Aside from musical skill and pedagogical knowledge (how to teach), all teachers need to demonstrate organizational and leadership skills. This chapter contains a variety of ideas for obtaining leadership experience and other practical experience while still in high school to prepare you for the many non-musical aspects of the job.

Participate in Ensembles

Naturally, you’ll want to be part of a large ensemble at your school. Large ensemble instruction is the mainstay of American music education at the secondary level, after all. Take part in as much as you are able. Instrumental and vocal experiences complement each other and will give you a myriad of varied skills that will aid you as a music educator. Likewise, if your director offers you opportunities to play in honor bands, choirs and orchestras or university festivals (even if it’s not where you eventually want to go), etc., take them!

Be the Student Director

It would be wonderful if all future music education majors had the opportunity to be on the podium directing during their high school years, but this is not the only way to gain student directing experience. You could take on the responsibility of serving as a section leader or audition to be the drum major. You will begin to look at your ensemble from a different perspective and are likely to have increased communication with your director regarding the behind-the-scenes goings on.

Consider shadowing your, or another, music teacher, work on organizing the music library, make concert programs, and/or help set up equipment.

Participate in All Things Extra-Curricular

Does your school have an annual musical? How about a jazz band? Show choir? Marching band? Take part in as much as you can do well; the school you teach in will have these offerings, too.

Give Lessons

Help your teacher by providing mentorship or tutoring younger players. If you are especially skilled, you may even decide to start your own small studio. Familiarize yourself with beginning pedagogy and keep in mind that you won’t be able to charge the going rate of a college teacher or someone who has a bachelor’s or master’s degree in music.

Accompany

While you want to be sure you don’t get stuck at the piano the whole time and still get a chance to sing, accompanying as a great opportunity to get to know a piece more thoroughly and work closely with your director. If you aren’t quite ready for that amount of pressure, solo/ensemble contest is another great opportunity (with a much smaller audience). You may even get to do some coaching with younger singers as their accompanist.

Church choirs are often looking for accompanists for their adult and children’s choirs. You can get paid and gain great experience at the same time! Once you get to college, if you’ve honed your skills, accompanying for voice class and recitals beats the heck out of working in the cafeteria!

Do you remember in Chapter 4 when we told you that you can’t practice piano too much? That’s still true! It’s also important to remember that playing piano and being able to accompany are two different skills. Having some experience from the bench will be of benefit to you when you are the one on the podium.

Ask Questions

Mentors abound in the music education world. This is certainly not true of all professional conferences, but those associated with music education are filled with the sharing of ideas and mentoring. In many states, you will be assigned a mentor in your building. Many states Music Educators’ Associations (MEAs) have well-organized mentorship programs and will also provide you with an experienced or retired teacher who will come to your school and be available 24/7 for your questions.

Find out how your director chooses music. Don’t be afraid to talk to the director at the next university honor choir you attend for advice. Seek out professional development—it’s out there through your state music education, choral directors, band directors, or string teachers’ organization.

Be a Leader

Some opportunities that do not appear to be directly related to music may also be beneficial. Take on leadership positions in community or school organizations and clubs: chess club, student government, 4-H, Girl Scouts, etc. all provide ways for you to grow as a leader. Yes, you’ll need to spend lots of time honing your musical skills, but your personal skills are just as important.

Participate in Team Activities

Team building is an essential part of school music. Reflect on how you feel as a member of a team and make a note of things that your coaches or leaders did that you thought was effective. Sports teams probably come to mind first, but there are other possibilities, too, like large-group speech or being in a school play.

Seek Out Jobs that Involve Working with Young People

Summer camps are a great way to spend a lot of time working with children. Whether through a library, back-to-school program or local college or university, these experiences are invaluable if you plan to be an educator. They may not pay well, but will more than make up for the loss of income when you have it on your resume and that real-life job comes around. Lifeguarding and/or being a swimming instructor is another great option.

Think “outside the box” and CREATE OPPORTUNITIES if none present themselves. Start a private studio. Volunteer to help with beginning summer band lessons. Direct a musical with an all-kid cast. Look for a possible void in your community where you can make a difference!