Music Education-Teaching music can be an exciting career. Each job has its share of challenges and demands. If you’ve been thinking about what it takes we can provide suggestions tо consider your own career destination in music and education. Music education positions are not totally unique, but our paths most certainly are. Whether you are thinking about teaching music as your main focus or perhaps have thought about teaching music as a supplemental hobby, this article is for you.

Getting Into The Music Education Profession

Your Calling

Not only can teaching music earn you money but you will continue {to|to} learn and it helps keep you driven. As a Teacher, you have the opportunity tо interact with young people and tо positively impact their lives each and every day. A great teacher shows their students what the future might look like. In addition, it also shows hоw their learning can help prepare them for a productive and quality life.

How To Teach

Students have different learning styles, capabilities and interests. A Teacher must be prepared tо teach tо all students in various scenarios. Learning is progressive in which scaffolding is often required. That is, there is a set of mini attainable goals presented {to|to} a student {to|to} help learn musical concepts. This allows students {to|to} learn in small chunks of information and have a better chance for retaining the knowledge. As a teacher, {he|he} or she must be able {to|to} view the perspective of their students {to|to} make learning real. Music students often learn by “doing.” As an art form, music is a {very|very|very|very} “hands-on” discipline. Music curriculum should be designed in a way that instruction is student-centered. A teacher does not need {to|to} be a master of all skills in order {to|to} have a positive impact on a student. In an ideal world, a music teacher would often want {to|to} know everything there is about the art form. Unfortunately learning everything is not realistic. There is a saying…, “A fool doesn’t know what {he|he} doesn’t know, whereas a wise man knows what {he|he} doesn’t know.” This refers {to|to} the idea it is more important {to|to} understand a concept in depth rather than a little bit of everything.

The Teaching Business

Aside from your skills as an educator and a musician, you will also need tо prepare tо market yourself tо potential employers and students. This is a totally different skillset which also requires you tо adopt some creative business strategies. A good starting point is tо understand that education is a business. Students pay in order tо learn, and your teaching is the “product” of your effort, skill, and knowledge. This is what you are paid for. Private music teachers need {to|to} communicate why they are the best instructors for their potential students. Just like in business, this means you should supply a good resume, bio, and cover letter. Having some marketing materials, such as a website and social media presence, flyers, and a business card could help communicate that you are open for business. Sometimes music teachers may also create instructional videos tо earn money via the web.

Research

Research the education industry. College is a great place tо learn about educational business models. There are many great books and online resources readily available at your local library. Having a mentor is also a smart idea. A music education mentor you can also help prepare yourself for a career as an instructor.

Lifelong Learning

Teachers are notorious for being lifelong learners. Educators often consider the “secret” of teaching is tо learn as much as possible from their students. Learning takes place everywhere and students can teach the teacher valuable lessons.

Advocacy

As educators it is important {to|to} our profession tо stay current on the activity in the field. Politics and technology can change our professional culture {very|very|very|very} quickly. Teaching techniques, resources and expectations can change from year {to|to} year. As a result, we need {to|to} advocate the need and necessity of music education. Consequently, music educators should be at the forefront of educational reform and cooperative efforts amongst policymakers.

Planning

Think “BIG” picture and try tо imagine what your career might look like in the one, 5, and 10years from now. Some musicians who focus on their performing careers first and supplementing their teaching activities later on. In contrast, others are focused on becoming the best possible educators from the start. Take some time {to|to} evaluate where you stand and {how|how} committed {to|to} your career choice. Will it make you happy?

Conclusion

In my situation, I wanted {to|to} be a teacher prior {to|to} wanting to be a music teacher. I wanted {to|to} make a difference in a child’s life. And, music was the perfect venue for sharing my passion. In conclusion, I recommend that you only start teaching as a professional in a music education career if you can envision being happy doing it. It can be truly rewarding. Unfortunately, I have seen too many 1st year educators leave the profession for one reason or another. Be sure {to|to} truly evaluate your career intentions so that your future students receive the best gift of all, an inspiring teacher.