Teacher - Secondary School - Music
Inspire your pupils to play and create music. Help them learn instruments and understand the theory behind the music.
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£577
Entry level
£904
Experienced
Monthly
£2,500
Entry level
£3,917
Experienced
Yearly
£30,000
Entry level
£47,000
Experienced
29,300
people are currently employed
High growth
300 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would help young people to learn how to express themselves by playing, composing and performing music and enjoy listening to music.
You would teach young people from 11 to 18 years old. You could work in public or private schools. You might also work in a college or learning centre.
As a music teacher you’d inspire and motivate your pupils to value and develop their creativity and imagination. You'd teach them about different ways to compose and play music and different forms and styles of music. They would learn to work with other musicians to create amazing performances.
You’d help young people develop an appreciation of aesthetic and cultural values, identities and ideas and prepare the foundations for some pupils to go on to a career in the arts.
You’d teach students of different ages and abilities and prepare young people to take the National Qualifications and Highers in this subject.
There is national guidance for Curriculum for Excellence expressive arts and National Qualifications which you would use when planning your teaching.
You would:
prepare lessons and teaching materials
assess students’ progress
set homework
manage classroom behaviour
discuss students' progress with parents and carers
organise study trips, social activities and lead on school musicial show and events
You’d encourage the students to take pride in their achievements inside and outside school. You’d support them to build good relationships with other students and teachers and play a positive part in the life of the school and the local community.
You’d help them get the knowledge, skills and attributes they’ll need for a successful and positive life when they leave school.
Sometimes you will need to deal with challenging behaviour. It may be difficult to get some teenagers to study so you’d need to be imaginative and enthusiastic to keep them interested.
You’d need to attend meetings and training courses. You’d work closely with colleagues to plan the school’s timetables and work with other professionals, such as education psychologists and social workers.
Hours
Environment
Travel
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- motivating others
- mentoring
- coaching
- ethical
- social conscience
- respecting
- empathising
- creative
- verbal communication
- supporting
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
English
Music
You will need either a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree in Music or Music Education (SCQF level 9/10) or you can apply with any relevant degree to a PGDE — Professional Graduate Diploma in Education — in Music (SCQF level 11).
To enter a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree in Music or Music Education (SCFQ level 9/10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and at least three Highers and recognised musical grading.
If you are applying to a PGDE (SCQF level 11) you will need a relevant degree.
To enter this job applicants must have completed degree level study or above gaining at least 80 SCQF Credit Points in music, the study of harmony, counterpoint, arrangement, orchestration and composition, together with a broad study of music in its social and historical contexts within traditional, ethnic and non-western musical cultures.
Keyboard studies include sight reading, playing by ear, accompanying, harmonising and improvising in traditional and contemporary style.
Proof of extra experience is required when studying instruments or voice to an advanced standard.
Qualifications and experience that demonstrate the ability to work with children or young people will be useful. Communication skills and experience in music can also be helpful.
You will be expected to support literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing as well as your own subject.
To be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.
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