar or ukulele to play, that’s great! But spending time on disengaging, discovering, and dreaming is at the heart of what I want for my students.