Earlier this year, we asked ILMEA Board Members to share a book that they have read that has informed or transformed their teaching and approach to music education. Their recommendations were for books specifically about music education and technique, but also include suggestions for reading on arts, creativity, leadership, and the broader field of education.
We hope these recommendations will bring you inspiration and encouragement in your own teaching and learning!
The Creative Act: A Way of Being
By Rick Rubin
Recommended by Bill Rank
JSGM Division President
Rick Rubin is a legendary producer and co-founder of DefJam Records. He has worked with many artists in a very diverse musical spectrum, including Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, LL-Cool-J, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Weezer, Aerosmith, Johnny Cash, The Avett Brothers, and Kesha. He is known for being able to bring creativity out of musicians and his advice on life in the artistic realm is enlightening.
“Art is choosing to do something skillfully, caring about the details, bringing all of yourself to make the finest work you can. It is beyond ego, vanity, self-glorification, and need for approval.” - Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Good to Great
By Jim Collins
Recommended by Matthew Bufis
MED Division President Elect
As a first year band director placed in a highly competitive marching band program, following 3 other directors inside of 4 school years, I entered an unstable learning environment with an understandable fractured trust towards a program leader. I took solace in the data-driven leadership frameworks outlined by Jim Collins in his books Good to Great, and Built to Last. They helped me identify leadership skills and processes to work on within myself as well as within the organization I was leading and highly informed the steps I took to transform our program to new levels of distinction. This is timeless information that is worth a read at any level of your career.
By Robin Sharma
Recommended by Barry Houser
Band Division President Elect
I am recommending The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma to other music educators because it reshaped the way I think about time, energy, and purpose in our profession. The book emphasizes the power of early mornings to set the tone for the entire day, something that directly connects to the discipline and focus we instill in our students. It challenged me to view self-care and personal growth as essential, not optional, in sustaining the demands of teaching and directing. One of my biggest “a-ha” moments was realizing that protecting the first hour of the day for reflection, learning, and health creates long-term clarity and creativity in both music and education. It also reframed success as not just professional achievement, but building habits that nurture joy, balance, and resilience. For me, it introduced the idea that great teaching and leadership begin with how we lead ourselves first. This shift has influenced the way I structure my days, approach rehearsals, and ultimately model balance and growth for my students.
The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life
By Parker J. Palmer
Recommended by Frank Piekarz
Chorus Division President
It was after reading this book for the first time that I came to believe that my professional path is that of a teacher working with student musicians, rather than that of someone who teaches music. For many years, I have picked this book up just before the start of a new school year, and I’m reminded how teaching, as with so many things in our lives, requires dedicated time in quiet reflection about WHY we do what we do. It’s very centering for me before I “run through the wall” at the beginning of the school year.
Compiled and Edited by Erik Kar Jun Leung
Recommended by Megan Fitzgerald
District 1 President
Hearing others’ perspectives from their own unique experiences helps to more fully understand where we have been, where we are now, and where we should point to in the future. This book made me think about my own experiences compared to others, as well as my students’ experiences and how they might walk through life as they come and go through my classroom.
By Rosamund Stone Zander, Benjamin Zander
Recommended by Christi Fernsberg
District 3 President
I read this book very early my career and it really changed the way I thought about rules, curriculum, and accountability. Although it may be difficult to embrace in today’s educational climate, the Zanders talk a lot about releasing yourself and your students from the arbitrary benchmarks we’ve set for ourselves. Part of being a teacher who “makes their eyes shine” is about being more open to what can be awakened in our selves and our students when we through creativity and giving grace.
Ben Zander has two great TED talks, which you can find here at www.ted.com/speakers/benjamin_zander - if you enjoy those, then you may also enjoy his book!
By Lynn G. Cooper
Recommended by Dawn Farmer
MTE Divison President
As a music teacher educator, I am always searching for books that are “worth the purchase” for my pre-service teachers. This is one of the books I promise them that they will be using later in their career and can be an instance reference. I like Cooper’s text for several reasons, but most significant are the literature and repertoire lists and sample documents. My college students are at times anxious about teaching outside their area, and Cooper provides music lists and suggestions for both band and orchestra; this allows my students to have access to lists they know they can trust. They might know Grade IV band literature and recognize pieces in Cooper’s lists, and then feel entrusted to use pieces off the Grade IV Orchestra list. While the text is designed for pre-service or early career teachers, I think many of us could benefit from reading things through someone else’s lens.
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
By Simon Sinek
Recommended by David Lesniak
District 9 President
While this book is primarily geared towards business leaders, it is not a far stretch to apply it’s teachings to the music educator. Expanding on his famous Ted Talk, the author describes his Golden Circle theory, and relates it to several successful (and unsuccessful) businesses. As leaders, teachers can apply the Golden Circle theory to their own programs. This book changed my thoughts on recruitment and retention, booster organizations and fundraising, concerts, festivals, and performances, and even what’s included within my curriculum.
Needs Before Notes: Supporting Student Well-Being Through Music Education
By Scott N. Edgar with contributions from Yorel Lashley and Darlene Machacon
Recommended by Kimberly Gardner
District 2 President
Education leaders have a propensity for using buzz words that will come one day and be insignificant the next. Social emotional learning or SEL is one of those phrases that people say, but they haven’t really addressed in their classroom. Post pandemic, educators have noticed a change in the interactions and interpersonal skills of students. Needs Before Notes is a book that supports music educators who are looking to find ways to help student self-regulate, take risks, and be open to more experiences in the music classroom. Needs Before Notes presents real-life scenarios of how educators approach different situations and how to change to align practices to create a safe classroom experience for all students.
By Joan Wall
Recommended by Curtis Fischer-Oelschlaeger
State Past President
This book is my go to book any time I question how a word should be properly pronounced for singing. In addition to the foreign languages, it also has a section for English which I have referenced more than I ever thought I would.