In this article I attempt to redefine the role of a music teacher as being more than a director, the more traditional term ascribed to this position. I do this by using descriptions of the role of "writer" and "producer" of student lives borrowed from music education philosophy, screenwriting, and professional music producers. This vision is centered on the principle that instilling a creative identity in the lives of music students should be the top priority of the music education profession. By thinking of themselves as the "writers" and "producers" of student lives, music teachers will adopt a creative identity themselves that can in turn be shared with students. By adopting these unique roles, the music teacher might experience a sense of meaning and purpose in their teaching that is akin to the composer. In essence, teachers who live out these roles in their teaching create purposeful and meaningful professional lives for themselves, something that can be passed on to students. (Contains 1 figure and 30 notes.)