If there ever comes a time in your family (such as when you have young children) when you are just spread too thin and must take a little break from teaching, I believe there are many ways to remain competent and to maintain your professional skills.
- Remain active in professional associations
- Attend conferences and workshops
- Take piano lessons
- Practice!
- Visit the music store and peruse new methods
- Teach a student or two
- Read lots of pedagogy books!
- Subscribe to as many music journals as possible - and read them!
- Listen to piano literature
- Be an adjudicator for festivals
- Take a music class
- Teaching swap with the children of another piano teacher - you teach their kids, they teach yours
- Help your child with his/her practicing
- Teach your children
- Perform!
What other ideas do you have?
Labels: Balancing Teaching and Family, Jenny Boster, Maintaining Professional Skills