7 Reasons for Teachers to Learn Some New Music

1.  It fuels your creativity.  Learning something new expands your thought process and opens you up to new ideas. 

2.  It gets you out of a rut.  Most of us are creatures of habit, so here's a way to branch out.

3.  It allows you to expand your repetoire.  Each of us has our favorite composers, so this a great way for you to come in contact with something fresh.

4.  It opens up new ideas for your teaching.  Getting to know new pieces - and new composers - gives you new suggestions for your students. 

5.  It gives you some time to focus on yourself.  Many of us carry full loads, so this is a great way to carve out some time to focus on yourself and honing your own skills.

6.  It helps you identify with some of the struggles your students face.  Nothing helps like a little bit of empathy.  Plus, it can be encouraging to your students when they know that you have to work to learn new pieces, just as they have to work at it.

7.  It allows you to reconnect with why you like music.  Chances are, you teach music because you like music.  Sometimes, however, it's easy to lose sight of that connection in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of teaching.

So, go out, and spend some time in the next couple of weeks and months learning something new.  Have fun with it, and let me know what you end up doing!