Begin A Creative Career in Music Education

Art Teacher Education

Art Teacher Job Description

Art education programs prepare educators to help students of various ages develop and expand their creative talent and skill. A typical day for an art teacher might include helping a kindergarten student construct their first masterpiece with construction paper, glue and cotton-balls or teaching a high school student how to carefully mold and assemble a beautiful mosaic sculpture.

Art education can be rewarding when watching a student's imagination begin to materialize, but it's also challenging when balancing different skill levels with art medium technologies. It helps to be someone who loves creating and discussing art while developing a curriculum that involves mixing your knowledge of art history, methods and materials with your students’ interests and age level. If you love the idea of helping kids turn creative energy into works of art, consider studying art education.

Art Teacher Credential and Certification Requirements

Art teacher programs are usually separate from the school of education, but require students to take general education classes to earn their teaching credentials. For example, some students get their bachelor's degree in art education while others get their bachelor's degree in art and then earn their teaching credentials. It helps to choose an art teacher program that has professors who are active in the larger community as artists and researchers because they have the experience and knowledge necessary to educate an educator. It's also important to choose a program that has small class sizes with well- equipped and up-to-date art studios for optimal learning. Remember to follow these art teacher credential guidelines:

• Make sure the art program is approved by the Department of Education in the state where you plan to teach.
• Make sure the program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

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Music Teacher Education

Music Teacher Job Description

Music education programs prepare educators to help students recognize and develop musical skills. A typical day might include anything from helping an elementary school student learn how to read music for the first time to watching a middle school student master a saxophone solo after practicing for months. Music education majors learn various techniques to teach music and music appreciation to students from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Research has shown that music can be a healthy balance to a student's general course curriculum and can actually help stimulate learning and development.* If you are thinking about becoming a music teacher, it's important to have a musical ear, good communication skills and patience because some of your students will have difficulty with skills you may consider easy - such as staying in tune, keeping a rhythm or reading music. In addition to classroom instruction, music teachers also plan school performances and attend workshops and music conventions for more training.

Music Teacher Credential and Certification Requirements

Music teacher programs are usually separate from the school of education, but require students to take general education classes to earn their teaching credentials. Some students get their degrees in music education, while others get their bachelor’s in music and then earn teaching credentials or their master's degree. Research whether you are required to audition for the college's music education program since some schools may require it. You should also participate in school bands, choruses and ensembles to help prepare you for a music teaching environment. Remember to follow these music teacher credential guidelines:

• Make sure the music program is approved by the Department of Education in the state where you plan to teach.
• Make sure the program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

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Drama Teacher Education

Drama Teacher Job Description

Drama teachers help encourage and motivate students to explore the artistic and expressive side of education through theater arts and performance. A typical day might include helping elementary students memorize their lines for the holiday play or providing stage direction and set expertise for the high school musical.

Some students are natural performers who need a teacher to help them recognize their talent, while others are shy and benefit from teachers helping them learn and practice performance skills. Whether you're helping a student realize their theatrical potential as a future box-office star or watching a shy student gain confidence and communication skills, teaching drama education can be very rewarding.

Drama teachers typically teach students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, so they need to be excited about teaching students of different ages, with various skill levels and interests. If you love being onstage and enjoy teaching others, consider majoring in theater or drama education.

Drama Teacher Credential and Certification Requirements

Drama education programs include a mixture of theater performance, theater history and instructor preparation. Drama education majors will attend class lectures as well as visit schools to see performance education programs in action. Some students decide they want to become teachers after they have obtained their drama or theater bachelor's degree and then earn their teaching credentials or master's in education.

It is a good idea to perform in classes and campus productions and volunteer with community groups to get as much theater experience as possible. You should also research whether you are required to audition for the college's drama education program because some schools may require it. Remember to follow these drama teacher credential guidelines:

• Make sure the drama program is approved by the Department of Education in the state where you plan to teach.
• Make sure the program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the National Association of Schools of Theater (NAST).

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*Beare, Kenneth. "Music in the Classroom." About: Education. Primedia, 2001, http://esl.about.com/library/lessons/blbrainmusic.htm