Note to Self: A Music Director’s Guide for Transitioning to a New School and Building a Thriving Music Program

Transition with ease to your new music teaching position with help from a director who’s done it!

• What to expect during the transition and the first years in your new music director role.
• Essential summer prep with a beginning-of-the-year checklist.
• Ideas for creating community in music class and filling a void in students’ musical journeys.
• How to get people on board with your vision for the music program (and how to work with those who aren’t).
• Self-care for a balanced daily life during new-job stress—despite assessments to grade, parents to email, and lesson plans to develop.

An ideal DIY instruction guide and 'how-to' manual, "Note to Self: A Music Director's Guide for Transitioning to a New School and Building a Thriving Music Program" must be considered essential reading for new and aspiring K-12 music teachers -- and a great deal of relevance and value for experience school music class instructors.
- Midwest Book Review

An important new book and a wonderful resource for all music teachers, not just those moving on to a new job. Adrian Gordon packs years of personal experience into a concise, well organized, easy to read, and informative guide for music teachers at all levels of experience... required reading for all music teachers.
-Susan Day, composer, string teacher, violinist

Thought-provoking, informative, and helpful, this guide is a thorough and common-sense resource that can provide practical solutions to teachers, both new and experienced.... For any music teacher getting ready to start a new position, this book can certainly help...Experienced teachers will find some terrific ideas they will want to incorporate into their existing programs. And besides - it's a fun read!
-Robert Sheldon, composer, conductor, music educator

A must-read for any teacher transitioning into a new position! The book highlights many of the most important (yet overlooked) parts of moving to a new school as a music teacher and gives the reader concrete strategies for success...Are you starting over at a new school? Get this book!
-Jen Rafferty, author, presenter, music educator, entrepreneur

Amazing! This book is so well-written, structured, and useful for any music director whether you are transitioning to a new job or continuing in the same program...This is an incredible resource for any teacher, beyond music programs, and an essential guide for leaders committed to continuing growth and impact.
-Christian Howes, violinist, music educator, composer, entrepreneur

Even after 2.5 years in my new position, I find this book very helpful and motivating. There are great tips for engaging students and building relationships. The questions at the end of each chapter are particularly helpful for teachers. A successful music teacher makes successful students, and this book offers all the tools to get there.
-Jeremy Woolstenhulme, music educator, composer, clinician

Adrian Gordon's passion for music and music education leaps off the pages of this practical and inspired book for teachers in transition...There is so much unknown when transitioning into a new position and Gordon has laid out simple steps to navigate difficult situations and to lead any teacher to a happy and healthy new year! 
-Angela Ammerman (music educator, conductor, clinician)

Designed for EVERY music teacher, whether they are right out of college or have decades of experience.... It's a practical, visionary, entertaining, and helpful guide that every music teacher will find inspiration, support, and encouragement reading.  
-Brian Powell, Associate Professor of Music Education, The Frost School of Music, The University of Miami 

A must have for today's music educator. In an easy-to-read format it is chock-full of invaluable information for teachers trying to build a program, transitioning to a new program or even for the first year teacher who needs a game plan...I truly wish I had this book when I was seeking my first teaching position and the two transitions I made during my career.
-Deborah Baker Monday, music educator, composer, clinician, conductor