If you yearn to become a qualified music teacher, you will have various responsibilities. You will be required to teach students to master musical concepts, play different instruments and record their progress on their report cards. That is not all. You will also be required to coordinate school performances and competitions and also arrange field trips.
In a non-academic setup, you will be introducing students to a variety of music genres and instruments. It’s evident that besides being passionate about music, you will need the prerequisite qualifications. An experienced music lesson teacher says that music should be in your blood. Below we look at the various qualifications necessary for a music teacher.
A Bachelor’s Degree in Music
Higher-level qualification is essential if you will be handling academic programs. Most schools prefer that you have at least a bachelor’s degree in music education. To get your music bachelor’s degree, you need to enroll in a university or college that combines advanced musical training. This is in addition to an in-depth teacher program with the requirement of teaching music to different grades.
During your undergraduate, you will learn different topics like music theory and history, ensemble conducting, and performance. You will also learn general lessons like musical instruction topics, classroom instruction, and student valuation. You may be required to have a minimum grade-point average score to apply for the music school program. Some institutions require you to pass the auditions and have recommendation letters.
Higher Education
This may come in different qualifications, including a master’s degree or a post-graduate diploma. This is vital since it will improve your chances or opportunities. Course work in the master’s program for music educators includes history and philosophy, education, and the psychology of music. You may be required to complete an internship or capstone thesis project, allowing you to develop your musical specialty further.
Music Teaching Certification
After completing your music practicum program, you have to get a state’s requirement to earn a teaching license. Prerequisites include passing multiple exams concerning your teaching skills and knowledge. Some states require teachers to be tested regularly on skill and knowledge to earn up-to-date music education practices.
Natural Inclination Towards Music
As a teacher, you need to have a natural inclination towards the subject. Music requires passion, and music teachers need to have an innate musical ability. As a music teacher, it’s also presumed that you know a lot about musicians. And this is not only about modern musicians, but also music personalities across generations, including the 70s and 80s boy bands. Aside from this, you will be required different skills such as playing instruments and music theory. You may be required also to teach orchestra, a band, choir, or any general music lessons.
Duties differ depending on the grade level and the location or the work environment. A music educator in university will focus on a specific discipline than a music teacher in first grade. This may not be possible for someone choosing music as a career path with no passion or interest in the subject.
Musical Experience
You may need to have music experiences like singing in a choir or a band. However, what is needed most is your academic qualification. You need to engage more to gain musical experience. Besides the usual teaching classes, consider learning more or different opportunities related to music teaching.
This will enable you to gain more experience in your area of work. You can teach young kids how to play instruments, offer music lessons, and sing. This will enable them to practice one-on-one skill instructions. Volunteering at a music school to teach kids will also allow you to gain more experience.
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship entails on-the-job training. Some programs may require you to observe as teaching goes on. You may be required to sit in lectures, exams, projects, and musical performances to gain experience. Such programs allow you to have first-hand experience by observing music educators doing what you will be doing.
Practicum
Some programs dedicate a semester to practicums. During practicums, you get to interact with students and teachers in the same field. Practicum semester enables you to experience the real teaching world, including getting valuable feedback on improving your teaching skills. Undergraduate teaching programs also have practicums that ensure you acquire perfect knowledge and are ready for teaching.
Communication Skills
A music teacher should have excellent communication skills. Music consists of complex ideas, and explaining these ideas to students is not easy. That is why the teacher should know how to converse with the students for easy comprehension. Have time to ask questions on what they find to be hard and help solve the problem.
If you are contemplating becoming a music teacher, there you have it. For more information, visit Band Aid School of Music.