Jena Combs
@jcombs2020.bsky.social
She/Her
Instrumental Music Educator
Secondary and Higher Ed General Music Advocate
2024 Yamaha “40 Under 40” Music Educator
All views are my own
Instrumental Music Educator
Secondary and Higher Ed General Music Advocate
2024 Yamaha “40 Under 40” Music Educator
All views are my own
Juneteenth marks freedom long delayed, and the work that still isn’t finished.
We all have a role to play in making sure justice, equity, and truth aren’t just ideas, but everyday realities.
Today, and everyday, honor Black history, celebrate Black resilience, and commit to doing better, together.
We all have a role to play in making sure justice, equity, and truth aren’t just ideas, but everyday realities.
Today, and everyday, honor Black history, celebrate Black resilience, and commit to doing better, together.
June 19, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Juneteenth marks freedom long delayed, and the work that still isn’t finished.
We all have a role to play in making sure justice, equity, and truth aren’t just ideas, but everyday realities.
Today, and everyday, honor Black history, celebrate Black resilience, and commit to doing better, together.
We all have a role to play in making sure justice, equity, and truth aren’t just ideas, but everyday realities.
Today, and everyday, honor Black history, celebrate Black resilience, and commit to doing better, together.
I may be in higher ed now, but it’s only been a year since I left public ed—and I still remember that end-of-year exhaustion. It wasn’t just the kids. It was the meetings, the mandates, the shifting expectations, and the lack of support. Burnout isn’t personal. It’s systemic.
June 4, 2025 at 3:00 AM
I may be in higher ed now, but it’s only been a year since I left public ed—and I still remember that end-of-year exhaustion. It wasn’t just the kids. It was the meetings, the mandates, the shifting expectations, and the lack of support. Burnout isn’t personal. It’s systemic.
If this resonates with you, you’re not alone. Talk about it. Share it. Let’s normalize the struggle and lift each other up. You’re not an imposter—you’re an educator in progress. And that’s exactly where you’re supposed to be.
It showed up in my first year of teaching, and it still whispers now that I’m in higher ed. Some days it’s quiet. Some days it’s loud. But I’ve learned this: feeling unsure doesn’t mean you don’t belong. It means you care. Keep showing up—we need you here.
Even after 10+ years in music education, imposter syndrome still sneaks in. If you’re early in your career & doubting yourself, you’re not alone. You don’t have to be perfect to make an impact. You’re learning. You’re growing. That’s what real educators do.
May 2, 2025 at 10:50 AM
If this resonates with you, you’re not alone. Talk about it. Share it. Let’s normalize the struggle and lift each other up. You’re not an imposter—you’re an educator in progress. And that’s exactly where you’re supposed to be.
It showed up in my first year of teaching, and it still whispers now that I’m in higher ed. Some days it’s quiet. Some days it’s loud. But I’ve learned this: feeling unsure doesn’t mean you don’t belong. It means you care. Keep showing up—we need you here.
Even after 10+ years in music education, imposter syndrome still sneaks in. If you’re early in your career & doubting yourself, you’re not alone. You don’t have to be perfect to make an impact. You’re learning. You’re growing. That’s what real educators do.
May 2, 2025 at 10:50 AM
It showed up in my first year of teaching, and it still whispers now that I’m in higher ed. Some days it’s quiet. Some days it’s loud. But I’ve learned this: feeling unsure doesn’t mean you don’t belong. It means you care. Keep showing up—we need you here.
Even after 10+ years in music education, imposter syndrome still sneaks in. If you’re early in your career & doubting yourself, you’re not alone. You don’t have to be perfect to make an impact. You’re learning. You’re growing. That’s what real educators do.
May 2, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Even after 10+ years in music education, imposter syndrome still sneaks in. If you’re early in your career & doubting yourself, you’re not alone. You don’t have to be perfect to make an impact. You’re learning. You’re growing. That’s what real educators do.
Burnout in education is real. I love my students, but some days I run on empty. If you’re feeling it too, you’re not alone—and you’re not failing. Be gentle with yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
April 22, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Burnout in education is real. I love my students, but some days I run on empty. If you’re feeling it too, you’re not alone—and you’re not failing. Be gentle with yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
The goal isn’t to create perfect students. It’s to create empowered humans who know how to ask good questions and aren’t afraid to try.
April 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The goal isn’t to create perfect students. It’s to create empowered humans who know how to ask good questions and aren’t afraid to try.
You can teach notes and rhythms all day, but if your students don’t feel like they belong, the music won’t matter. Culture comes first. Every rehearsal is a chance to build it—or break it.
April 14, 2025 at 11:41 PM
You can teach notes and rhythms all day, but if your students don’t feel like they belong, the music won’t matter. Culture comes first. Every rehearsal is a chance to build it—or break it.
Reposted by Jena Combs
Study History. 100%. Absolutely. Study History.
April 13, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Study History. 100%. Absolutely. Study History.
Rebuilding a music program isn’t about trophies—it’s about trust, belonging, and long-term impact. Awards are nice, but they’re not the goal. The real work happens quietly, day by day. If you’re in it, keep going. You’re not alone, and what you’re doing matters.
April 13, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Rebuilding a music program isn’t about trophies—it’s about trust, belonging, and long-term impact. Awards are nice, but they’re not the goal. The real work happens quietly, day by day. If you’re in it, keep going. You’re not alone, and what you’re doing matters.
Education has changed—and hasn’t. Students still want to be seen and supported. But how they learn is shifting fast. Teaching isn’t just content anymore—it’s connection, context, and helping them think deeply in a noisy, AI-filled world. People first, always.
April 11, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Education has changed—and hasn’t. Students still want to be seen and supported. But how they learn is shifting fast. Teaching isn’t just content anymore—it’s connection, context, and helping them think deeply in a noisy, AI-filled world. People first, always.
Music class teaches that progress happens over time. We don’t give up on students just because they struggle at first—we guide them until they succeed. What if all subjects prioritized growth over deadlines?
April 2, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Music class teaches that progress happens over time. We don’t give up on students just because they struggle at first—we guide them until they succeed. What if all subjects prioritized growth over deadlines?
Music isn’t just something students do—it’s something they become. It shapes how they think, learn, and connect with the world. We owe them the opportunity to experience it.
March 25, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Music isn’t just something students do—it’s something they become. It shapes how they think, learn, and connect with the world. We owe them the opportunity to experience it.
Music is the one language every child speaks fluently. Taking it away isn’t just cutting a program—it’s silencing potential.
March 23, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Music is the one language every child speaks fluently. Taking it away isn’t just cutting a program—it’s silencing potential.
Music is one of the only subjects where students immediately see how their individual effort impacts the group. You can’t hide in an ensemble—everyone matters. That’s a lesson every student should experience.
March 19, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Music is one of the only subjects where students immediately see how their individual effort impacts the group. You can’t hide in an ensemble—everyone matters. That’s a lesson every student should experience.
Every child deserves the opportunity to make music—not just to hear its power, but to experience it firsthand and carry its lessons for a lifetime. Music isn’t just a subject; it’s a foundation for creativity, discipline, and connection.
March 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Every child deserves the opportunity to make music—not just to hear its power, but to experience it firsthand and carry its lessons for a lifetime. Music isn’t just a subject; it’s a foundation for creativity, discipline, and connection.
Reposted by Jena Combs
Let’s call it what it is: Trump and congressional Republicans are trying to cut health care, food assistance, and education for working Americans to pay for tax cuts to their billionaire donors.
February 25, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Let’s call it what it is: Trump and congressional Republicans are trying to cut health care, food assistance, and education for working Americans to pay for tax cuts to their billionaire donors.
Education should be about learning how to think, not just memorizing facts that students will Google the second they leave school.
March 3, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Education should be about learning how to think, not just memorizing facts that students will Google the second they leave school.
No one expects a student to write an essay before they know the alphabet, so why do we expect kids to ‘get’ music without proper scaffolding and support? Strong music programs build musicians from the ground up—just like any good curriculum should.
March 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
No one expects a student to write an essay before they know the alphabet, so why do we expect kids to ‘get’ music without proper scaffolding and support? Strong music programs build musicians from the ground up—just like any good curriculum should.
Reposted by Jena Combs
Musk’s status as a “special government employee” limits him to 130 days in the executive branch. However, despite working daily—documented by his own X posts—they claim he only works one day a week, effectively stretching his limit to 130 weeks. This needs to be brought to Congress—please share.
March 2, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Musk’s status as a “special government employee” limits him to 130 days in the executive branch. However, despite working daily—documented by his own X posts—they claim he only works one day a week, effectively stretching his limit to 130 weeks. This needs to be brought to Congress—please share.
In music, you don’t ‘fail’ a piece and never play it again—you keep working on it until you get it right. Imagine if all subjects worked that way, prioritizing growth and mastery over speed and compliance.
March 2, 2025 at 11:29 PM
In music, you don’t ‘fail’ a piece and never play it again—you keep working on it until you get it right. Imagine if all subjects worked that way, prioritizing growth and mastery over speed and compliance.
Music teaches real-time problem-solving. Play a wrong note? Fix it. Tempo off? Adjust. Balance issue? Listen and respond. These are the same skills employers say they want—so why aren’t we fighting harder to keep music in schools?
February 28, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Music teaches real-time problem-solving. Play a wrong note? Fix it. Tempo off? Adjust. Balance issue? Listen and respond. These are the same skills employers say they want—so why aren’t we fighting harder to keep music in schools?
A student who struggles with math gets tutoring, extra help, and second chances. A student who struggles with music often gets told, ‘Maybe this isn’t for you.’ It’s time to change that mindset—music is for everyone.
February 26, 2025 at 10:45 PM
A student who struggles with math gets tutoring, extra help, and second chances. A student who struggles with music often gets told, ‘Maybe this isn’t for you.’ It’s time to change that mindset—music is for everyone.
Musicians develop their skills through daily practice, thoughtful guidance, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Every missed note, every difficult passage, and every rehearsal is a step toward mastery—because true musicianship isn’t about perfection; it’s about the journey.
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No one expects you to run a marathon without training. So why do we expect instant success in music? Great musicians aren’t born—they’re taught, nurtured, and given the time to grow. Progress takes patience, persistence, and the right support system.
February 25, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Musicians develop their skills through daily practice, thoughtful guidance, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Every missed note, every difficult passage, and every rehearsal is a step toward mastery—because true musicianship isn’t about perfection; it’s about the journey.
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.