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Music teacher

Alternative titles for this job include

Music teachers give music lessons to people of all ages and abilities.

Average salary (a year)

Variable

Typical hours (a week)

35 to 37 variable

You could work

freelance / self-employed managing your own hours

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a music teacher

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
  • specialist courses run by professional bodies

University

Most music teachers begin with a degree in music.

To teach music in a primary school, you could train to teach all subjects, and develop a subject specialism in music.

To work as a secondary school music teacher, you could train to teach music as a single subject or combine it with teaching another subject.

To teach in a music college, conservatoire or university you may also need to gain a postgraduate music qualification, have a recognised profile as a performer and have teaching experience.

When you apply for a music degree or postgraduate course, you'll usually be asked to attend an audition. You may be expected to have at least Grade 6 on a main instrument.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or 3 A levels including music, or equivalent qualifications
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

College

You'll need a level 3 qualification or higher in music, if you want to be a music lecturer in a further education college.

You would also need a further education teaching qualification that is relevant to the level of teaching responsibility you would have in your job.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You may be able to start by doing a postgraduate teaching apprenticeship, if you have a relevant degree and want to teach 3 to 19 year olds.

Entry requirements

To do this apprenticeship, you'll need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
  • a degree for a teaching apprenticeship

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Direct Application

You may be able to work as a private music teacher with or without qualifications, if you've got exceptional musical ability. A teaching qualification would also be helpful though not essential.

Many musicians combine performance and music teaching as a career.

Other Routes

You could take training accredited by professional bodies, like the Level 4 Certificate for Music Educators, offered by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and Trinity College London.

The certificate course is aimed at people who are new to teaching music to children, and covers the purpose of music education and promotes best practice. It has been developed for:

  • instrumental and vocal teachers working privately with schools
  • primary teachers
  • community musicians
  • professional musicians who do educational work

Other options include training like the Instrumental Teaching Diploma offered by Rock School.

More Information

Registration

Career tips

You can search for jobs in schools through the Teaching Vacancies service.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a music teacher from:

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of the fine arts
  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • knowledge of English language
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • leadership skills
  • the ability to teach pupils how to do something
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Depending on where you work, in your day-to-day duties you could:

  • plan lessons to suit the individual needs of a group or pupil
  • teach pupils to play an instrument and to read and understand music
  • help pupils prepare for music exams, competitions and performances
  • teach the history, theory and appreciation of all kinds of music, following the national curriculum in schools
  • set assignments and mark and assess pupils' work
  • help to organise school choirs, orchestras or bands
  • organise school concerts and musical performances

Working environment

You could work at a college, at a university, from home or at a school.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

As a qualified and experienced music teacher in a school, you could become head of the music department.

You could also become an advisory teacher, or inspector employed by a local education authority or independent agency.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a music teacher right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Access to HE Diploma: Teaching

  • Provider: UNIVERSITY OF DERBY
  • Start date: 05 September 2023
  • Location: Derby

Access to HE Diploma (Teaching)

  • Provider: RIVERSIDE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2023
  • Location: WIDNES

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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