Are you interested in starting a career as a music teacher? Many people love music and want to do something for work that is related to music. Teaching music is an excellent way to make a living but there are things you should know before you commit to becoming a music teacher. Keep reading to learn more about what it takes to be a music teacher and what you can expect to make.

Education Is Needed

Of course, you aren’t just going to get a job teaching music at a school if you don’t have the necessary education. You’re likely going to want to get at least a bachelor’s degree to teach at the high school level and you’ll also need to pass a teacher certification exam where you’re living. If you want to make the most money possible, then you should consider signing up for a master’s in music education program. This will allow you to get a better job and it’ll help you to earn more money.

Expected Salary

The salary that you can expect will vary quite a bit depending on where you live. Many states have different average salary amounts for teachers. If you average all of the data out to see what the median salary for a music teacher is, then you should expect to earn a bit under $47,000 per year. It’s also good to note that many music teachers earn money on the side by providing private lessons, leading marching bands, and leading orchestras.

You Can Continue to Pursue Your Musical Ambitions

A teaching job is certainly not going to be easy but it will allow you enough time to pursue your musical ambitions. In America, you can expect most middle school or high school teaching jobs to give you the entire summer off. This gives you plenty of time to play music and you might even be able to get paying gigs during the summer months. You could also pursue your musical career on the weekends during the school year.

Teaching Requires Passion

Don’t think that signing up as a music teacher is going to be an easy payday. Teaching kids is a difficult task and it can be tough to teach young adults how to play music too. You’re going to need to be passionate about both music and teaching to make this career worthwhile. If you think that this sounds as if it is something that you’re interested in, then you should look into pursuing the right education to make it happen.

 

from Carman Dragone | Music & Business http://carmandragone.net/becoming-a-music-teacher/
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Being a music teacher is something that you have always dreamed about. You have finally finished getting your degree and you’re about to start off on your new career. It’s normal to be a bit nervous because you want to do the best job that you can. Take the time to look at the following seven things that all new music teachers should know so that you can feel more confident going into your new job. 

1. Managing Time Is Important

Managing time might be more difficult than you would assume. It might be easy to get through your classes way too fast without feeling like you ever have enough time to teach everything that you wanted to. Try to keep track of time so that you can teach kids efficiently. You should try to divide your time so that all students are receiving proper attention. 

2. Sometimes the Job Will Be Frustrating

Teaching kids will always have the potential to be frustrating. It might be tough to have to hear that kids didn’t do their homework or that they haven’t been practicing. You have to learn how to be stern without making your students dislike you. 

3. Ask Other Teachers for Help

Sometimes you might need a helping hand while you’re learning the ropes. Your new colleagues should be more than happy to provide assistance. Ask other teachers for advice and they’ll likely have a lot of knowledge that they can pass on to you. 

4. Empathy Is Crucial

It has been a long time since you were learning how to play music for the first time. Try to remember how tough it was when you were just starting out and it’ll be easier to empathize with the kids. Remember that most kids aren’t going to be musical geniuses and that it’ll take a long time to learn. 

5. Be Observant

Being observant will allow you to recognize the various problems that students are facing. You might notice that some kids are struggling with certain notes or that a child’s attitude has suddenly changed. Your observational skills might allow you to help them work through problems and you can try to give extra attention to kids who might be struggling. 

6. Teaching Requires Learning

Teaching isn’t easy and you’re always going to keep learning. Every year you’ll be presented with new students and they will likely provide you with a unique set of challenges. Sometimes it’s going to be tough to keep learning, but you have to keep moving forward while being proud of the good work that you’re doing. 

7. The Love of Music 

At the end of the day, it’s really all about the love of music. Try to keep your love of music alive and keep challenging yourself as a musician. This will help you to stay engaged with the process and your passion can help to get kids more interested in music, too. 

from Carman Dragone | Music & Business http://carmandragone.net/seven-things-all-new-music-teachers-should-know/
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