Requirements for a Music Teacher Career
If you have musical skills and a passion to pass them on to others, a career as a music teacher can be deeply rewarding. You have a number of employment options if you become a music teacher, including teaching in a public school system or private school, or by giving private lessons on your instrument of choice. In any case you will need training and proven skills.
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Education
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A music degree is not necessary for every career in music education, but it is a definite advantage in all of them. If you want to teach music in the public schools, you need a bachelor's degree specifically in music education. In this type of program you will not only strengthen your own music skills, but also learn best practices for teaching those skills to your students. To teach private instrument lessons, the best background is a degree in music performance or conservatory training.
Instrumental Competency
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Demonstrating your own competence will be key for private lessons. Most music teachers are competent with at least one musical instrument, with the exception of teachers who limit themselves to vocal technique. To teach a class and instruct broad musical skills, you almost always need a good facility at the piano. If you plan to teach an instrument other than piano in individual lessons, keyboard skills may not be necessary, but you will need a deeper facility with your instrument than will a classroom teacher. You will need to be familiar with many different styles of music to be able to engage your students.
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Performance Experience
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If you teach private lessons on an instrument, many of your students (and especially their parents) will be interested to know what performance experience you have. It can give you extra credibility if you can point to a past or ongoing performance career. It can also be a great advantage to have studied or played with prestigious or more experienced musicians.
Teaching Certification
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If you wish to teach in the public school system you must obtain a teaching certificate and be licensed by your state. This is in addition to your bachelor's degree. Details on your state's teaching certificate requirements are available through its department of education, and will vary depending on if you are teaching at the elementary level or higher. For private teachers, certification is available through the Music Teachers National Association.
Continuing Education and Alternative Methods
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Keeping up your own education even after you begin your work as a music teacher is highly advantageous to your career. You can add value for your students by becoming certified in different teaching methods such as the Suzuki Method, Alexander Technique or Dalcroze Methodology. Any of these can inform and improve your classroom practice and expose your students to new ways of learning.
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References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Musicians, Singers and Related Workers
- State University: Music Teacher Job Description, Career as a Music Teacher, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job Read more: Music Teacher Job Description, Career as a Music Teacher, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job
- All Education Schools: It Sounds So Sweet: Become a Music Teacher
- The Diller-Quaile School of Music: Teacher Training Department
Resources
- Photo Credit Lisa Stirling/Digital Vision/Getty Images man with violin image by Ramona smiers from Fotolia.com
