im a very experienced percussionist and i love music. im also a very good singer and am in 5 different choirs. well, my question is, what are the basic requirements for a guy like me to get a teaching job at a high school when i grow up. i can read piano/bell notes, just not very fast. other than that, im extremely good in anything with hands (snare, tenors, set) and i also play both trad and matched. well anyways, what do people look for when hiring a bd, and what should i know. i think the answer is obvious, to take piano/bells further, but is there anything else i need to know? i really want to take music farther. whether its a percussion instructor for some high school then college eventually or a bd for a high school and eventually a college, i want it. i just love music... its an addiction

thanks guys

Major in music education in college. They'll teach you everything you need to know. As far as excelling to higher levels of teaching, your best chance would be getting a P.H.D. in some type of musical field.

Remember, you don't have to split Invert Cheese Hertas to be a good band director. In other words - you don't have to be the best player to be a director. What helps is a great amount of knowledge you can relay to students. And that you relay it effectively.

You also have to have a lot of patience. You have to be able to put up with students who don't care, and in some cases a band who doesn't care. Also, sometimes, students can be unenthusiastic and unresponsive. Remember, you are going to be a teacher. So if you can see yourself as a teacher, go for it. Best of luck to you.

Every college has their own program for what classes to take other than the music ones. UW-Milwaukee has you go through the proper Math, English, Language, etc. (or test out) but 12 credits of social science, lab science, etc., 9 credits of educational psychology, and 12 credits of arts outside of music (art, dance, film, etc.)

Would the College maybe post what you need for that certain degree on their site? So I can get a heads up on what I need to get better at.

If I go to college out of state, like Florida, do I need to get something special to teach back here in California?

I know my college has this thing called CAPP and it tells you what classes you take under each degree program.

I would suggest to start looking into that if you are wanting to be a band director.

I know that you have to take Music Theory and Music Education classes along with some Music history class plus ensemble classes and individual lessons.

Actually, depending on your state, you just have to pass your college's music major. That's how it is here in NJ.

You have to take a small number of regular core classes, depending on your university. Then there are a million music ed classes you have to take. Don't be expecting to graduate in four years unless you want to be loaded up to the max every semester. Or that's how it is here at Alabama, but it may be different elsewhere. All I know is that I'm going to be here for at least five years just for undergrad.

Every college I've looked at up around here (in PA, so including NY and OH) have had 4 year music education degree programs...

Well like I said, you can do it in four years, but you would be taking the maximum number of hours every semester for all four years, which any college student can tell you is a tough feat.

Hats off to Trimen, your post was very helpful!

How much do colleges care about academic grades (math, science, history..) if you're applying to a music school?

This is a very helpful topic. Thanks to anyone who contributed!

If you go to a music school (In other words you're a very strong concert percussionist) then they don't seem to care much about grades (At least from what I've heard).

I believe that any other place you go (Once again out of the schools I looked at) you must first get into the university, then you go to your audition for the music department.

You'll be looked at like any other applicant for the college itself (unless you're just so outstanding that the music faculty pulls some strings) for admission generally.

That's if you're talking about a school with a music department. If you're thinking of a conservatory, it generally changes from place to place.

As far as instruments . . . just go in with what you know, and if you have time, familiarize yourself with a piano if you never have before. There are generally intro courses to brass, percussion, woodwinds, and strings, so you'll get all the basics you need to be a director as long as you make sure to sign up for the proper classes.

I just got my schedule set for my first semester at Mississippi State University. I'm taking a bunch of music courses like, Theory, Ear Training, Voice, Piano, History, 3 ensembles, private lesson, applied instrument(woodwinds, brass,etc...), recital classes. That's all the music classes. And I'll be taking En Comp and Gen Psych...so that's like 12 or so hours of music, and 6 hrs of non-music class.

I figure that Psych is for working with the kids, how they think and how to deal with them. Math, you'll just need that cause it's Math...some science course/w labs, and World Civ. Those are some other things that I'll have to take later on and whatnot.

From talking with other band directors, some things to look forward to are knowing all major/minor scales, harmonic scales, triad, chords, intervals, conducting, orchestration/composing, student teaching, listening to some old guy with a monotone voice teaching music history/theory, and not having much of a life outside of music. Not sure bout that last part, but if you really want it that much, then I guess it shouldn't be a problem.

All I can say to you is, start expanding your horizon now...learn every scale you can, instrument, anything to make it that much easier on yourself. Good luck though man.

Let me put you one step ahead of your theory classmates...

The modes of the scale...

Ionian
Dorian
Phyrgian
Lydian
Mixolydian
Aeolian
Locrian
Ionian

and here's how you remember it...
I
Don't
Punch
Like
Muhammad
ALI

It's the best trick I've ever learned.

I am currently a senior Music Education Major (Instrumental/Choral and General Music) and I think the best way for you to prepare to be a future band/orch. director is to become a better musician. Someone previously said that you do not need to be the best player to be a band/orch. director...this is true to a point. You do not have to be the best technical player, but you need to be a good musician. Some things that will help you be a better musician are:

1. Keep working your piano skills (lessons are preferred)
2. If you haven't already, start studying musical theory.
3. If you haven't already, start studying musical history.
4. Continue to sing in choirs (This will develop your ear training, which will make you better at tuning chords in ensembles....and also good at tuning timpani!)
5. I know it sounds cheesy...but have a passion for teaching..so many directors are just wannabe performance majors who go into education "to fall back on something". Just because you're not a good performer means you are going to be a good educator.

I hope this gives you some direction. Also, someone previously mentioned that you need a Ph.D. to teach music in college. That isn't necessarily true. If you want to teach percussion lessons in college or even direct bands, you can get a job with just a masters (Doctorate is recommended though). However if you want to teach Music Education in a University, you will need a Ph.D.

Good luck in the future!