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Upbeat!: Mindset, Mindfulness, and Leadership in Music Education and Beyond
Just as a conductor's preparatory "upbeat" gesture at the beginning of a performance influences the way an ensemble plays, we too get to choose our "upbeat"—our thoughts and attitudes—at the start of each day, at the beginning of each class, and in our interactions with students and colleagues.
With this clever premise at its core, Upbeat! presents a winning combination of mindset and mindfulness strategies as well as leadership principles that will motivate, inspire, and transform not only your internal world but the culture of your music program.
Divided into three parts—Ignite, Inspire, and Lead—Upbeat!—takes readers on a journey from internal self-reflection to outward expressions of leadership, with chapters addressing such topics as:
Self-care for optimal mental, emotional, and physical wellnessThe transformative power of positivity and gratitudeGrowth mindsetMindful breathing and listening in an ensemble settingFostering a culture of excellence and connectionCreating vision and mission statements for your organizationThe essential qualities of an effective leaderHow to develop a thriving student leadership program
As the conductors and composers of our own lives, we can choose to live an "upbeat" life from a posture of gratitude, positivity, and enthusiasm. As a result, we experience greater fulfillment and achieve personal and professional goals. Students also benefit from the clarity of our example as they embark on their own leadership journeys.
With immediately applicable ideas and strategies that work for students, teachers, and professionals in any field Upbeat! affirms the importance of living and working with intentionality and establishes that what we do, why we do it, and howwe do it matters.
With this clever premise at its core, Upbeat! presents a winning combination of mindset and mindfulness strategies as well as leadership principles that will motivate, inspire, and transform not only your internal world but the culture of your music program.
Divided into three parts—Ignite, Inspire, and Lead—Upbeat!—takes readers on a journey from internal self-reflection to outward expressions of leadership, with chapters addressing such topics as:
Self-care for optimal mental, emotional, and physical wellnessThe transformative power of positivity and gratitudeGrowth mindsetMindful breathing and listening in an ensemble settingFostering a culture of excellence and connectionCreating vision and mission statements for your organizationThe essential qualities of an effective leaderHow to develop a thriving student leadership program
As the conductors and composers of our own lives, we can choose to live an "upbeat" life from a posture of gratitude, positivity, and enthusiasm. As a result, we experience greater fulfillment and achieve personal and professional goals. Students also benefit from the clarity of our example as they embark on their own leadership journeys.
With immediately applicable ideas and strategies that work for students, teachers, and professionals in any field Upbeat! affirms the importance of living and working with intentionality and establishes that what we do, why we do it, and howwe do it matters.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2022
22 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 9, 2022
Matthew is incredible. I had the joy of student teaching with him at Loveland High School. Having witnessed it first hand, his wisdom is clear and he practices what he preaches. A great reminder for me and a look into the mind of true musical leader and teacher.
August 1, 2024
This easy-to-read book synthesizes leadership concepts from Leonardo DaVinci to Tony Dungy into manageable and actionable plans that can improve all music classrooms, whether you're a first year teacher or a seasoned one. Must read for all music educators! Highly recommend! 👍 👍
September 4, 2024
There are a lot of great leadership ideas in this book that would be very effective for middle school/ high school directors. I wish there was more for elementary specialist but still a great read!
September 22, 2025
A great and encouraging read for music educators! Dr. Arau's book contains tons of useful pieces of advice for every facet of life and is absolutely worth a read!
May 5, 2024
I am taking a class with Dr. Arau and this book made me reevaluate a lot of things in my teaching. (It also made me feel encouraged about a lot of things I'm already doing right ) I would highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews