Teaching music can be one of the most fulfilling and inspiring jobs. However, it comes with its fair share of challenges and frustration.
Here are some tips to make sure you are the best teacher you can be:
- Perfect your music skills (the obvious): To be a music teacher, you must be able to play and understand both music and music theory. You cannot teach unless you know! On top of this, being able to have interpersonal skills and conducting skills may also be helpful. Whether you are only working with a few students or teaching a large class, it is important that you get to know your students’ individual needs. Not all students are going to have the same skill levels, so you need to be able to understand and get to know them each individually.
- Radiate strength in the classroom: Not only must a music teacher be a strong musician, but they also must be a strong leader. The only way to gain the attention of the entire class, or even help a single student, is by being able to lead them. Even with the most unruly classes, teachers must stay confident in their abilities and work through it! Hard work pays off in the end.
- The younger the student, the shorter the activity: This is a good rule of thumb in order to manage short attention spans and your own level of frustration. Exercises should usually last between 5 and 15 minutes, so students do not grow bored and become fidgety.
- Teach music that your students are interested in: Stay up to date! Learn about your students’ favorite songs, artists, and genres. Try to incorporate these interests into your lesson plans, so that your student feels personally engaged in the pieces they are working on.
- Don’t forget about technology: Technology can make lessons more memorable and exciting for students, because it is already something that is part of their daily lives. Encourage students to install music apps on their phones so that they can practice on the go.
- Keep Learning: The best teacher is one who learns from their students. This helps to foster growth for the teacher individually and for the broader classroom community.
Do you think there are any suggestions that we missed?
Give your advice to other teachers in the comments!
