Is teaching music what you really want to do? Are you unsure? Are you trying to figure out if all the education and training is worth it in the end? Here’s what some MENC members on the Future Teachers Forum had to say about teaching music.

Test It Out

Think about what you want to study and why. A lot of students choose a major that will get them a job, get them paid well, etc. But really, why should we go to college? To study something that we love and want to know more about. Remember, you can study something and try it out, but it doesn’t have to be the last thing you do on this earth. If you’re interested in it, then try it out, test it, and if it's not for you? Try something else. Put it in your bag of experiences to carry with you to the next thing. I guarantee you'll learn a lot about yourself in the process, and that in itself is valuable.

Benefits Outweigh the Bad

Intrinsic benefits outweigh the lack of pay. Yeah, I struggle to pay my loans and bills sometimes, but scholarships have helped. My high school band director was one to focus on her lack of pay, how poor the students behaved, how poor we performed, etc. And I learned nothing from her to prepare me for college. Yet here I am, enjoying what I do.

You Can Change Your Mind

What you start out studying does not have to be your final degree choice. You can change your mind. It’s bad to find yourself 10 years down the road living a life and doing a job you don’t want. And if you love music, there’s nothing that says you can’t have music as an important part of your life, even if you pursue a different career. Decide what your goals are. For some, it’s preferable to do something else for a living and make music for pleasure. For others, including most master teachers I know, the passion comes in watching the students grow and excel. You have to decide for yourself where you fall.

Passionate About Music

I'm a people person, and I'm passionate about music. Teaching music is a natural combination for me. Yes, there are difficulties (as there are in any field!), but for me the good far outweighs the bad. I'm not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but my salary and benefits allow me to meet all of my needs and many of my wants. But I am still a music teacher by choice, because money isn't everything. Think about it... you spend most of your waking hours at work. Do you want to spend that time doing something that's fulfilling or something that buys you things that you're never home to use anyway?

Some Good Days, Some Bad Days, and Some In-Between Days

I'm still not sure whether I'd say yes or no to the "Is it worth it" question. However, I think on balance I like it more than I don't like it. I have days when I think, "I can't believe they actually pay me to do this" and days when I think, "I can't believe I actually do this for what they pay me." And I have lots of days in between. Like any other job, sometimes it’s miserable, sometimes it’s wonderful, and lots of times it’s in between.

Well-Paid Musicians

Music teachers are well-paid musicians! Check with folks coming out of college with a music performance degree if you want a shocking contrast. Having said that, I doubt there are many who go into teaching for the money. If you want a career that is tremendously rewarding, fresh each day, and feels as though the pay is just an extra bonus, then teaching is for you.

Changing Lives

The most rewarding part about teaching music is not that you get to impart your musical knowledge to the students—it’s that you have a direct influence on and the ability to change a child’s life. It’s that simple. I have saved kids' lives. I've had more than one student turn their lives around because of my influence and the work I do with them. Music class gives students a place where they belong. For me it’s not about teaching music, it’s about teaching kids. Music is just my vehicle. You won't reach them all and that's ok. If it was only about making a paycheck, I'd be a truck driver. Teaching music isn’t an easy job, but it’s incredibly rewarding, and in my opinion, totally worth it.

Gratifying Work

Suzanne Burton, MENC National Collegiate Chair-Elect says, “I teach music because I can share the passion I have for making and creating music with others. Through music, I can expose students to an art form that transmits the deepest emotions that words cannot begin to communicate. I teach music not because it is a lucrative field, but because sharing music with others is the most satisfying and gratifying work I could ever do.”

Comments are from the Future Teachers Forum from the thread Is Teaching Music Worth It?

MENC Resources:
Is Teaching Music For Me? Part 1
Is Teaching Music For Me? Part 2
Is Teaching Music for Me? Part 3
Traits of a Great Music Educator
7 Qualities of Great Music Educators
Music Majors: Go For the Gusto
Sowing the Seeds of Music Education

--Jen Reed, April 13, 2010 © MENC: The National Association for Music Education.