Music Teacher Resume (with Samples & Tips)

Having a music teacher resume highlighting your top accomplishments also helps put you ahead of the competition. Use our resume examples to give you some tips as you craft your resume and the resume templates to help you structure your resume.

This article contains a step-to-step guide and covers the following topics:

• The right skills for your music teacher resume.
• How to add your academic qualifications as a music teacher.
• A sample music teacher resume that is easy to follow.
• The professional experience that will help your resume stand out.

Salary & job prospects for music teachers

The industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation include:

• Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
• Junior Colleges
• Other Schools and Instruction
• Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events

The average salary for a music teacher is $51,000. The typical range is between $39,000 and $78,000, depending on your experience, skills, and education.

How to Create a Resume for Music Teachers

A music teacher interacts with students at different levels and requires specific skills and knowledge to teach each of them. The school principal needs to see the required skills and experience on your resume before giving you the job. The job description usually has all the requirements, and you can use it to get some of the information you should have in your resume. Each resume you send out should be different and match the recruiter's requirements. The keywords and action verbs that optimize your resume should also be in various parts of your resume.

The resume layout, format, and structure are also key parts of your resume that you should consider. Let's look at each of them in detail.

Best format for your resume

There are three formats you can choose from. Here they are.

• Reverse-chronological format

This format focuses on experience and is suitable for you if you've worked as a music teacher for many years.

• Functional resume format

This format is also known as a skills-based resume because it focuses on your skills. It's perfect for recent graduates and career changers.

• Hybrid/combination resume

As the name states, this format combines the two other formats by mixing their best features. It's perfect for candidates who have the required skills and experience.

The layout of your resume covers the general design. Ensure that it's easy to read and understand. Use fonts such as Cambria, Calibri, Times New Roman, and Arial. The font size should be 10-12pt.

The structure of your music teacher resume should have the following sections:

• A resume header
• Resume summary/objective
• Work experience section
• Education section
• Skills section
• An additional section(Languages, awards/honors, interests, and certifications)

Start with the Header Section

The first section of your resume is the header, and it contains your personal details. These details must be accurate because the hiring manager needs this information to reach you. Here are the details you need in this section:

• Your full name
• Job title
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• Location
• A link to your LinkedIn profile.

A good header

A bad header

How to Showcase Your Experience in Your Resume

Your experience as a music teacher goes a long way in determining whether you get the position or not. Describe your work history and show the hiring manager how the experience at each workplace has prepared you for the new job.

You'll start with your most recent workplace and add three to five job responsibilities under each of them. Since these positions can be competitive, show the value you could bring to the company by adding facts and figures that quantify your achievements.

The details you'll include here are the name of the workplace, your job title, and the employment dates.

Focus on the relevant music teaching experience unless there are specific transferable skills you can highlight from other jobs.

Example for graduate and entry-level music teachers

Example for experienced music teachers

Education: Include your Academic Background

You may be talented with the ability to sing and play multiple instruments, but you still need specific educational qualifications to get a job as a music teacher.

Use the job description to determine what the recruiter is looking for. Most schools will require you to have a degree, and you'll also need to be an accredited teacher.

List all your academic qualifications starting with the most recent one. Leave out the high school diploma if you have a Master's or bachelor's degree.

The required details here include the name of the degree/diploma, the name of the school, and the year of graduation.

Correct example

Skills for a Music Teacher Resume

Every school wants a music teacher with specific skills, so you should always look at the job description and tailor your resume to match these requirements. Your resume should have the perfect blend of hard and soft skills, which you should list using bullet points. This makes it easy to scan on the applicant tracking systems and for hiring managers to spot them. Hard skills help you tackle job-specific duties and may require some time to learn on the job or at school. Soft skills are interpersonal attributes that help you interact well with your colleagues and clients.

Let's look at the music teacher skills you need in your resume.

Hard skills

• Music theory
• Vocal techniques
• Lesson planning
• Curriculum Development
• Program Administration
• Staff Development and Mentorship
• Group and Individual Instruction
• Performance direction

Soft skills

• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Decision-making skills
• Multi-tasking skills
• Attention to detail
• Organizational skills

Write a Professional Summary

A professional summary is a section of your resume that highlights your top accomplishments, experience, and skills. This section introduces your resume to the recruiter and should be catchy to get their attention and get them to read the rest of your resume.

Correct example

Incorrect example

Why do you need a professional objective?

A professional objective also introduces the resume but in a different way. If you don't have much experience, use it to describe your career goals and how they align with the school's goals. It also gives you a chance to express your interest in working as a music teacher for the school.

Correct example

Additional Sections for Your Resume

It's always advisable to have an additional section on your resume with extra qualifications that make you a unique candidate. Having these qualifications in this section also makes it easier for the recruiter to see them quickly, even when they only take a few seconds on your resume.

You could also add the skills you want to highlight and don't want the recruiter to miss. Let's look at some of the qualifications you can add to this section.

Certifications

A music teaching job may require you to have specific certifications. It's always better to add them to this section to ensure the recruiter doesn't miss them. Some of the certifications that will look good on your resume include:

• Nationally Certified Teacher of Music
• Music Therapist - Board Certified
• Music Teacher Certification Program

Interests

The interests give the recruiter an idea of who you are outside of your work. You can add interests such as hiking, blogging, podcasting, or photography.

Languages

A music teacher interacts with students from different cultures, so if you're a bilingual candidate, you should add it under this section. List your languages using the official language reference as follows:

• TOEFL for English
• French DELF (with a score of 60% or higher)
• SIELE for Spanish

Tips to Enhance Your Resume

• Keep your resume short and all your qualifications summarized on one page.
• Add relevant keywords and action verbs to optimize the resume and ensure it gets past the ATS systems.
• Prioritize the relevant skills and experience on your resume.
• Use the right format and layout for your resume.
• Tailor each resume to match the job requirements.
• Proofread the resume before sending it to the recruiter.

Summary: Key Takeaways

• Add the correct details to your header section and ensure that you have a professional email address.
• Use facts and figures as you list your job duties to quantify the results and show the recruiter the value you could bring to the company.
• The structure of your resume should have all the required sections.
• Choose the best format for your resume from the three common formats.
• List your skills using bullet points to make them easy to spot.
• Add your academic qualifications in the education section, starting with the most recent one.

Write a Proper Cover Letter for Your Resume

A cover letter complements your resume and allows you to describe your qualifications and accomplishments further. If the recruiter asks you not to send one, you can send your application without one but if that's not the case, accompany your resume with a cover letter. Use our cover letter examples to help you create an exceptional one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which institutions are hiring for music teacher jobs?

According to Glassdoor, the companies hiring for music teacher jobs include:

• New York City Department of Education
• Chicago Public Schools
• SelfOpportunity
• WyzAnt
• School of Rock
• Fusion Academy
• Dallas Independent School District
• Music and Arts

Which educational qualifications does every music teacher need?

• A bachelor's degree in music education is required.
• Specific certifications may also be needed depending on your state.