Everyone needs a sounding board to bounce off their ideas. This is why groups like the Pensacola Music Teachers Association are so important. What we do as music educators is too important to not take advantage of the knowledge and experiences of others. I just happen to be lucky enough to be married to the best sounding board in the world.
Words can't begin to describe how much I respect Megan as a music educator. I don't know anyone who researches as much as she does for her students, and she is so creative it puts me to shame. Many people probably don't realize how much more goes into our teaching than the actual lesson time. We are always thinking about ways to further inspire our students whether that be finding great new repertoire, switching methods, suggesting artists to listen to, experimenting with different genres, etc. Hardly a day goes by that Megan and I don't discuss our lessons that day and ask each other's advice on situations that arose that day. These times are precious to me, and I know that they have made me grow faster as a teacher than I would have on my own.
You may not have the benefit of having a spouse that shares your profession, but find a good sounding board if you don't have someone already. Two heads are better than one, and hearing someone else's viewpoint can be invaluable!
Until next time!