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If you love music and are a natural at playing a specific instrument or instruments, you might want to consider becoming a music teacher. You will have many options available to you, whether you chose to teach private lessons or work in the public arena as an elementary or high school music teacher. You may even decide to explore a teaching career at a major university. This guide will provide you with information and tips on how to become a music teacher.
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Steps to Becoming a Music Teacher or Music Therapist
This video highlights five main steps for becoming an effective music teacher or music therapist. These include being specific, positive, knowledgeable, creative and caring. Key points that are made include: positivity goes along way for music teachers, as when you let students know you care, they are more likely to work hard and do their best. Being knowledgeable means knowing what you are teaching, as this will result in teaching methods that are more effective. Be caring, asking your students questions and listening to them.
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Introduction
- Do you love music, whether it involves listening to it, composing it or learning its various theories? Are you skilled at playing one or more instruments, and do you spend your free time honing your talent? Do you enjoy teaching others about your passion for music, enough to turn it into a full-time career? If so, you might want to consider becoming a music teacher. This guide will provide you with information on how to become a music teacher.
Step 1: Develop Your Music Skills
- If you are an aspiring music teacher, you should learn all you can about music. This means reading books on the history of music as well as musical theory. You want to make sure you have a broad knowledge of all musical styles. You should consider taking singing lessons or joining a local choir at a school or church. Learnin how to play an instrument. For example, you can start taking guitar, piano or violin lessons. Other options to consider include:
- Attending a band camp
- Attending a summer music camp
Step 2: Decide What Teaching Career to Seek
- There are many career options for music teachers, and it is important to decide which route you wish to take as it will determine the type of education and experience you will need to obtain. You can:
- Teach music on the preschool, elementary, junior high or high school level
- Teach at a college or university. You can teach music theory, or specific types of music and music history. You may also be employed at a music school that is devoted to teaching students to play specific instruments, or teaching them to arrange musical compositions.
- Teach private lessons from your home or at a local music store
Step 3: Get an Education
- Now it is time to decide on your education route, which will be dependent on the type of career path you want to take. All music teachers will obviously need to have a musical background, including experience playing a specific instrument or singing. Most aspiring teachers will go on to seek a college degree in music as well. Although this is not required for those that want to teach private lessons, it will be mandatory for those that wish to pursue teaching in a classroom. You will likely only need a general music education or music theory degree for elementary, junior high and high school teaching, but may need emphasis in specific areas if you play on teaching at a specialty music school, college or university.
- Keep in mind that each state will likely have different education and certification requirements regarding teacher requirements. You will need to find out exactly what undergraduate degree to pursue and what other credentials you may need to have.
Step 4: Find a Job
- If you choose to teach private music lessons, then you can begin your career by advertising your services. You can do this by:
- Using the internet to create your own website, highlighting your music background and skills, and outlining the teaching related services you will be offering. You can also post your services on websites such as Craigslist.
- Post your services on bulletin boards at local music stores
- Advertise in local print publications
- For those that want to be a music teacher at an elementary, junior high or high school, then you will need to begin searching for a position in the spring or summer, which is when most teachers make their decisions regarding retirement. If you prefer working at a college or university, you can apply for a job year round.
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