Job Description: Music teachers teach music courses in their specialty (voice, band, and orchestra) to private and public school students in classes that range from kindergarten through high school. Music teachers normally have to master several instruments to teach more than one in the school setting. Music teachers are also responsible for preparing student performing groups for concerts throughout the year as well as individual students for auditions for state competitions, all county performances, or college auditions.

Music instructors give private or group lessons in voice or another instrument and are not required to have any kind of teacher certification.

Training and Educational Qualifications: Requirements for regular licenses to teach kindergarten through grade 12 vary by state. However, all states require general education teachers to have a bachelor’s degree and to have completed an approved teacher training program with a prescribed number of subject and education credits, as well as supervised practice teaching. A number of states require that teachers obtain a master’s degree in education within a specified period after they begin teaching. Many college music programs offer a music education major, which is the fastest route to teaching music in the school setting; otherwise, students earn a bachelor’s in music and must pursue teacher certification separately, sometimes taking more than four years to graduate.

Job Outlook: Through 2016, overall student enrollment in elementary, middle, and secondary schools—a key factor in the demand for teachers—is expected to rise more slowly than in the past as children of the baby boom generation leave the school system. This will cause employment to grow only as fast as the average for teachers from kindergarten through the secondary grades. Program enrollment may vary by region.

Salary: Median annual earnings of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers range from $43,580 to $48,690; the lowest 10 percent earn $28,590 to $33,070 and the top 10 percent earn $67,490 to $76,100.

According to the American Federation of Teachers, beginning teachers with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $31,753. The estimated average salary of all public elementary and secondary school teachers is $47,602. Private school teachers generally earn less, but may be given other benefits, such as free or subsidized housing.

Significant Facts:

•    In addition to conducting classroom activities, teachers oversee study halls and homerooms, supervise extracurricular activities and accompany students on field trips.

•    Public school teachers must have a bachelor’s degree, complete an approved teacher education program and be licensed.

•    Many states offer alternative licensing programs to attract people to teaching, especially for hard-to-fill positions.

Where are the best cities to live to find jobs like yours?

Teaching jobs are available everywhere.

What is your typical day like?

My day begins at 7:35 a.m. when I have small ensembles coaching (Dixieland band, vocal jazz ensemble, chamber ensemble). Homeroom is next, followed by five classes of either small band or choral groups. My teaching day ends after tutoring individual students or directing rehearsals. A typical day might also be teaching the notes and dance moves to students participating in a school musical production. I may have meetings or rehearsals for myself into the evening such as church choir, MMEA meetings, Chorale rehearsal, etc.

What are your job responsibilities?

I teach instrumental and vocal music to seventh and eighth graders and am required to teach and assess students’ achievements according to the national standards. I also direct a jazz ensemble after school, and I write curriculum. As president of the MMEA, I have a responsibility to the music educators and students of Massachusetts by leading the MMEA Board in making decisions and improvements in the health of arts in Massachusetts.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Working with young people!

What do you dislike about your job?

Not enough time to do everything I want to do with students.

Have you had any turning-point or “light bulb” moments in your career that have helped you get to where you are today?

There are always “ah ha” moments for me because every day is different. Every child is also different, so I am always working on creative ways to reach each student. I am also inspired watching a child become excited by his or her achievements.

How did you know you wanted to pursue this career?

I always enjoyed working with kids.

How did you get into this field?

I always made music myself, and I knew that I wanted to teach.

What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishment?

Helping students realize that they can do anything that they put their minds to, that they are important to every ensemble in which they participate, and that we are better together (working together and making each other look and sound good). It always feels great when a former student chooses to follow the same path as a music educator.

If you weren’t doing this job, what similar careers might you consider?

Teaching another subject.

To what professional associations do you belong?

I belong to the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA), MENC: The National Association for Music Education, and the National Education Association (NEA).

What advice do you have for others who would like to pursue this career?

Teaching is an important job that gives you the opportunity to help mold the lives of young people while giving them the skills to be successful. Teaching music is important at every grade level. The rewards are seen in the students’ faces and heard in the music they perform.