Teaching music can be a stressful endeavor. Decades of research findings indicate that music teachers are especially prone to professional burnout. The purpose of this research-to-resource article is to equip music teachers and other educational stakeholders with research-informed definitions, warning signs, and potential remedies for burnout. Practical recommendations for addressing the macro-level, classroom-level, and intrapersonal contributors to burnout are provided.
BallantyneJ.RetellJ. (2020). Teaching careers: Exploring links between well-being, burnout, self-efficacy and praxis shock. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, Article 2255. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02255
2.
BernhardH. C.II. (2006). A survey of burnout among elementary and secondary school music teachers. Research Perspectives in Music Education, 10(1), 7–13.
3.
BernhardH. C.II. (2016). Investigating burnout among elementary and secondary school music educators: A replication. Contributions to Music Education, 41, 145–156.
4.
Çevik KiliçD. B. (2018). The relationship between the burnout levels of music teachers and their personalities. International Education Studies, 11(2), 38–54. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v11n2p38
5.
FiguerasE. J. (2014). Constructing and contextualizing a multi-dimensional burnout profile of high school music teachers (Publication No. 3662685) [Doctoral dissertation, Boston University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.
HamannD. L. (1986). Burnout and the public school orchestra director. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 4(3), 11–14.
10.
HamannD. L. (1990). Burnout: How to spot it, how to avoid it. Music Educators Journal, 77(2), 30–33. https://doi.org/10.2307/3397813
11.
HamannD. L.DaughertyE.MillsC. R. (1987). An investigation of burnout assessment and potential job related variables among public school music educators. Psychology of Music, 15(2), 128–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735687152002
12.
HamannD. L.GordonD. G. (2000). Burnout: An occupational hazard. Music Educators Journal, 87(3), 34–39. https://doi.org/10.2307/3399661
13.
HeddenD. G. (2005). A study of stress and its manifestations among music educators. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 166, 57–67.
14.
HestonM. L.DedrickC.RaschkeD.WhiteheadJ. (1996). Job satisfaction and stress among band directors. Journal of Research in Music Education, 44(4), 319–327. https://doi.org/10.2307/3345444
15.
HyltonJ. (1989). Ways to manage stress and avoid teacher burnout. Music Educators Journal, 75(6), 29–31. https://doi.org/10.2307/3398125
16.
Kertz-WelzelA. (2009). Philosophy of music education and the burnout syndrome: Female viewpoints on a male school world. Philosophy of Music Education Review, 17(2), 144–161. https://doi.org/10.2979/pme.2009.17.2.144
17.
KruegerP. J. (2000). Beginning music teachers: Will they leave the profession?Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 19(1), 22–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/875512330001900105
18.
KuebelC. (2019). Health and wellness for in-service and future music teachers: Developing a self-care plan. Music Educators Journal, 105(4), 52–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/0027432119846950
19.
MaslachC.JacksonS. E.LeiterM. P. (1986). Maslach Burnout Inventory. Consulting Psychologists Press.
20.
McLainB. P. (2005). Environmental support and music teacher burnout. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 164, 71–84.
21.
NimmoD. J. (1986). Factors of attrition among high school band directors (Publication No. 3692A) [Doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University]. Dissertation Abstracts International.
22.
SandeneB. (1995). Determinants and implications of stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction among music teachers. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 13(2), 25–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/875512339501300208
23.
ScheibJ. W. (2003). Role stress in the professional life of the school music teacher: A collective case study. Journal of Research in Music Education, 51(2), 124–136. https://doi.org/10.2307/3345846
24.
ScheibJ. W. (2004). Why band directors leave: From the mouths of maestros. Music Educators Journal, 91(1), 53–57. https://doi.org/10.2307/3400106
25.
ScheibJ. W. (2006). Tension in the life of the school music teacher: A conflict of ideologies. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 24(2), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/87551233060240020101
SindbergL.LipscombS. D. (2005). Professional isolation and the public school music teacher. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 166,43–56.
28.
SkovholtT. M. (2001). The resilient practitioner: Burnout prevention and self-care strategies for counselors, therapists, teachers, and health professionals. Allyn & Bacon.
29.
SternA.CoxJ. (1993). Teacher burnout: The dull reality. Music Educators Journal, 80(3), 33–36. https://doi.org/10.2307/3398672
30.
VaronaD. A. (2018). The mindful music educator: Strategies for reducing stress and increasing well-being. Music Educators Journal, 105(2), 64–71. https://doi.org/10.1177/0027432118804035
31.
VeningaR. L.SpradleyJ. P. (1981). The work-stress connection: How to cope with job burnout. Little Brown.
