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- Teach vocal skills, singing, music theory and musical appreciation
- You'll need excellent vocal skills, self-motivation and good organisational skills
- You could run your own business
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Coaching individuals for a particular role in a play or musical
- Planning lessons and organising resources
- Teaching vocal and breathing exercises and techniques
- Instructing in melody, harmony and improvisation
- Helping students to prepare for music exams
- Organising performances
- Practising to keep up your own ability
- Keeping accounts, if self-employed
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You could work at a client's home, in the community, at a college, from home or at a school.
As a private teacher, your hours could vary widely, depending on students' needs. You may also spend time travelling between different teaching venues.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with excellent vocal skills, self-motivation, good organisational skills and teaching skills.
You'll need to pass enhanced background checks, as you may be working with children and vulnerable adults.
You may be able to work as a private music teacher with or without qualifications, if you've got exceptional vocal ability. A teaching qualification would also be helpful though not essential.
However, you'll usually need qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in a state school.
You can take graded singing exams and qualifications, like the Level 4 Certificate for Music Educators, offered by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and Trinity College London. The certificate course is aimed at people who are new to teaching music to children, and covers the purpose of music education and promotes best practice. It has been developed for: instrumental and vocal teachers working privately with schools, primary teachers, community musicians and professional musicians who do educational work.
You could also do a degree course at a conservatoire, music college or university. Subjects include popular music, performing arts and musical theatre, creative musicianship - vocals and vocal teaching. You should choose a course which concentrates on performance rather than theory.
You should get as much experience of singing a wide range of music as possible. Joining singing groups or choirs can help with this.
You'll also find it useful if you can play a musical instrument, preferably a piano or guitar.
You may find it useful to join the Association of Teachers of Singing for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
CAREER PROSPECTS
You could run your own business. You could also combine private teaching with part-time or casual work for colleges and other organisations.