Job Description for an Elementary Music Teacher
Although teaching elementary music is highly challenging and much of your time will be devoted to tasks and duties not involving music, it can be rewarding if you enjoy working with children ages 6 to 12. Elementary and secondary school music educators need a bachelor's degree in music and state certification, and the average annual salary is $44,500. Teaching lessons at a private school or company requires no formal education and the pay range is $15 to $60 per hour.
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Elementary Music
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You'll be teaching music fundamentals such as note values and names, time signatures and how to count, and you may incorporate the use of solfege (do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do) to teach sight reading basics. You may also be asked to focus on learning through music, meaning you may be teaching songs that support and help teach the students' concurring subjects.
Public, Private, Charter or Company
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Elementary music is taught in several different settings and your job duties will vary accordingly. If you teach in a charter school, for example, you will be expected to conduct yourself in a way that represents the school, enforces their rules and endorses their mission statement; however, if you work in a music store or business you may have the freedom to teach however you like and focus on an instrument of your choice. Every school and job will be different.
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Play an Instrument
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You will most likely be required to play at least one instrument in order to demonstrate and teach your students songs. Piano or keyboard, guitar, flute or recorder (recorders are inexpensive and you can teach the whole class), or whatever instrument you have been trained to play will enrich your students and help make teaching easier.
Lesson Plans
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Lesson plans can be boring and time consuming, but you can incorporate other subjects, seasons or holidays to make your teaching and planning interesting for your students and also for you.
Classroom Management
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Classroom management can be one of the most difficult aspects of an elementary teacher's job. Commanding the attention of your students while taking roll or writing a hall pass for a bathroom break is not an easy task. Establishing and enforcing class rules is crucial.
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References
- Photo Credit music image by UBE from Fotolia.com
