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As someone who now teaches at a university I can tell you that the difference is like night and day. The kind of 'classroom management' issues that consume so much of teacher's time are simply not an issue with me. As Kelly points out (and as anyone who has stood in front of a high school band class will know from experience) being the focal point of all that jittery, unfocussed teenage energy can really take it out of you.

As a university instructor I also work a lot less. A full-time high school music gig usually involves 4 blocks of classes one day and two the next, on a "day one/day two" schedule (this insane system insures that your two blocks of 'prep time' never fall on the same day of the week). Smart band directors also tend to take on a lot of off-timetable, extra stuff, because the bigger your department is the harder it is for admin to attack you come the (inevitable) cutbacks (since music and art in general are considered 'frills').Add in individual coaching and fundraising for band trips and you've got some long days. When I subbed for Brent Taylor at Point Grey, for example, the day started around 7:00 a.m. and on alternate days ended about 5:30. When I did Victor Guy's job, lunchtime consisted of getting in the car and driving over to Strathcona Elementary to conduct beginner band.

At Tulane, I direct two combo rehearsals a week, and deliver two 90 minute jazz history lectures a week. That's it. Total time standing in front of students, about 6 hours a week. Any high school band director does 3 times that.

Sure, I spend more time grading papers, and I'm dealing with issues, both musical and academic, on a much higher level of discourse. But all things considered, university teaching is a breeze when it comes to the heavy lifting part. It cracks me up to hear my colleagues complain about the work load.