Music Teacher Career: Job, Education, Salary Information
Robbie Bruens
May 5, 2017
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Music classes give children a special outlet to explore their feelings and express themselves creatively. As a music teacher, you will guide your students through musical practice, giving them a chance to use musical instruments and their own voices and bodies to generate musical sounds, melodies and harmonies. Along the way, you may just instill in them a lifelong love of music and culture.
This guide will bring you up to speed on the prerequisite education, likely income, and advantages and disadvantages of a career as a music teacher. Browse through the article or use the following links to skip forward to what you’re looking for:
As a music teacher, your classroom is your workplace. You will probably teach several groups of children each day in sessions up to an hour long. During these sessions, you will teach your students to sing songs and play musical instruments. Your job is to channel your students’ creative energy into a more disciplined expression through music education.
Music education often includes theoretical and practical approaches to music. Therefore, in addition to teaching your students how to read musical notes, you may cover music theory, music history and other academic aspects of the discipline. In some cases, you may assign and grade homework. This could simply be practicing a song or playing an instrument, or it could be essays or other assignments with a more academic approach to music.
Music teachers can expect to work school days (mornings and afternoons five days a week, nine to 10 months of the year). You will teach more than one class of students each day. Between classes and after school, you may have to prepare lessons, attend meetings and work one-on-one with students. You may enjoy winter, spring and summer vacations. Some teachers pursue a second career when school is not in session.
Who makes a good music teacher?
Someone who is:
Passionate about music
Creative and always generating ideas
An experienced musician
Highly curious and a lifelong learner
Sociable and easy to talk to
Patient and resourceful
Organized and careful about time management
Devoted to learning
Service-oriented
Informed on music history and theory
Careful about documentation and note-taking
Qualified with training in music and a degree in music and/or education
Interested in becoming a music teacher?
Check out this video to get a better sense of what you’ll encounter when pursuing a career as a music teacher.
Different types of music teachers
As you think about becoming a music teacher, you’ll want to consider what age group you want to teach.
Some days, classes might include a lesson on the history of music and its cultural context, while other days may be fully devoted to vocal or instrumental performance.
Elementary school music teachers must develop a curriculum for elementary-age students. It may have to vary from year to year because they’re often teaching the same kids every year. This structure allows students to improve their musical abilities and expand their appreciation of musical expression each year.
In the later years of elementary school, music teachers often oversee band, orchestra or choir practices for students who elect to pursue more advanced musical education opportunities. In these practice sessions, music teachers choose music for their students to perform and oversee rehearsals, giving instruction on methods students can use to improve over time. These efforts culminate with concerts where students show their musical talents to the school, their family and their friends.
Elementary school music teachers have many of the same duties as regular classroom teachers, including grading students and meeting with parents and other faculty members.
Education and certification requirements
Public school districts seek music teachers with a bachelor’s degree (including a bachelor of fine arts, or BFA) at minimum. You’ll also need a state-issued teaching credential. Private schools may not require a state teaching certificate, but most still seek teachers with a bachelor’s degree and a strong musical background.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average annual salary for all elementary school teachers, and career-related websites offer estimates of average salaries for all music teachers or specifically music teachers at the elementary level.
BLS: $55,490 (elementary school average)
Glassdoor.com: $45,197 (elementary school average)
PayScale.com: $40,350 (elementary school average)
Neuvoo.com: $58,631 (elementary school average)
Sokanu.com: $65,340 (music teacher average)
Indeed.com: $48,422 (music teacher average)
Pros and cons of being an elementary school music teacher
As you consider this career, make sure to think about the upsides and downsides of becoming an elementary music teacher.
Pros
Inspire the imagination of young students in a medium that is perfect for uninhibited self-expression
Many full-time jobs have good benefits
Potential to earn job security via tenure
You may need only a bachelor’s degree
Elementary school music curriculum is very broad and open
School year provides flexibility with lots of time off
Serve as a positive role model for youth
More job opportunity and security than many other arts- and music-related jobs
Young children are more open and enthusiastic about learning and self-expression during elementary school
Cons
Younger students are less likely to develop into sophisticated musicians during elementary school
Frustrating when dealing with unmotivated or disruptive students
Can be difficult to find a great full-time job at a good school
Lower pay than other jobs requiring college education
Most states don’t mandate music and art education in public schools, so there will be less demand for your services
Low job growth projected over the next decade
Middle and high school music teachers
Middle and high school music teachers lead elective music classes for students interested in pursuing a musical education.
Middle school music classes are categorized as an elective, which means that students can choose to take the class based on their interest level. In middle and high school, music teachers usually offer more specialized instruction than their elementary school counterparts. Usually, each music class will focus on a musical niche such as jazz band, classical orchestra or choir.
Students choose elective music classes based on the instrument or musical genre they are passionate about. For example, a student learning to play saxophone may join band class, while a budding violinist will join orchestra class. Students who want to focus on vocal performance will probably choose choir. Sometimes, there is overlap or opportunities for collaborative learning between the different classes.
During each class period, the music teacher gives a lesson typically involving learning a new song or rehearsing a song introduced in a past lesson. In addition, music classes in middle school and especially in high school integrate a more academic, theoretical component. You may teach your students how to read musical notes and lead them in the study of music theory and history.
Middle school music teachers assign homework assignments that usually involve practicing a song or exercises specific to each instrument. For example, trumpet players may be assigned homework with mouth exercises. At this stage of music education, music teachers may begin assigning homework, quizzes and tests on musical notation.
High school music teachers use all of these instructional methods and add to them occasional assigned academic readings, written homework and essays on music theory and history.
Educational and certification requirements
Public school districts usually require middle and high school music teachers to have a bachelor’s degree and a state-issued teaching certification. Having a bachelor of fine art (BFA) degree is acceptable or even advantageous for prospective music teachers.
Private schools typically seek music teachers with a BFA or a strong background as a musician. They do not usually require a state-issued teaching certificate.
It can be useful to learn about adolescent psychology and pedagogy before becoming a music teacher. You should also consider an internship in music education and other student-teaching opportunities.
Finally, if you want to boost your job prospects and income potential, consider pursuing a master’s degree. For a middle school art or music teacher, you should consider a master of fine art (MFA) degree in your field or an advanced degree in an education-related field.
Income projections
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average annual salary for all high school teachers, while career-related websites offer estimates of average salaries for all music teachers or specifically music teachers at the middle and high school level.
BLS: $58,030 (high school teachers average)
Glassdoor.com: $48,380 (middle and high school music teachers average)
PayScale.com: $45,000 (middle and high school music teachers average)
SalaryGenius.com: $44,000 (middle and high school music teachers average)
Sokanu.com: $65,340 (music teachers average)
Indeed.com: $48,422 (music teachers average)
Pros and cons of being a middle and high school music teacher
It will help to think through the positive and negative aspects of becoming a middle or high school music teacher.
Pros
Curriculum becomes more specific
Student potential is more likely to bloom in middle and high school
Many full-time jobs have good benefits
Potential to earn job security via tenure
School year provides flexibility with lots of time off
Serve as a positive role model for youth
Music courses are electives so students have chosen to commit their time to the subject
More job opportunity and security than many other arts- and music-related jobs
Cons
Adolescents can be more challenging to teach than younger kids
Frustrating when dealing with disruptive or delinquent students
Lower pay than other jobs requiring college education
Can be demanding to keep students engaged and focused
Most states don’t mandate music and art education in public schools, so there’s less demand for your services
You may want to focus on becoming an accomplished musician before you begin to teach full time. Giving private lessons part time is a great way to gain teaching skills before you are ready to work for an elementary or secondary school.
Eventually, working in a music classroom with students will be great preparation for becoming a professional music teacher. Look for internships as well as student and assistant teaching opportunities. You’ll also want to consider going back to school for an advanced degree.
Benefits of continuing education
Music teachers with a master’s degree have a greater chance for promotions and salary increases. The difference in salary between a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree for a novice teacher is $3,000 annually, and after 10 years, the bump increases to $4,500.
Jobs for music teachers beyond teaching
With additional education or certification, music teachers may become librarians, instructional coordinators, assistant principals, principals or an educational administrator at a college or university.
Librarian: A master’s degree in library science (MLS) is generally required for employment. Some states also require librarians to pass a standardized test.
Instructional coordinator: Instructional coordinators generally need to complete a master’s degree related to a subject like curriculum and instruction, and they may be required to have a teaching or education administrator license.
Academic advisor: With a master’s degree in an education-related field, you can transition into being an academic advisor.
Education consultant: Music teachers can become education consultants if they want to tackle challenges in a variety of schools and education systems. You’ll probably need an advanced degree in an education-related subject.
Education policy analyst: With an advanced degree in an education-related subject, music teachers can become policy analysts and examine big-picture issues affecting education nationwide.
School principal: Music teachers wishing to become a school principal should seriously consider earning a master’s degree in an education-related field. Most states also require public school principals to be licensed as school administrators.
Educational administrator: Depending upon the position, either a bachelor’s or master’s degree may be required. For a higher-level position such as dean or president, a master’s degree or doctorate in educational leadership may be required.
Best of the web: our favorite music teacher blogs, websites and Twitter handles
The web makes it easy for us to stay connected to prominent middle and high school music educators. Here is a list of our favorite websites and Twitter handles, in no particular order.
