Music Teacher: Making a Career in Music Teaching

Becoming a music teacher is one of the most wonderful teaching career opportunities for candidates. As the job title makes it obvious, the main job responsibility of these professionals is to teach music to people of all age groups. Professionals can either give music lessons as a private teacher or take up teaching positions in schools and colleges. Job responsibilities may vary depending on the type of teaching you take. To prepare yourself for this music teaching career, candidates need to know the job duties, educational qualification and training required, job outlook and the employment prospects in this field of teaching.

Job Description: Private Teachers & Music Teaching in Schools
Music teachers can either work as a private teacher (freelancer) or work in schools and colleges. While being self employed, the teacher will work with small groups of people, who can belong to multiple age groups. The people music teachers teach can be either beginners or top performers. Teachers need to plan and give lessons in music depending on the individual requirements of people. They teach people how to play various musical instruments and how to interpret music.

While teaching, music teachers train pupils for taking examinations and passing various music competitions. Those who work as a freelancer can work from home. On the other hand, these professionals can also get employed in specialties music schools and colleges. Teachers can get employed in primary or secondary music schools. Lessons that these professionals give to pupils include the history and theory of music. In addition, they teach students how to appreciate variety of music forms.

Teachers set assignments for students and check their progress. Additionally, they also assist in the organization of musical concerts, orchestra and other musical performances. Those who work in secondary schools will function as a specialist music teacher. On the other hand, professionals working in primary schools will cover all the curriculum subjects. In colleges, music teachers can teach all levels of musical education and courses.

Educational Qualification & Training
The educational requirement may vary depending on the level of teaching you do. Those who aspire to become employed in elementary and secondary schools should possess a bachelor's degree in music education. Candidates are required to have complete mastery of all the music areas and playing of musical instruments. Additionally, teachers also need to have excellent communication skills to make the most of their music teaching careers. Those who want to become private teachers do not necessarily require having formal education. However, working in schools and colleges would require candidates to have a bachelor's degree and state certification.

Job Skills & Knowledge
To become successful, candidates should also possess some essential job skills. A strong enthusiasm and passion for teaching music is key to having a successful career. Essential skills include a strong knowledge of various kinds of musical styles, musical instrument playing and singing skills, teaching skills, motivational skills, organizational skills, business skills (for self employed) and strong communication skills among others.

Working Hours
If you are self employed or a freelancer, you would have the liberty of setting your own working hours. You may also need to travel to reach teaching venues. Those who are employed in schools and colleges would work the standard school hours, from Monday till Friday. Teachers may also need to work extra hours or after school hours to prepare pupils for musical concerts, orchestras or other musical competitions. In music education colleges, candidates can choose to work either part time or full time, depending on their individual preferences.

Employment Opportunities
Talented professionals will have abundant employment opportunities. Many music teachers are self employed or freelancers in this occupation. If you want to get employed in schools, colleges and adult education centers, you can choose to work either part time or full time. Candidates may need to face tough competition occupying jobs in specialist music schools. With adequate qualification and work experience, music teachers in schools and colleges can also be promoted to senior level job positions of head of the music department.

Annual Salary
Earning or salary of music teachers will vary depending on the type of teaching positions, work experience and qualification. Certified teachers employed in elementary and secondary schools earn an average annual salary of around $44,500. If you get employed as a music faculty in colleges and universities, you can earn an annual salary up to $70,000. Those who are self employed or work part time can set their own hourly rate. The rate may vary between $15 and $60 per hour.