If you’re a new music teacher, you probably have many questions.  I know I sure did when I first started out.  It would’ve been awesome if someone was walking beside me all day saying “do this, not that.”  If you’re looking for first year music teacher advice, I’m excited to share my favorite tips.  These are the 4 things I think every music teacher should know, whether you are just starting out or are new to teaching elementary music.

 

1. Be you

This is something so simple, but the best advice I could ever give you.  You want to know something awesome?  You don’t need to try to be like any other teacher.  You get to be completely you.  If you have your own teaching style and it’s even different than your mentor teacher’s, that’s ok!  Your students need exactly what you bring to the table.

While you were in college, you were probably already thinking about the teacher you wanted to be.  Then, you got to tryout that teaching style in practicums and in your student teaching experience.  Now that you have your own classroom, that experience combined with the teacher you’re desiring to be will make you an incredible asset to the music education community.

 

2. Know the secretary and janitor

This is advice one of my college professors gave me and I didn’t understand at the time what he meant.  Countless times, you’ll need the secretary to help make copies for you, to come help fix a computer (since a lot of times that is part of their job description too), or to help plan a field trip.  Also, countless other times you’ll have a student pee in your classroom (ugh), will need help moving the risers, or will have a light bulb that needs to be changed.  Forming a good relationship with them from the beginning will really help you out through the years to come.

It is of course important to know everyone at your school.  There are so many teachers, support staff, your principal, the counselor, and the parents to get to know.  Start slowly and form genuine relationships with each of these people over time.

 

3. Practice procedures continuously

Procedures is something we all know to practice at the beginning of the school year.  But, I didn’t realize until I started teaching that practicing procedures is a must all year long.  As the school year goes along, students get comfortable and will challenge you more and more.  If your procedures are in place, they’ll know what you expect.  Then, if you need to stand up and practice coming back into the classroom again, they will remember to come into the classroom the right way the next time.

Along with procedures, make sure your classroom management is in place, which you can read more about here .  Students need to know what will happen if they do or don’t follow procedures.  They also need to realize that you mean what you say and that you’re consistent.

 

4.  Know distractions will happen…daily

Whether it’s in the form of a fire drill, a crying student, the intercom going off, a class gone on a field trip, or an assembly, distractions will happen daily.  If you’re like me, and you have a type A personality, it’s hard to not have a meltdown (just like a student) every time your class time is interrupted. Learning to stay flexible and roll with the constant changes will save you a headache in the long run.  You’ll learn how to plan accordingly, or how to catch classes up who missed music.  But, in the meantime, just go with it.  For even more helpful tips, listen to episode 9 of The Domestic Musician podcast.

 

What do you wish you had known when you first started teaching music?  I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below or share your thoughts on social media as you share this post.   

Also, I’d love for you to share this post or any of the resources on my website with a friend or colleague who you know NEEDS to see it.

P.S.  Are you feeling frustrated or stuck as an elementary music teacher?  Check out these free resources to help you teach elementary music with confidence!

Also…I wrote a book called “Make A Note: What You Really Need To Know About Teaching Elementary Music” to help music teachers move forward in your teaching career.  You can get your copy here.