The importance of well-rounded curricula that balance STEM subjects, languages, social sciences and the arts cannot be stressed enough. Music educators enjoy the benefits of teaching from their passions on a subject that stays timeless while incorporating new innovations nd developments. Additionally, the inclusion of music studies in education programs at all levels has demonstrated positive effects on learning in other subject areas. With healthy job growth rates projected for the next decade, now may be a good time to join in this rewarding field.
Music Education Integral to Interdisciplinary Curricula
Ordinary citizens, educators and nonprofit organizations such as the All-Stars Project, Inc. and Music Unites continue to stress the vital importance of keeping music education a priority. As a PBS.org article explains, research has tied musical training to measurable benefits such as language development and fine motor skills. They also help build children’s spatial-temporal abilities, which are vital to the type of problem-solving capabilities needed in STEM subjects. Moreover, the study of music also ties in with history, social sciences and cultural studies.
Job Prospects Expected to Remain Strong
Employment for elementary, middle and high school teachers will likely keep pace with that of other industries. For all three categories, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 6 percent increase in jobs between 2014 and 2024. Post-secondary job prospects are even more promising, with BLS estimates projecting a rise by 13 percent. Salary potential is widely diverse in the field, ranging anywhere between $30,000 and $71,000. According to the BLS, college and university art, music and drama teachers earned even more in 2015, with a mean annual wage of $76,710.
Further Education Is Critical to Your Success
Obtaining your master’s in music education is a logical step in your preparation. Whether you eventually seek a doctorate degree for post-secondary employment or want to get your foot in the door at smaller institutions and community colleges, you’ll at least need to finish the first level of graduate education to start you on the right path. Thankfully, you have many options for your future studies, thanks to a wide variety of college and university programs of study.
Traditionally, most seeking a music education degree have opted for attending university in person, participating in a program that instructs through classroom methods as well as teaching practica via assistantships and other activities. Nevertheless, online curricula have been crafted to answer the needs of professionals in the 21st century. These programs also blend classroom learning with hands-on experience, typically through continued active instructing and by specifying a capstone course requirement for their degrees.
While requirements for admission can differ slightly, most of these are similar no matter what program you choose. The majority of them require some sort of undergraduate degree in music education from a regionally accredited institution or a music degree with evidence of your completion of state teaching licensure guidelines. However, there are some minor variations between programs. Some may ask for scores from a standardized test for graduate admissions, such as the GRE or the MAT, while others do not. Audition requirements can also vary, but some online programs have nixed this as part of their application processes.
Craft a Promising Career While Making a Difference
Among the most pressing priorities for the betterment of our society, quality education remains a chief concern. Music plays a large part of that, with demonstrated positive effects on overall learning as well as skill-building specifics in many subject areas. With projected growth at all levels, it makes sense to take steps now to gain more knowledge, making yourself more attractive to employers as well as placing yourself in a position to help students achieve their potentials.
