Music Teachers, or Music Instructors, teach music to students in public and private schools at the K-12 level. In most states, certification is required to teach in public schools, while private schools may not require state certification for their Music Teachers. Music Teachers may also teach in public schools as Substitute Teachers without being certified.

Whether in public or private schools, Music Teachers are an important part of the education and music ecosystems, as they have the opportunity to mold future musicians and music educators on a daily basis. Many successful musicians speak fondly of their school Music Teachers and Bandleaders, giving them credit for inspiring them to pursue music as a career, establish strong practice habits, and helping them get a start in their career.

Research has shown that students who study music in school get better grades in all their subjects, not just in music. Studies of brain development have also shown that music training helps children grow their abilities to think analytically, helps them to improve emotional intelligence, and increases both left and right brain capabilities and the connections between them. These positive outcomes from music study help kids do better in school and in life.

Dedicated Music Teachers play an important role in the education of children, teaching them crucial academic and life skills, teamwork and collaboration, study habits, persistence, and accountability for their own progress. Music Teachers are also prominent people in society and in their local communities. Music Teachers are influential and important people!

Music Teachers work full-time or part-time in primary and secondary schools, where they also lead musical ensembles like the choir, orchestra, concert band, marching band, or jazz band. There is typically a wider variety of ensembles at the high school level than at the elementary or junior high level.

Many schools have choral, band, and orchestral music faculty on staff. While many of their job duties overlap, the demands will be slightly different based on which type of music they teach. Instructors in these roles teach performance skills, improvising, reading music, music technology, songwriting, and sometimes, composing. They can also teach instrumental or vocal music lessons and music theory during class time.

Music Teachers report to their school Principal and their school district’s Supervisor of Music. Depending on the size and hiring budget of their school, they may also work in the classroom with a Teaching Assistant or Teaching Intern who is on the way to earning their degree. Music Teachers in public schools are often required to continually improve their teaching skills through continuing education and by taking professional development courses.

To learn what it’s like to be Music Teacher, we spoke to these award-winning music educators:

• Kevin Brawley (General Music Teacher, Torrence Creek Elementary, NC)
• Keith Hancock (Choral Music Teacher, Tesoro High, CA)
• Ashleigh Spatz (Music Specialist, Burgess-Peterson Academy, GA)

Both Kevin Brawley and Ashley Spatz are Country Music Association Music Teachers of Excellence. Keith Hancock is a GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year. These are just a sampling of the awards they’ve received; scroll down to the Sources section to read each Teacher’s list of honors.

Pay for Music Teachers depends on many factors and varies widely by region, state, city, and school district. The pay level for Teachers also varies by experience, time in the role, and whether they are working full- or part-time.

On average, Music Teachers earn approximately $51,000 annually. The salary range runs from $31,000 to $88,000. Certified Teachers who are newer to the field will earn on the lower end of the spectrum; their salary increases as their time on the job does. In public schools, the districts are funded by property taxes, so schools in wealthier communities can pay higher salaries.

Many Music Teachers supplement their income by teaching privately outside of their school responsibilities. They may work in a private studio, a music store, or teach out of their home. Some Teachers also pursue part-time careers as performers, playing at weddings, bar mitzvahs, parties, nightclubs, and industry events.

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For the Music Teacher who is well-prepared, there are always opportunities available. Although we hear stories about budgets being slashed for music at schools around the country, this isn’t the case everywhere. Most school boards, School Administrators, Teachers, and parents understand the importance of having music in the schools. This means there’s a steady demand, and so it’s still possible to find rewarding work as a school Music Teacher.

The pathway to landing a teaching job in a school is in fact more straightforward than for many music careers. With the right educational background, work experience (including internships or student teaching), and connections to the community, Teachers looking for work should be able to readily find available teaching opportunities.

Distance learning via the internet has become more common, too. Teaching private lessons and ensembles over the web isn’t always easy, but there are other subjects that lend themselves well to remote learning, such as music theory. Online music teaching and learning was already becoming more prevalent before the Covid-19 Pandemic and is here to stay. This means Music Teachers can expand their reach and impact by teaching online.

One way to stay on top of developments surrounding teaching music is to join music education associations and attend music educator conferences, such as the National Association of Music Educators (NAME), the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), or others. (See additional resources below.)

Some of the national associations also have very active state chapters. Joining, attending conferences, and getting active in these organizations offers opportunities for networking and professional development, and will give a very good idea of the prospects for teaching music, and what a career as a Music Teacher offers.

To become state certified as a Music Teacher, it’s a requirement to study and graduate from a music education degree program. Fulfilling the requirements for the degree, including practice teaching under observation by a Music Teacher, is a requirement for taking the state certification exam. Passing the exam is a requirement to earn the degree.

As part of their college coursework, aspiring music education professionals begin their after-college working careers via teaching internships, sometimes called a practicum, or practice teaching. Interns completing this requirement will be observed, critiqued, and coached by an established Music Teacher.

Once they have received their state Teacher certification, they can apply to positions as a Teaching Assistant, Substitute Teacher, or a part-time or full-time Music Teacher. Assistant, substitute, and part-time teaching roles are good preparation for a full-time career role, especially if these openings are difficult to find in the immediate area.

Aspiring Music Teachers may also teach within their communities concurrent with their academic pursuits, perhaps as a community Choir Director or Private Instrument Teacher. For music education majors who are still in school, teaching internships and community teaching gigs can help build a network of colleagues who know of openings in their schools or in neighboring districts.

Music teaching is a competitive field, so Music Teachers need excellent job search skills. They should learn how to communicate well; this includes tasks such as writing cover letters and speaking in front of groups, which often happens as part of the job interview process. These skills are important in helping the Teacher advance in their career.

Most experienced Music Teachers end up teaching full-time in the district of their choice, but that doesn’t mean they started there. They might have taught in neighboring districts or been a part-time teacher, or a substitute, for many years prior to landing their dream role.

First and foremost, Music Teachers must have superior musical skills. This includes being accomplished on at least one instrument, sometimes more. Knowledge and understanding of how all the instruments work and being able to teach basic performance skills on those instruments are also important and useful skills.

Piano accompaniment ability is also required for teaching instrumental studies, voice lessons, band, or choir. Piano skills are also helpful for teaching music theory, and aspiring Instructors are required to demonstrate keyboard proficiency in college. Band Directors or Orchestra Directors must be able to demonstrate mastery of their principal instruments. Knowing how to conduct a band or orchestra is also an important skill.

Music Teachers must be skilled performers and patient, inspiring Instructors. People skills and the ability to work with kids, teens, and young adults are, of course, paramount. Many of these skills can be learned during the teaching internship that’s required of music education majors.

College, conservatory, and university music education degree programs are designed to prepare their graduates to get certified and teach. Since the certification process is at the state level, it makes sense to attend school in the state where you intend to teach.

For example, colleges in California will be geared towards meeting California’s state teaching requirements, while a college in Kentucky may have differing requirements. Additionally, not all schools require the same level of academic credentials. Some may prefer candidates with master’s degrees in addition to their bachelor’s in music education.

In college, students will study all the core subjects required for a music degree, such as music theory, arranging, solfege (or ear training), music technology, music history, labs and ensembles, and private study on their principal instrument. They will take music education courses for their major concentrate, where they learn classroom management skills, teaching skills (pedagogy), lesson planning, conducting, and basic skills on a variety of instruments ranging from piano and strings to percussion, brass, and woodwind instruments. They will analyze teaching materials and methods and develop a teaching portfolio.

Music education degree candidates also take courses in liberal arts, to become broadly educated. They might take electives in songwriting, guitar, composition, or other areas of interest. In college, music education majors will have plenty of opportunities to play in bands or ensembles, write music for live performers, and practice their music directing and conducting skills.

Practice teaching as an intern is a super-important part of a Music Teacher’s training. Learning by doing while being observed by a master Teacher, and receiving feedback and coaching gives the Student-Teacher the opportunity to apply all the methods and teaching techniques they’ve been learning in the real-world classroom.

Music educators are some of the most passionate people around. They love what they do and receive immense satisfaction from seeing their students grow musically and academically. They are valued and respected members of the community who’ve been entrusted with the future of music for young people and for everyone.