 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sandra
Date: 2000-07-05 04:05
I have an obsession with band. seriously. In high school, that is all I ever thought about, I practiced hours per night and I hung out in the band room and was really good friends with my director. I just graduated, does that mean I have what it takes to be a music teacher? if I enjoyed band in high school does that mean I will enjoy teaching it? I realize you all probably don't know all the answers but I would really appreciate your advice!
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Author: Kim L.
Date: 2000-07-05 04:37
Sandra,
You need to think about why you want to be a music teacher. My professors say that when we first enter the music program. If you do not want to teach, then do something else.
Another question to ask is, do you like being around kids? Could you handle teaching high school students? (High school students can be hard, IMHO)
Music majors are also in a very vigorous program. I have classes four days a week all day in addition to practicing and a part time job. Being a music major is a huge committment! I love it though.
I wanted to teach marching band upon graduating high school because of the fabulous experience I had! However, an "experience" shouldn't be why you choose to teach. You should teach because you want to see students grow and succeed. Students learn from your example and a teacher who loves what he/she is doing is a superb teacher!
Good luck!
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Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 2000-07-05 12:08
Kim's points are very important, especially the one about dealing with kids. It sounds like your band experience was very positive, and that's great--I'm a big fan of band myself. However, my school bands were mediocre at best; it was only in various honor bands that I really developed a love for the group. Also, keep in mind that, in many places, music teachers do not teach music full time: you're expected to take over a class like English, math, or any other second teachable subject. For this reason, you often have to take a certain number of courses in one other subject that you could use as a second teachable course. However, it sounds to me like you're seriously interested in the possibility, so if you're still trying to decide, you might consider doing the first year of a music program (many colleges offer a common first year in music) and doing some volunteering helping a band director during that year. That will give you more of an inside view, and should help you decide if it's the career for you. HOpe this helps!
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-07-05 13:16
I hope President Clinton's recent speech in which he strongly advocated increasing funding for school music programs is one indication that society is beginning to realize the cutbacks have gone too far. If we do start seeing some of those budget cuts rescinded in the near future, more music teachers might be able to look forward to full-time employment with a living wage. I think teaching music in the schools is a very worthwhile thing to do, and I greatly admire people who love music and love teaching enough to do it, despite the bleak budget picture today. If anyone *might* want a career in school music, I hope you'll keep your options open by finding out what college classes lead to certification (of whatever kind your state requires) later, even though it's too early to make permanent decisions now. Good luck!
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Author: Bob the Composer
Date: 2000-07-05 14:14
Don't count on it, Lelia. It's an election year. 
As for the topic, I too am one who wants to go into high school music education. I feel it's appropriate for me to do that. The real question is, do you feel it is appropriate for you, Sandra.
Bob
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Author: Sandra
Date: 2000-07-05 15:47
How do you know? what makes you think you are right for music?
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Author: Bob the Composer
Date: 2000-07-05 17:19
If you are talking to me, I just believe (I can't explain why) that a person like me who can write many different kinds of music would be uniquely suited to teaching and perhaps might be able to work with a lower budget. I may not be right, and I freely admit that I probably have a lot to learn, but I feel that Teaching is what God is calling me to do.
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Author: laur
Date: 2000-07-05 19:58
Hey Sandra,
You and I sound very similiar, I too am obsessed with music. I love band. It's my favorite class, and I don't know.. It just is great. My friends and I always hang out in the band room,( It's fun there ! ) and I too am very close to my band director.
In my opinion... I think that if you have determination and desire you can do anythign you want in life.. I want to become a teacher because... I love working with chrildren. Right now I am currently student teaching clarinet, flute and trumpet to 4th graders. It's amazing.I love helping out, teaching,and it just makes me soo happy. I love the look on a student's face when they get the note right for the first time or when they have been trying for 2 months to get a clear tone out of their flute, and that one day,a spark hits and the tone is perfect. It's the greatest feeling in the world.. such a feeling of accomplishment, worth. You have to love what your doing..
He who teaches children learns more than they do.
-- German Proverb
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Author: Kim L.
Date: 2000-07-05 22:25
My senior year I was rejected from all three music department's that I auditioned for. I really was discouraged and the works. My freshman year, I was an undecided student at Western Connecticut State University. Needless to say, I wanted more than I could chew from the music department. I was very demanding and I was a pest. I re-auditioned for acceptance in WesConn's music program in March and was accepted. I had the goal the entire year of making it into the program by taking voice lessons, and I took private lessons through the clarinet professor.
I feel you know when you want to be a music major, or teacher, when that is all you think about. My entire college freshman year, I was miserable. I was depressed because I was not in a program I so much wanted and deserved to be in. I knew what my limitations were, but the professors within the department were seemingly testing me to see if I had the inner drive to be a music major. I proved that I could work above and beyond what they wanted by persevering.
Sandra, you have to think about what will happen if you were not taking music courses day in and day out. Could you eat, sleep, and think music 24 hours a day? Somebody once asked me if I get bored from taking all music classes. My answer was no. It is my passion and love. What's your answer to that question?
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Author: Sandra
Date: 2000-07-06 16:58
How hard is it to get a job at a university?
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Author: Dave Goss
Date: 2000-07-08 20:02
Working as a teacher in a University usually requires a doctorate degree. I'd say you're jumping the gun a little looking for college jobs. All of the full time music professors at my school spent several years teaching in public schools in elementary, middle, and high school while getting a doctorate.
See how the first year or two of undergrad goes. You may totally change your opinion of music and realize that you can't spend 30 years of your life making a living out of it. You may also find that teaching isn't for you and you're more a performed or composer. When I entered as a freshmen undergrad I knew I wanted to teach high school band, but now I think I want to teach middle school.
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