Five Things My College Band Director Didn't Tell Me About Being a Band Director

 

Let me guess: You left college walking across the graduation stage with a degree in music education, a baton in hand, and dreams of conducting Mahler in front of a room full of attentive students. Then you stepped into your first band room and realized—Whoa. This isn’t quite what Dr. Winderson prepared you for.

Being a public school band director is one of the most rewarding, chaotic, and strangely funny careers you can choose. But there's a Grand Canyon-sized gap between college coursework and real-life teaching. Let’s bridge that gap together.

Here are five things my college band director definitely didn’t tell me—but I wish they had.

1. You’re Not Just a Music Teacher. You’re Also a Social Worker, Janitor, and Budget Analyst.

I was ready to conduct Maslanka, not unclog the tuba spit valve with a coat hanger while simultaneously de-escalating a 6th-grade meltdown. Yet here we are.

In the real world, you’ll juggle:

⚫  Emotional support for students dealing with life

⚫  Inventory management for instruments older than your principal

⚫  Fundraising and budget planning that would make an accountant sweat

According to Education Week, the number of “non-instructional” roles teachers play has risen dramatically—especially in music programs where resources are scarce. This has been even more exacerbated after the societal effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Pro Tip: Get organized. Use digital tools like CutTime or Charms Office to manage instruments, uniforms, and student info efficiently.

2. The Parents Are Part of Your Ensemble (Whether You Like It or Not)

In college, we were warned to “build community.” I didn't realize that meant I’d be texting parents at 9 p.m. about picking up donut  orders and coordinating contest tailgating logistics like a small-town air traffic controller.

Here’s the secret: When parents feel involved, they become your biggest advocates. When they feel ignored, they might become your biggest stressors.

Start by:

⚫  Hosting parent preview nights

⚫  Sending monthly newsletters

⚫  Creating a clear communication policy

You can also link your classroom website or Google Classroom to parent email updates.

Building trust with parents improves student retention, boosts band fundraising, and makes your life easier.

From my experience: When I first started teaching, directors wanted less parental input, not more. Times have changed. If you are only dumping things on parents at the last minute, either they aren't going to stay, or they will work less diligently to accomplish group goals.

3. Marching Band Will Eat Your Life—Be Careful

Nobody told me I would freckle over, even after applying sunblock SPF 1,000 for August band camp. Or that I’d spend more time worrying about whether there are enough bus drivers than balance in the clarinet section.

Marching band isn’t just a season—it’s a culture. And managing it well builds school pride, musical excellence, and student leadership.

But it also requires:

⚫  Coordinating competitions and logistics

⚫  Navigating band politics with admin and coaches

⚫  Preventing burnout for you and your students

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), marching band participation leads to better academic and social outcomes. But it takes serious work behind the scenes.

Helpful Tools: Use apps like TeamSnap or Remind to keep everyone on the same page, from bus drivers to chaperones. If you are in Kentucky like I am, we have a new Senate Bill 181 that requires 2-way, instantly traceable communication to and from parents. Please check your  school district policy on communication. Your career could depend on it!

4. No One Cares About Your Music Degree if You Can't Manage a Classroom

Say it with me: “It doesn’t matter if I have a DMA in Conducting from the University of North Texas if the percussion section is using drumsticks as lightsabers during class.”

Classroom management is 100% your responsibility, not the principal. How you establish your class and what you allow to happen is a direct reflection of classroom management style. And spoiler: You won’t always have an administrator backing you up.

Things that help:

⚫  Set clear expectations on day one. From the second students walk into the classroom until the minute they leave. Stay organized and stay on top. Idle time is the Devil's workshop.

⚫  Use positive reinforcement more than punishment. There are ways to reinforcement desired outcomes. Find out what works best for your class.

⚫  Learn how to redirect behavior without derailing rehearsal. A simple "See me after class" will usually work. What you absolutely can't do is argue with a student in front of a large audience. Doing so will embolden with more courage. 

Sites like Music Ed Blogs and SmartMusic are loaded with classroom strategies written by real teachers, not ivory-tower theorists.

And remember: It's okay to stop rehearsal and say, “We are not sounding our best right now. Let’s fix that.” 

5. Your Mental Health Matters Just As Much As Your Students

In college, we romanticized the "band director who works 80 hours a week for the love of kids." That mindset? It’s a fast track to burnout.

A 2022 Gallup Poll showed K–12 workers have the highest burnout rates in the U.S. workforce—and music educators are especially at risk due to after-hours demands.

So, protect your peace:

⚫  Say no to unreasonable commitments

⚫  Take your planning period seriously

⚫  Use mental health days without guilt

And above all: Find your tribe. Facebook groups like Band Directors Group and Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic Community offer support, humor, and troubleshooting from thousands of band directors just like you. The life of a Band Director is probably the most time consuming and stressful of any of the classroom teachers in public school. Finding balance isn't just important in your ensembles--your health and relationships also depend on it.

Bonus: It's Worth It—Even on the Hard Days

I may joke that managing middle school trombones is like trying to baptize cats, but let me be real: there's nothing like seeing a student light up after finally nailing that superior solo or hearing your band earn its first Distinguished rating at State Assessment.

No one told me how deep the impact would be—or how much I’d grow, not just as a musician, but as a mentor, advocate, and community leader.

If you're a new director, or even a veteran questioning your sanity: You're not alone. The baton is heavy, but the rewards are loud and proud. 

Ready to Stay Ahead of the Baton?

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