How To Become A Music Teacher
Music teachers are responsible for teaching music appreciation, the reading of musical notes, and musical instrument education. Music teachers can teach at an elementary school, middle school, or high school level. Music teachers may be found teaching at colleges and universities.
Why Become A Music Teacher
Becoming a music teacher will allow you to teach a specific style of music and instruments to students, such as jazz, opera, rock, guitar, drums, or violin.
In order to become a music teacher, it is important that you have mastered a musical skill, talent, or instrument. Music teachers must be prepared to teach students at various levels of learning, have a positive attitude, and patience.
Music Teacher Work Environment
Music teachers may work within classrooms and musical studios to educate students. Depending on the age level and experience of the students, music teachers may work with students to educate them on various musical instruments, musical notes, or musical composition.
Music Teacher Salary
The Occupational Employment and Wages Report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the US Department of Labor showed in 2016, post-secondary music teachers earned a median annual wage of $62,160. Elementary music teachers earned a median annual wage of $53,400. Middle school music teachers earned a median annual wage of $55,050.
Music Teacher Career Outlook
The career outlook for a music teacher is dependent upon education, experience, and musical skill set. Music teachers who teach at a elementary school or middle school level may see a career increase of 17%, from 2012 to 2022. High school music teachers may see a slow, career growth of 7%. Job opportunities for music teachers may be dependent upon music teachers who wish to retire, budgetary cuts, or shortage of job opportunities.
Music Teacher Degree
If you wish to pursue a career in musical education, you will need to obtain a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree in Music Education, Music Theory, or a related field of study. You may feel inclined to specialize in a specific instrument to teach students, or arena of instruments, such as percussion. You will have to earn your teaching certificate, in order to teach within the musical education field. Music teachers who wish to teach at public schools must have an educational state licensure.
If you wish to teach at a college or university, you will have to earn your Master’s degree, or PhD, to teach students. When you are exploring your music coursework, you may want to specialize in a specific area or time period of music or musical instrument. Throughout your coursework, you will want to student teach to begin gaining experience working with students. Musical education coursework may include fundamentals of music theory, music history, childhood development or education, and training on a specific instrument of interest.
