What Skills Does a Good Music Teacher Need?
Certification
In theory, a music teacher is not supposed to have any qualifications as such. But, most music teachers would have a degree or a diploma from some school or music academy which helps with their credentials.
It’s a highly competitive job and having the right certifications and qualifications gives you that edge. Typically, you would need an ‘A Level’ certification in music or excellent GCSE grades before you can give music lessons in an academy/school.
Patience
One thing that makes you good as a music teacher is having emotional intelligence and patience. You must be people-oriented if you want to give good lessons and also enjoy your job. As a music teacher, remember that different people learn things at different rates.
Some students might take longer than others to understand a few concepts. Some of the best teachers understand this thing. So, they are observant about the area students need to work on and accordingly work with them to achieve their goals.
Other than that, they should also have a positive and optimistic disposition. They should know how to give feedback without sounding like a critic. Since learning a musical instrument requires repetition, don’t get frustrated even when students are not improving despite their putting in their best efforts. Be willing to support them no matter their skill level.
Communication
Sometimes, during a music lesson – you may have to discuss certain details and ideas which can be rather abstract. Unless you know how to communicate such ideas clearly and effectively, things can become arduous.
Good music teachers have a knack for simplifying even the most complex concepts and breaking them down into simple language.
You should know how to talk to your students, listen to their doubts and queries. In short, you should be approachable. And, that only happens when you’re good at communicating and listening.
A Genuine Love for Music
Becoming a music teacher is not like any other day job. It’s not a DIY project that anyone can take. To be successful, you must have a genuine love for this craft. It’s something that comes from the heart.
Of course, there are technicalities to learning and teaching music, but in the end – it’s a job that you have to feel and enjoy. And, if you don’t truly love what you do, you will never be an exceptional teacher.
Problem-Solving Attitude
We discussed already that different students learn at different paces. Sometimes, there can be an occasional student who just doesn’t understand what you’re saying.
You may be surprised that often there’s a key underlying issue with their technique or how they’re approaching the whole thing. Working on that one problem can dramatically improve their performance. This ability to recognize the issue and work on it is essential for this job.
Habits of Effective Music Teachers:
Practice What They Preach
As an educator, it is paramount that you understand the principles of human development as well as have fully mastered the art. You must also know how to teach someone the art of music to someone.
The same goes for music. Have a good hard look at your own musical history and examine whether or not you have an ideal path for learning music in its entirety.
Think about the kind of educators you had. Were they qualified enough to teach you? Maybe not all of them were. That’s fine. Think about the things they couldn’t teach you. How can you fill those gaps as a teacher?
Did you have a rigid and a highly structured regime that comprised hours and hours of repetition? Or did you learn in a more free-flowing manner, say you were born in a music family when you had a ton of jam sessions with your parents or siblings? In any case, think about the things you missed. What are the things you would do to advance that process?
Also, think about your techniques and methodology. Is it stagnant or constantly evolving with time? Simply put, a good teacher teaches what he preaches and is conscious of the way he does things.
They Aim to Eventually Become Redundant
Not so much as a habit, but this should be the final goal of every single educator; including those in music. Granted, you are there to help them evolve and advance their learning.
However, in the end, you should aim to make them independent individuals. Individuals who can work and evolve without any outside guidance. They should learn to think outside the school curriculum.
This is a habit that comes with extreme self-awareness. Never strive to be seen as a leader but always as a facilitator, a channel.
They Learn From Others
The mark of a true teacher is that he is never afraid to learn from others. In fact, he actively looks for opportunities to learn. You may be a highly respected and established teacher.
But, it’s a fact that someone may come along who may be equally accomplished or even better than you. It’s always good, in those situations, to pick someone else’s brains and learn a few new strategies/techniques.
The more you interact with other teachers in your field, the more you can put things in perspective. You might even work out new angles and methods that you had not considered yet.
Sometimes even younger and newly enrolled students can have a new perspective on things. Always be receptive to learning from them as well.
Bottom Line
Teaching music is a sacred profession. Make sure you look at things accordingly. Always put your heart and soul into teaching to become the master of your craft.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
