In the last post, we observed that many musicians, including many of the highest caliber, teach to supplement their performance activities. So if you decide you want to teach (whether as the whole or part of your musical activities), what does that say in terms of our initial question of whether to pursue a degree in music?
For any music teaching job, even if you’re self-employed, it is at least advisable to have a degree in music — but the specific necessities (how many degrees and what kind) depend upon what kind of teaching you’re considering.
Collegiate performance
If you want to teach music performance at the college level, you need the chops and experience of a top-flight performer, as well as music degrees extending through a doctorate (DMA), though I have known people who started teaching at a community college with only a master’s degree.
So if you’re aiming for a collegiate teaching career, do you want to get degrees in music performance or music education? That’s a good question. College-level job descriptions differ one to another, and different schools will be looking for and open to different things in a candidate. So my advice is to follow your interests in forming your own personalized “package†to offer to prospective employers. Generally speaking, music education degrees/concentrations are particularly valuable for those who would want to teach pedagogy (that is, teaching students how to teach their instrument). But bear in mind that many colleges want someone who will teach both performance and pedagogy. [Read more…] about Should I Get a Degree in Music? (Part 3): Teaching