Happier Music Teacher

Happier Music Teacher

Real self-care for music educators, not just self-soothing! Are you an overwhelmed music teacher who thinks that self-care and work/life balance is impossible with your responsibilities at home? Are you feeling burnout at home and school, and you’re done with feeling teacher tired and stressed all the time? Do you feel that the cliché advice of candles and bubble baths, not that there’s anything wrong with that, are short term solutions for your tension? Former stressed hot mess Beth Duhon helps you be more content at home and in your career in music education through guided journaling, common sense advice and encouraging you to take consistent micro-actions. Each episode features topics like: vocal health, time management, meal prep, commuting hacks and healthy habits to help you be a “Happier Music Teacher.” New episodes every Tuesday morning.

Episodes

June 30, 2025 14 mins

Join me in July for a new series on getting along with the adults at school as a music teacher.  While there is no magic pill for smooth parent/teacher relations, there are some mindset shifts that can go a long way toward harmony.  Quick tip?  The phone can be much more helpful for communication than email!  

If you haven't left a review of the podcast, will you please do so?  Thank you!

Buy Happier Music Teacher on Amazon

Buy Bet...

Mark as Played

With limited personal time and energy as a busy music teacher, how do I choose what and who to prioritize in my personal time?  The answer is in my introduction.  Christian, wife and mother.  In that order.  Want to see how someone like you fits in the most important things?  This episode is for you.  See you at TCDA on July 25 at 4:00! 

Happier Music Teacher on Amazon

Happier Music Teacher on F-Flat

Tidy Hour Podcast Episode

Mark as Played

Ever wonder how a fellow music teacher decides which extra work gets her finite time and energy?  Why are Kodaly levels and National Board Certification yeses when other worthy things are a no?  Here are a few of my litmus tests for choosing extra work such as grant writing, presenting at music education conferences and producing this podcast.  Spoiler: one of my guiding principles is if it helps other music teachers.

Watch Beth's ...

Mark as Played

Music teachers have a lot of ways to take on extra work.  We might assume that self-care is saying no to all opportunities but that doesn't sit well with us as high performers.  Listen in for a thorough list of what I'm saying yes, no and maybe to in this season to help you make your own decisions without overcommitment or FOMO.  

 

Join me this Wednesday at 5:30 CST for "Yes! Musicplay Works With Upper Elementary Students!" or wat...

Mark as Played

Welcome back!  Want to be on your phone less and truly recharge as a tired music teacher this summer?  Here are your rules plus a bonus rule for your children!  Let's be intentional with our time and energy this summer! 

See you June 11, 2025 at 5:30 CST for my Wednesday Webinar for Musicplayonline called, "Yes, Musicplay Works for Upper Elementary Students!"

Help Theresa Hoover With This Survey

Mark as Played
May 13, 2025 55 secs

I'm going to take a few weeks off from the podcast to be with my family.  I'll be back in June to catch up with you.  My insight for you today?  Work isn't life.  Life is life.  I love you and thank you for being here.

Mark as Played

Feeling almost burnout about the month of May as a music teacher?  Here are tried and true tips to make May go more smoothly for you and your family.  Let's start with buying an outfit for all the events that makes you feel amazing! Don't forget to purchase my book to read this summer.  Links below!

Happier Music Teacher Book on Amazon

Buy Beth's E-Book

Mark as Played

Being a music teacher can be overwhelming, especially at the end of the school year!  We're going to get organized and stop multi-tasking to stop the overwhelm.  Because there aren't actual sight-singing emergencies!

Buy Beth's Book

Buy Beth's Book as an E-Book

Mark as Played

Are you an introverted or neurodivergent music teacher?  Or are you a neurotypical music teacher that just gets overstimulated by all the noise and activity in a general music classroom?  There's nothing wrong with you!  Elementary schools and music classrooms are very stimulating.  Here are some tips, habits and strategies for you to protect your peace during the school day.

Mark as Played

Many music teachers are frequently the only one in that subject matter on their campus leaving them feeling isolated and lonely, not to mention misunderstood!  There is nothing wrong with you but there are some practical steps we can take to help you be happier at school.

Beth's Book

Mark as Played

First in a series on Music Teacher Struggles.  Too much on your plate as a music teacher?  There's no quick fix but here are my thoughts and mindset shifts on how to handle overcommitment.  Also, see you at TCDA in July!

Mark as Played

Have you completely fallen off the self-care wagon the first quarter of the calendar year?  Me too!  Here are 9 tips for both of us to start taking better care of ourselves when our efforts at healthy eating, exercise, hydration or sleep have failed lately.

Beth's Book on F-Flat

Beth's Book on Amazon

Mark as Played

We just finished spring break but now it is time to plan your summer PD.  Whether you take Orff or Kodaly Levels or maybe World Music Drumming, here are all the practical considerations to make your summer professional development successful!  Don't forget to register for TCDA and come to my session.

Mark as Played

Whether you are pursuing a master's degree or National Board Certification while teaching, it is a challenging season.  Here is the actual advice that I gave to a friend that turned into a podcast episode!  You can still have work life balance while you are working on a higher education degree or the gold standard in teacher education.  Especially when we aren't kids anymore and have a partner and kids!  You can do this!  If you ar...

Mark as Played
March 11, 2025 13 mins

You've earned one of the best part of being a teacher: Spring Break!  Now, let's make it the right type of self-care for you by being intentional.  It might be travel, a Netflix binge or spring cleaning.  Listen in at the start of break to make this one of the best yet!  Also, my F-Flat Books instagram takeover and upcoming TCDA presentation!

Buy the Happier Music Teacher E-Book

Buy the Happier Music Teacher Paperback

 

Mark as Played

Time for your district letter of intent?  Wrestling with important career considerations, possibly even leaving the profession?  I'm no career counselor but here are some points to ponder as you think about what direction to head next in your career.

Happier Music Teacher Book on Amazon

Mark as Played

If we're going to have balance in our lives, we're going to need some ideas on how to be more productive at home and at school.  Here are the tips that I use on a daily basis to get more done at home and at school.  Welcome to my new friends from TMEA and Musicplayonline.com!

Happier Music Teacher Book on Amazon

Happier Music Teacher Book on F-Flat Books

 

Mark as Played

Welcome to the 100th episode!  Today, we are looking at the habits that make the biggest difference in my happiness at home and at school.  They are small and easy!  You can do this!

Mark as Played
February 10, 2025 12 mins

Sometimes a house doesn't need to be gutted.  It just needs a refresh with some new paint and maybe some throw pillows.  Same with our jobs!  The whole premise of Happier Music Teacher is that small actions can increase your job satisfaction.  Try one of these this week!  See you at TMEA for Social Media and the Music Educator: Better Boundaries on February 12.

Mark as Played

Some teaching days are monotonous or have some of our least favorite tasks!  Maybe you've had one too many days of indoor recess.  But, if you are constantly lacking joy as a music teacher, there may be other causes.  Let's tackle the second half of what might be stealing your joy as a music teacher!  P.S. It has nothing to do with whether you choose Orff, Kodaly or MLT!

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.