Productivity Hacks for Music Teachers

• Calyanne Crouch
• Posted 8/3/21
• 0 comments

Do you ever feel bogged down by detailed work or simply unenthusiastic about creating lesson and unit plans? These productivity hacks are inspired by how we accommodate students and are easily transferred to ourselves to make the most of our planning periods. Along the way, we’ll treat ourselves kinder and approach our craft with more intention.

Getting Past the Myth of Motivation 

Just like we all have students who still produce quality work even when they feel apathetic about the task, we don’t have to love every aspect of our jobs to be successful at them. Our perception of motivation is often the result of an ingrained practice of taking small steps towards completing a task and building that momentum to get started and avoid procrastination. While grading, contacting parents, or filling out paperwork might not be something you love or feel motivated to do, starting a small portion of this task gives us the momentum to keep going.

Is It TUB? 

If you realize you tend to procrastinate, give yourself a TUB check for the task at hand. Lynne Edris, a leading ADHD and Productivity Expert, warns against the “Big Three” when having a hard time getting started on a new task. 

• Is it Too big? 
• Is it Undefined?  
• Is it Boring?  

We break things down into small steps with our students, give specific criteria for success, and add many elements of fun throughout our lessons. Give these gifts to yourself, and watch as your tasks become less daunting! 

Pomodoro — Not Just Pasta! 

As a university student in the late 1980s, Francesco Cirillo developed this technique based on his experiences with a tomato-shaped kitchen timer. Today, it is an internationally celebrated time management technique that even has a handy chrome extension.

Like how we use timers to help our students in music class, the Pomodoro technique uses a timer to give our undivided attention to a set task. Traditionally set for 25 minutes, when the timer finishes, you are rewarded with a brief break. If you have time for more than one session, mark your work or give an indicator on a Post-it note for each short break you take. If you complete four sessions, reward yourself with a more extended break from work! If you have extra time left on your timer, review, edit, reflect on your work as needed, and congratulate yourself for what you have accomplished.

Mise-En-Place 

This French culinary term literally translates to “Put in Place” and has helped generations of chefs stay organized and at the top of their game. The concept is to have everything you need for that task ready on hand before you begin that task.  

Suddenly, grading becomes a lot less daunting when your papers are organized alphabetically or by section. Or when you have the pen you prefer and the comment bank or sticker chart ready to go — if you use them.

This technique respects our own time and space by staying efficient and organized. 

Mise-en-place may start with a list of items to gather, but it ends with a job quickly completed! 

Approach Transitions Mindfully 

We intentionally plan transitions for our students; why not extend the same kindness to ourselves? Incorporating mindfulness into our transitions better prepares us to leave behind what we have done and tackle our next activity. 

Reflect on what went well in a previous class before setting a new goal for the next. Collect your mise-en-place before setting a Pomodoro timer. Incorporate a few minutes of mindful breathing after your lunch break. Create a wind-down routine before leaving the classroom for the day. Even something as simple as stating class goals aloud while setting up instruments before students arrive in the room can mentally prepare us to meet our students better! 

References

Boogren, T. H. (2019). 180 Days of Self-Care for Busy Educators (A 36-Week Plan of Low-Cost Self Care for Teachers and Educators). Solution Tree Press. 

Charnas, D. (2014, August 11). For a More Ordered Life, Organize Like a Chef. Npr.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/08/11/338850091/for-a-more-ordered-li fe-organize-like-a-chef

Khoddam, R. (2017, August 1). The Myth of Motivation. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-addiction-connection/201708/the- myth-motivation

Lynne Edris, Productivity & ADHD Coach. (2021). Lynne Edris, Productivity & ADHD Coach. https://coachingaddvantages.com/  

The Pomodoro Technique® – proudly developed by Francesco Cirillo | Cirillo Consulting GmbH. (2020). Francesco Cirillo.