Roderick B. Henderson

Abstract

Entering into the profession of teaching is one of the most rewarding and challenging
occupations a person can choose. Being a band director is one of many subject areas that
instrumental musicians choose as their career. The constant pressure of rehearsals and
performances can be just as rewarding as it can be exhausting. Therefore, it comes as no
surprise that band directors endure an incredible amount of stress during a normal school
day.
There are many successful band directors that show more have worked numerous years and have
never complained about stress ever affecting their lives professionally or personally.
However, there are other band directors that decided to leave the profession in a much shorter
time due to the stress associated with being a band director. Some of those directors often
complained of burning out and not having enough of anything to devote to the profession.
Some of those directors also admitted to having trouble separating their private lives from
their professional lives. As a colleague, I would like to be able to tell them that stress is a
huge part of life and give them advice on how to address it; that is why I chose this topic as
my master’s project. show less