r/MusicEd

I posted a few weeks ago that I had a heart attack and was worried about being able to teach and get kids (k-5), ready for an early May concert.

Well, I got cleared to come back. It is horrible. I cannot control the kids after being out 3 weeks. I cannot get upset or agitated in any way or else may have a repeat. I have 5 weeks left and I’m not sure if I can do it. I’m weak, tired, and constantly out of breath.

This sucks so bad. A complete fail on this year

I am so livid right now. You may have seen my previous post where I mentioned that I had a heart attack and I was out for three weeks. Needless to say I used up all my sick and personal days doing this and now I find out that the school district opted out of the family plus plan, which would have covered the missing days monetary wise. That $.80 a week must’ve really really stretched them too hard. Fuck this school district and fuck these asshole administrators.

Just looking for some insight/a reality check on when to start getting nervous about landing any positions for August...

My spouse and I are moving across the country so I'm currently looking for orch teaching positions in the new england area and it just feels like theres nothing orchestra related within a 2 hour drive of where he'll be working (allowing us to each have a 1 hour one way commute.. which maybe is picky but it feels reasonable?)

Do positions just open up later there..? Here its usually February-March is hiring season but some are saying hiring season is May-July ??

Its hard to wrap my head around the idea that most schools arent posting until summer? Do I just hold out hope that something will open? Is it really that normal to not have anything until July??

Its not that im only looking for orch only positions I've done orch/choir before but i dont think I can survive teaching band / gen music / just choir..

Just getting anxious and looking for some insight..

As the title says- I’m considering moving from 4th grade Math to our school music teacher position.

I’ve taught math for 15 years. I’m tired of tests, developmentally inappropriate curriculum, and data being the end all be all. I love my school, coworkers, and still have one son at school with me for 4 more years. I don’t necessarily want out of teaching as a whole, just out of my current assignment. I can’t imagine moving down grade levels, and of course there’s still data measures and the crap curriculum.

I don’t think I need any other credentialing- I have a generalist cert. that covers elementary fine arts, music/art and also PE.

I would have all grades, k-5, for 23-25 minutes a day with a last period planning.

I’m well versed in the traditions at our school, and know most if not all students.

I have some background in music, can play an instrument and know the basics of what knowledge is needed based on curriculum.

My main focus- not teaching a tested subject. Not running myself ragged.

Add singing, dancing, and introducing kids to the creative side of themselves-that’s a dream!

Our current music teacher has been there 29 years, retiring. She’s a sweet work friend and said she’d help me with whatever I need, and help with any tradition planning. This position is not one open often. I told my principal I wanted to interview for it, I just hope she takes me seriously!

I’m cautiously optimistic, only because the only thing going for me is I’m well liked at our school, and know the ins and outs of the expectations. I have zero experience in this field of a teacher, which is probably the only strike against me being offered it.

Thoughts? Advice to get taken seriously?

Im sure this topic has been exhausted on reddit, but I am fairly new here, so I decided to put this question out here.

I teach voice and piano lessons through a school and am always booked throughout the school year. I have even had to turn students away. However, in the summer many students drop out for those two months, which drastically affects my income. I did offer a summer holding fee last summer to guarantee those students a spot in the next school year, but only three of my students’ parents took that option. I made it clear that registration is first come first serve and the holding fee is the only way i can guarantee them a spot. Then of course, when August rolls around, I have parents begging me to make a million exceptions for their kid to be able to get lessons.

So i feel like a holding fee is entirely fair. If they want a spot guaranteed, they'll do it. If not, they’ll have to take the risk something may not be available.

My question is what is a fair price for the holding fee? There’s no way to charge enough to make up for what i would make if the student actually signed up for summer lessons, but it should still be high enough to supplement my lost income for those two months.

I hate that this sounds so centered around money and income, when of course I value my teaching content so much, but at the end of the day, it is still my job, and I am providing a service and deserve to be valued as such.

Thoughts?

Hey all, I'm a current grade 11 student who's really interested in teaching privately, but I'm not sure how I can get started with finding students. I had a few beforehand but have recently moved and were unable to retain them. Just looking for some advice!

hello! im a high school senior trying to pick between university of maryland college park and ithaca college for music education (and i play the flute!).

i was wondering if anyone who went to either of these could tell me a bit about their experience at the school and how they feel that school prepared them for finding a job after graduation, and also if anyone has any tips for picking between the two!

for some more context about my dilemma:

maryland:

• got some nice scholarships that make it comfortably affordable!
• shadowed a student + lesson with flute professor which i liked
• i feel like ill have more opportunities to explore other areas im interested in (stem stuff particularly), and also feels safer just in case i decide i want to pursue something else
• farther from home than id like to be (i live in ny)
• currently i think i'd rather live and teach in the northeast after graduating (im not 100% sure though, maybe ill like the maryland area!)

ithaca college:

• kind of expensive but my family can still afford it
• seems to have an amazing reputation for music education, so many music teachers in my area that have graduated from ic
• environment seems to be very arts-focused (not necessarily a pro i guess)
• i feel like i would be more immersed in music and have more performance and ensemble opportunities and also more opportunities to explore my music-related interests outside of teaching/performance (composition, conducting, etc)

any help would be immensely appreciated!!! thank you so much :)

Hi everyone! I am just beginning my college search for Vocal Ed. and I am looking for any recommendations for colleges, things to look for, and types of programs! I am a junior in high school right now, and anything helps!

Hello, I plan to start applying to colleges. I want to apply to UC Davis, UC Berkley and UCLA. If I were to get accepted into the three then I would like to choose between Davis and Berkley. I would mainly like to go into performance classes than history classes. I have also been thinking about majoring in something around child development. Which college (Davis or Berkley) should I go after more when it comes to performance and less history? Which also would work with a child development (possibly) minor?

I'm a high school sophomore and am considering possible paths for college. I truly love viola and know that going to college with music incorporated in some way is non-negotiable for me. However, I also don't think I'll be able to make enough money from viola to have a life that would keep me financially stable. Engineering is something I really enjoy and I think I could make that my passion, but I also would love to still have gigs and such with viola. Is it possible to still be hired for stuff (orchestras pits, etc) if I don't major in music performance? (Sorry if that doesn't make sense kinda rambling here)

Hey teachers!

I'm working on an assignment for my VCE Unit 3/4 Software Development class. I'm building a daily organiser for teachers as my submission, and part of the assignment is collecting information from the target audience in a survey.

The attached Google Form should take about 5 minutes, and will ask questions about your workload as a teacher, and how well you can keep on top of it all.

Thanks a heap for helping out with my assignment!

I'm about to graduate in the spring. I've had two interviews for orchestra positions in the past two weeks and I was rejected for both. I applied for a third position and never even heard back. I have a strong resume and good connections in my metro area. The school I was rejected from I student taught at and was preparing for an entire year to try and interview there. I made great connections with the students and staff there. If I can't get hired in a perfect scenario like that, who will hire me? It feels a bit hopeless at this point. Unfortunately moving is not in the cards right now (nor do I want to move). I do have a small private studio and could start subbing in the Fall, but I want more than that.

So how did you get a job as a teacher fresh out of college? Or does nobody hire first year teachers anymore?

Hello,

I was asked to play on a secondary instrument for a MS Orchestra interview. What are some good cello pieces to play that demonstrate competency? I was thinking of something out of Suzuki book 2 along with a 2 octave G scale?

Hi everyone.

I got the opportunity to teach a 1.5 hour workshop for students aged 12-18 who have no musical background at all.

It's a very low income zone and private classes are deemed too expensive so a public library decided that creating that workshop would be a good idea as an activity for kids after school.

They only got one piano so that complicates things quite a bit...

I proposed that classes could be more oriented towards music in general, with rythmic exercises, singing and some piano playing depending on the amount of students but I'm worried that's not enough.

I only gave private classes 1 on 1 before so it'll be a challenge, but I want to get more experience.

Any ideas? Tips? Material I could use?

Thanks!

I’m a 4th year music ed major going into student teaching next semester. For context, I’m in 8 classes this semester, 6 of which being education classes, and two being my ensemble and private instruction classes.

My nervous system has been an absolute wreck this semester. The main stressors have been my conducting and methods classes, as I just hate being on the podium in front of my peers because it feels like a high pressure test each time. On top of this, I have been working towards my senior recital and orchestra concerts, which I am playing pretty hard rep for. On top of that, I have countless busy work assigned to me such has having to program fake scenarios, imaginary budgets, writing marching band shows (why do they even have us do this), learning jazz charts, score studies for a new score each week, etc. I know all of this will be part of the actual job one day which is what I keep reminding myself, but I just hate that I have no control over the workload or due dates for it all. Also, being a woman with all male professors and majority male classmates is very discouraging for many reasons.

I’m wondering if student teaching will get better. I know it’s highly dependent on my placement and mentor teacher, but I have done lots of teaching on my own for chamber groups, sectionals, private lessons, etc. and I don’t feel anxious at all when it’s just me and the students. This is how I know that teaching is right for me, I simply love doing it and I’m good at it. I have developed my musicianship to be able to diagnose a group and know what to do to make them sound better. My nervous system just hates being observed, which I hope will get better for student teaching. I just can’t deal with the immediate anxiety stomach ache every morning anymore or constant mental breakdowns due to burnout. I hate that this is the system we have set up to prepare teachers, and it’s really discouraging. If this is what the actual career encapsulates, then I guess I’ll have to just stick it through.

Hi! 28y/o they/them

5 years teaching elementary music in Colorado, 3 at my first school in Douglas County, 2 at another in Boulder Valley, and declining enrollment is giving tenured teachers my job to ensure they are given the hours they are guaranteed. I have been teaching at 2/3 FTE, and now they will have two teachers from other schools traveling and taking those classes and I am being essentially laid off.

I have been working nights in a restaurant about 35 hours a week also and it’s killing me lol I have applied and interviewed at some schools, but no job offer yet. I am K-12 certified, but only have elementary experience and can’t seem to get anything for middle or high school.

What are other jobs I can get with my BME? Or any tips on how to better perform in interviews?

I’m a middle school band & orchestra director. I’ve always heard that students should be listening to professional bands/orchestras & I agree, but how do you build this into the routine?

Once a week, before/after rehearsal? Who should they be listening to?

Mid-50s, I can't march as well as I used to. Thinking about next marching season, because now is the time, and wondering what I should be doing when I can't just demonstrate the technique for the students.

For those of you in that situation, what has worked for you?

Hello everyone!

I’m a flute teacher with almost a decade of experience teaching all ages and levels. I wanted to come on and give people an opportunity to ask questions about teaching the flute.

Whether you’re a band director, young flute teacher, or just curious about a different perspective, feel free to drop a question below!