Become a Band Director

In order to be a successful band director, you must combine musical ability with teaching prowess. This role requires you to have a deep love of music and a passion for working with young people to help them achieve their goals. To become a band director, you must pursue a music degree in college, get a teaching license, and work as a music teacher for a few years. As you do this, network with former teachers and college professors and actively search for band director positions that open up.

Steps

Getting Your Music Education

1. Apply for leadership positions within your high school’s band. Once you’ve been in the school band for a few years and feel as though you’re ready for a leadership role, ask your band director if you can try out for a spot. Leadership roles in a high school band include sectional leader, band officer, and drum major. You can learn a lot about how to instruct your fellow students and help them become better musicians while fulfilling this role.
   • A leadership position in your high school band looks great on a college application, especially if you want to go to a music school or join your university’s marching band.{{greenbox: Tip: To expand your musical abilities even further, ask your band director if you can arrange a piece of music for your band or write a marching drill for the group. Even if the band doesn’t end up playing your work, it’s still great practice.}}
2. Record your best work to boost your college application. If you’re applying to a music school, there’s a good chance you’ll need to submit a recording as part of your application. If you have a solo during a school performance, ask your parents to film it and upload it to their computer. You can also see if your school has audio booths and use one to record a small sample of your work.
   • You might have to do an in-person audition instead of sending in a recording, so remember to practice for a few hours daily in the weeks leading up to it!
3. Earn a 4-year bachelor’s degree from an NASM-accredited school. The vast majority of band directors have a degree from a school that has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. There are more than 600 accredited schools in the United States. When you get to school, you can choose one of many music-related majors based on your future goals. Make sure your major includes a teacher preparation program.
   • Some accredited schools are not music-specific schools, meaning you can go to a more traditional 4-year college and still get the credentials you need to pursue a job as a band director.{{greenbox: Best Majors for Prospective Band Directors:
     
     Music theory
     Musical composition
     Conducting
     Music Education}}
4. Obtain a teaching certificate from your state’s department of education. Each state has separate requirements when it comes to completing a teaching certificate. That said, the process involves passing a variety of knowledge and skills tests and a background check. You can only teach in the state you get your certificate.
   • You can visit Teach.org for more information on certification by state.
5. Get a master’s degree or Ph.D. if you want to teach at the college level. Landing a job at a university requires an advanced degree of some kind. Students who want to teach music performance should look into getting a D.M.A, or Doctorate of Musical Arts. You can also work towards a Ph.D. in a discipline like ethnomusicology or composition to gain expertise in a specific area.
   • The only other way to get a job teaching music at a college is to be an accomplished musician, composer, or director. When you’re in college, write music during your spare time to sharpen these skills.

Working in the Music Field

1. Teach at a music instruction camp during the summers. Go to your school’s internship office and ask about openings at local music camps. You can assist in teaching young children how to play certain instruments and how to perform in a group. During one of these internships, focus on your communication skills. It’s one thing to know an instrument inside and out, but it’s another thing entirely to teach someone else how to master their instrument. Stay patient with these young children and provide positive feedback at all times.
   • More often than not, these are paid internships.
2. Assist at a high school marching band camp. In the weeks before you go back to school, reach out to your old high school band director and ask if you can help them during band camp. This is more of a volunteer role, but one that makes for great practice in case you want to become a high school band director down the road. Use this time to put your knowledge of different instruments to the test. Spend time with each section of the band and provide as much advice as you can give.
   • These band camps take place in early-to-mid August, which gives you time to aide your old band director before you have to go back to school.
3. Give private lessons to younger students. This is a great way to continue playing your main instrument while also making a little money on the side. Ask your parents to contact their friends and neighbors to see if they have children who want to learn how to play an instrument. Spend 3-4 hours a week working with this person to help them get better and to hone your teaching skills.
   • Try and meet with this person twice a week for 1-2 hours per session.
4. Start as a music teacher and work your way up. Once you have your teaching certificate, reach out to your school’s career office and ask about job openings. Once you accept a job at a school, take some time to develop a relationship with the current band director. Ask them to be your mentor and continue to learn from them as you work at the school. Once you’ve worked as a music teacher for a few years, look for band director openings at schools in the area.
   • Keep learning about different instruments to best prepare yourself for a band director job down the line.Template:Greenbox: '''Tip''': Ask this person to be a reference for you when you go to apply for a job.

Landing a Band Director Job

1. Ask your high school band director about their career path. One of the best people to network with is your school’s band director. Get in touch with them and set up a time to chat. When you meet with this person, ask them how they got to where they are now and about their previous experiences in this field. This is also a great time to learn about this person’s musical philosophies and teaching techniques.
   • Your former band director can be a great reference for job applications, so keep this in mind as you continue to build your relationship with this person!Template:Greenbox: '''Tip''': If you’re close with your former band director, ask if you can come in and shadow this person while they work with their students. This way, you’ll get a close look at what it takes to do this job.
2. Contact your college’s career office to look for director openings. As you continue to work in the field and spruce up your resume, email your college’s career office and ask them about potential band director openings. Send the office your resume and ask if you can set up a phone call to go over it. The people in the career office can help you fine-tune your resume to catch the eye of potential employers.
   • If you live close to your former school, go in and meet with a counselor face-to-face.
3. Write up a 3-paragraph cover letter for your application. Your cover letter should be short, concise, and attention-grabbing. Use the first paragraph to ask a question or discuss a personal connection you have with someone at the school. Then, talk about your path to this point, your best attributes, and why you’re the best fit for the job in the second and third paragraphs.
   • Always end a cover letter by thanking the potential employer for their consideration.
4. Wear your best outfit to your in-person interview. The interviewer expects you to dress sharply in business professional attire. Wear a suit and tie, dress pants, and dress shoes. Make sure your hair is neat and combed as well.
   • Take your clothes to the dry cleaners the week before an interview. This way, the next time you wear them is right after they’ve been dry cleaned.
5. Prepare for music and non-music related questions. There is so much more to being a good band director than just knowing about music. The interviewer will be asking you about things like how you would manage an inattentive student, how you would map out your curriculum, and what your grading philosophy looks like. You’ll also be asked about how you’ll raise test scores and interact with parents. Work with a friend or relative to come up with the best answers to these and other questions.
   • You’ll also be asked some fairly personal questions, so be prepared for those.{{greenbox: Examples of Personal Interview Questions:
     
     What is your greatest failure and what did you learn from it?
     What did you think of your previous boss?
     What’s your greatest weakness?}}

References

See also

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