Life-Work Balance
Invest in Yourself: The Value of Attending a National Conference

Karen Thickstun, NCTM, with Jennifer Stadler, NCTM

MTNA Business Digest, Volume 3, Issue 1

October 2023

Would you hire a CPA who is not up to date on the latest IRS regulations? Would you retain a lawyer who doesn’t stay current with the latest rulings? Professional development is an essential element of staying relevant in any profession. An investment in yourself is…priceless.

“Be mindful not to get too busy sawing that you do not take time to sharpen the saw.”  —Stephen Covey

There are many different types of professional development: state/national conferences, local workshops, online courses, webinars, reading books, your own study/lessons, publications, festivals and master classes, certification programs, concerts and exhibits. Professional development (also called continuing education or lifelong learning) keeps us up-to-date and constantly honing our skills.

A national conference can be well worth the investment. For independent teacher Jennifer Stadler, attending a MTNA national conference allows her to:

• Stay up-to-date on best practices in the profession
• Expand and deepen her knowledge of teaching
• Build a community of support
• Brainstorm solutions to common industry problems
• Network for potential job opportunities

I would add a few more value components:

• Spend dedicated time with inspiring sessions and supportive colleagues/friends to refresh, renew and energize.
• Improve current skills and knowledge to elevate your teaching (and potentially your position in the community or teaching market).
• Connect with like-minded teachers to enhance your learning in specialized areas, such as early childhood teaching, jazz, improvisation, teaching adults and more. Specialized skills may command higher tuition rates.
• Break out of a teaching rut (and possible burnout) with new ideas and strategies.
• Feel less isolated as connections and friendships grow with each year of participation.

The MTNA National Conference is one of my annual development activities—March 2023 was my 28th consecutive national conference. It has always been my “one-stop shopping” destination for the latest in publications, new technology and teaching insights. Between energizing presentations, interesting industry exhibits and informal chats with colleagues, there is an overwhelming amount of information and learning. While I do not expect to immediately apply everything I’ve heard, I become more aware of the scope and depth of our profession so I can better support my students.

Attending a national conference doesn’t happen without planning and prioritization. Like going to the gym, success only happens if you make it a priority. Do not treat professional development as an optional extracurricular activity. Treat it as a habit that gets scheduled on a regular basis.

Advance planning is essential and possible. My students know that I will be gone every year for one week in March to attend the MTNA national conference. I do not include that week in the semester calendar, and it is non-negotiable—my students work around these dates. Some teachers plan group lessons for that week instead of private lessons, freeing up a few days to attend the conference. Others create video lessons that students can watch while the teacher is gone.

I acknowledge that expenses can be a barrier to attending a national conference. Check out the Top Five Ways to Afford a National Conference. Early in my career, I made compromises for affordability—driving whenever possible, sharing a hotel room with 2–3 colleagues, attending for fewer days than the full conference. Most importantly, I included professional development as an essential item in my studio budget.

A professional studio is only as up-to-date and relevant as the teacher. Taking care of business also means taking care of yourself. The value of attending a national conference can more than outweigh the expense in the long run when you make a priceless investment in yourself.

Karen Thickstun, NCTM, teaches piano pedagogy at Butler University and recently retired as founding director of the Butler Community Arts School. She holds degrees in music, economics and business. Thickstun is MTNA immediate past president.

Jennifer Stadler, NCTM, is an independent piano teacher with experience in early childhood, K–12, and higher education. She holds an MM degree in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma.