Preliminary surveys have determined that post-COVID, approximately one in three students experiences increased stress and anxiety and has difficulty persevering through difficult tasks. As music educators, our mission is to develop exemplary musicians, provide a space for all students to participate in music-making, and prepare students to be leaders in their chosen field. The cultivation of grit, described as the ability to persist in the face of obstacles, mitigates stress and anxiety and improves performance in the pursuit of goals. We can use the intentional development of grit to empower students in each facet of our music education mission.

Drawing inspiration from the presenter’s decade-long military career and recent deployment, and incorporating recommendations from the research of Angela Duckworth, Carol Dweck, and others, this presentation identifies the main characteristics of grit and presents actionable techniques for music educators to cultivate students’ grit for their and the program’s benefit.