Gaining some entrepreneurial skills will be helpful. Read all of our articles on entrepreneurship and music. You’ll also want to figure out how to market your business, how to use social media to your benefit, and how to network with people with whom you can establish mutually beneficial connections. See if a local community college or university has a class you can take to assist you. Some resources to google include Angela Myles Beeching (and her book “Beyond Talent”); Gerald Klickstein and his “Musicans Way” website and book; and Brian Horner’s “Living the Dream, The Morning After Music School.” If you are looking at becoming a performer as well, also check out the work of iCadenza.

Thanks for your astute comment. You speak of a national dilemma in the U.S. Music teachers and students alike often get the raw end of the deal. We need more teachers like you who know the value of music across one’s lifetime and will advocate for it having an equal place within the curriculum. We hope you will find the support you need to stay with your profession for the sake of so many students who will grace your classroom in the future.

There are certainly some schools where music is not valued at all and where teachers are willfully manipulated, and there are some schools that have excellent music programs. I have only been a music teacher for two years in a very rural district (i.e. you have to drive an hour to go shopping), but from my experience and what I’ve heard from other music educators, most schools fall somewhere between these extremes. Generally, administrators will give you the support you need to run a music program, but not the support you need to run an exceptional music program. For example, I have decent facilities, a reasonable budget, and a lot of flexibility with my curriculum. However, in terms of scheduling, it is a nightmare. I am forced to work rehearsals and performances around everything else on the school calendar, primarily athletics, which I understand is given priority over the arts pretty much everywhere. Like many rural schools, mine has also established an international boarding program to boost enrollment and revenue, and I serve as a dorm parent for this. Because of this, I frequently find myself being asked to be in two places at once because there is little communication between the boarding program directors and the rest of the administrators. Ultimately, schools want to have music programs, but if the growth of the music program conflicts with anything else at the school, guess what takes priority?

Loving to sing or loving classical music is not a good reason to become a music major. Try taking private voice lessons and auditioning for semi professional as well as professional performance groups. Luckily my story has a very happy ending but not until a lot of introspection and change. However I still sing. Know that teaching music is challenging, even if you have your M.Mus in Ed., Cum Laude. And unfortunately your average administrator can make it impossible.

Check the application, audition and required classes at schools you’d considering attending. Then look at the article “Prepare to be a Music Major” on our website. Note that at most colleges, there are music electives open to all students as well as choirs, choruses, a cappella groups. You don’t have to be a music major to be able to sing!

We’re not quite sure what you’re asking about re: music education as a career. Limitations of course would be that it would be the wrong fit for anyone who:
• Doesn’t like working with the age range they’re teaching;
• Isn’t flexible – some music teaching jobs require you to teach at more than one school;
• Isn’t comfortable working as part of a team;
• Isn’t willing to do what’s asked, including getting families and the community to attend concerts, and supporting school fundraising endeavors;
• Isn’t able or willing to work long hours when needed (including some evenings and weekends);
• Isn’t willing to advocate for music in the schools.

But if you love transmitting knowledge about music, thrive on watching young people grow in their musicality, realize that for some students music is the only thing that makes their day worthwhile, enjoy having your summers off (unless you choose to work another job in the summer), want to continue performing yourself (most music teachers do, and that provides a great role model for students), and enjoy working as part of a team rather than alone –– then becoming a music educator can be a great fit.

Check the state regs where you want to teach. Piano proficiency is helpful, but we spoke with some elementary school music teachers who talked about workarounds including background tracks for concerts. One teacher from Pennsylvania mentioned that one can teach the Orff philosophy and accompany on a xylophone instead. She also said that as a non-piano person herself, she often plays the melody line and simple chords on the left hand.

But again, do find out what’s expected where you plan to teach, maybe even talk with some K-5 music teachers to get their sense, as well and to figure out how to present your skills when you’re ready to interview (and do read other articles about interviewing for music ed jobs on �ƹ�app).

We contacted Paul Fox, who wrote for �ƹ�app and he responded with this:

“This is an excellent question with no “right or wrong” answer. You are right to assume most school districts discourage random phone or e-mail inquiries regarding employment opportunities. Candidates are often directed to complete an online application (e.g. the service paeducator.net in Pennsylvania). In my own experience many years ago (it landed me several job offers), I made the extra effort of mailing a personalized letter and resume to the superintendent of schools declaring my interest and availability to be considered for future music jobs in his/her district. After several weeks, I then used an excuse to call the HR department, superintendent’s secretary, or other staff member in charge of job applications to check if my materials were received and if anything else was needed… certified transcripts, references, sample lesson plans, etc. Today, I would even go as far as creating a protected professional website, an “e-portfolio” with all of these things and video recordings of my teaching and performances, and then contact the employment department in order to share my site’s password.”

Is cold calling appropriate? I was told in school to not do that…although at this point only having 4 interviews out of 32 applications is very frustrating. Also:
1) Who would I call specifically?
2) What should I say?

We suggest you read these articles on �ƹ�app: and . Also read other articles on this site about careers in music education. If teaching is not something you want to do, we encourage you to go in other directions. Students deserve teachers who are passionate about teaching, and you deserve to be in a career you’re passionate about.

You’d need to check the state regulations where you’re looking to teach, but to our best knowledge, you need to be state certified throughout the U.S. in order to teach in the public schools. Private schools are different – each has it’s own hiring criteria.

Thank you so much! I can’t wait to explore these options!

There are at least two directions we suggest you explore. One is the world of music education – curricula and other background for becoming a music educator and the work a music educator does. There are more pieces and parts to the job than there used to be. Check out this article: .

The other major aspect to consider is what kind of school would be a good fit for you, since most schools DO offer music education as a major. There are several articles on �ƹ�app to get you going, especially under the tab, “Thinking about Majoring in Music?”

Regardless of the school you go to, there are no guarantees about jobs. You’ll serve yourself well by joining your college chapter of NAfME (NAfME Collegiate) as well as other organizations relevant to your particular instrument (SNATS for voice students). Any experience working with MS/HS students you can get as well as networking you can do will also serve you well. Finding ways to stand out will also serve you well: what will you have to offer a school district that’s unique and relevant?

We hope this is useful – let us know! And best wishes!