When adversity occurs it can be cathartic to express any feelings that it has stirred up, such as feeling it’s unfair, disappointing, frustrating, upsetting or has triggered low self-worth. If what has happened to you was unexpected you may also feel disorientated, confused, shocked or numb.
Resilience as a drum teacher is an ongoing process that you can work on throughout your career. It requires a flexible, adaptive and creative approach. Take a look at the four step approach outlined below.
Here are nine tips to building your support network as a drummer and drum teacher:
Your support network as a drum teacher should include friends and/or family outside of the music business, to
help you to feel supported and grounded as your career progresses. Those outside of the industry can offer comfort during times of difficulty, and remind you of the other parts of you...
It can be hard holding sole responsibility for making drum teaching decisions, especially if you are under stress, uncertain of the best route forward or unsure of that aspect of the industry works. Try not to worry, that is a normal feeling to have – everyone has to start somewhere!
Sometimes...
Practice in areas you feel most comfortable (such as with particular friends). Keep it clear, simple and polite – no need for lengthy explanations or over-the-top apologies, it’s ok to say no sometimes to students and gigs.
If you are unsure, buy yourself some time to consider your options...
Being unable to say no gigs and drum lessons to stress, exhaustion and irritability can hinder your overall health as a drum teacher. Perhaps you fear that by having a better work-life balance you may lose a drum student, miss an opportunity or leave room for someone else to swoop in and take your...
Use these ten questions to help figure out where you need to put in boundaries as a drum tutor, and what might be
getting in the way of you doing so.
Boundaries help us to differentiate where we stop and where another person, or role, begins. They help us to know what is our responsibility and what is within the remit of someone else – helping us to differentiate between work and play and just being a drummer. Boundaries help us to manage...
As a drum teacher spend some time identifying the choices and options available to you – this can help you regain a sense of agency (in that you can feel personally effective towards your life). Remember that there are opportunities out there that you are not aware of yet, so try to be optimistic.
This...
When you are starting to feel better, take a step back, prioritise your workload and consider how much you are taking on. What can wait? Be honest with yourself. If you are selfmedicating with drugs, alcohol, food, gambling, sex, porn or self-harm, it’s important for you to reach for support. Visit...
The third stage of resilience as a drummer or drum teacher is accepting what has happened if things go wrong. This doesn’t mean minimising or dismissing it, but accepting that it cannot be changed. Try to understand what it means to you that this event happened.
How can you make sense of...
It is the result of an unmanageable drum teaching workload and a strong signal that something needs to change. It means that your mind is out of synchronisation with your body – you’ve taken too much on and your body is putting on the brakes.
Burn out is not just an emotional experience,...
Practicing self care means ringfencing time for you to look after yourself, allowing you to decompress and supporting you through the ups and downs of your career and personal life. Self care is important to build in if you are to
enjoy a sustainable career. Incorporating short, manageable bursts...
