is it daft to want to aspire to be a music teacher? Options

[Viledin4u]

I have returned to playing violin (at approx grade 5) after many years absence, and I am very interested in taking up piano (probably did to about grade 1 or 2 many moons ago). I am a teacher, but not a music teacher and have a great deal of experince teaching all ages, abilities, backgrounds etc and know that I am good at it.
I am absolutely loving relearning my music and now definitely have a long term (lifetime) goal to stick at it and improve.
Recently, I have beginning to think a lot that I would like to teach music. It is an itch that won't seem to go away. Am I being daft? My teaching skills are excellent and I know that if I became skilled in piano and violin that I would probably teach then well. I have an excellent teacher at the moment with high expectations so I know that I will be taught to play well.
I don't expect to do this in the short term, if at all. Maybe I would not be any good or maybe I just won't grasp the instruments well enough to pass on my expertise. But, if I set myself a ten year goal I would expect that I could reach violin and piano grade 8, and all being well could teach children/adults taking lower grades. Maybe I could achieve all this, and be good ...who knows....? I expect it would take a lot of hard work.
Has anyone learned as an adult and then gone on to teach, or knows of anyone? Has it worked out, or not. Just very curious at this stage. I am in my forties by the way..

[Halka]

My daughter's recorder teacher - now long retired from her "day job" took up recorder playing rather late in life - not too long before retirement, I think, so older than you. She had some background as a pretty much self taught piano player, and choral singer. She had also worked as a chemistry teacher, among other things. She has taught recorder successfully for some years now. Until recently she taught me at an adult education class, and she has taught my daughter for the last 7 years and has taken several of her young pupils (daughter included) from scratch to grade 8.

So, you can certainly do it, I'm sure.

[Seer_Green]

If we didn't have goals and aspirations, where would we be? Sounds a totally plausible route to take, or at least work towards. As long as you're not going into it for the money (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) There are lots of teachers on here who've had careers in other areas (some nothing to do with teaching) who've taken up instrumental teaching later on in life.

[Viledin4u]

My daughter's recorder teacher - now long retired from her "day job" took up recorder playing rather late in life - not too long before retirement, I think, so older than you. She had some background as a pretty much self taught piano player, and choral singer. She had also worked as a chemistry teacher, among other things. She has taught recorder successfully for some years now. Until recently she taught me at an adult education class, and she has taught my daughter for the last 7 years and has taken several of her young pupils (daughter included) from scratch to grade 8.

So, you can certainly do it, I'm sure.

Thanks for your reply ...if I give myself ten years then I will be in my mid 50's - still plenty of life to live after that, hopefully! I would like to have lived a rewarding life and to that effect have little intention of returning to State education as a teacher. I am really enjoying my music at the moment - your message is encouraging. thank you!

If we didn't have goals and aspirations, where would we be? Sounds a totally plausible route to take, or at least work towards. As long as you're not going into it for the money (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) There are lots of teachers on here who've had careers in other areas (some nothing to do with teaching) who've taken up instrumental teaching later on in life.

I was secretly hoping that some of the responses would put me off, but all positive so far. Thank you. I would probably have to do some teacher (not music teacher) work to keep a bit of a pension going and to keep the hubby at bay : )

[ExpressYourself]

Go for it!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Impressionist]

I'd agree it's worth having a goal and aspirations. I'm returning to instrumental teaching after years of doing other things, and not in my primary instrument either. I'm of a similar age and although I am starting from a more advanced background I don't see why you can't do it. In fact one of the potential piano teachers I recently approached was probably 60sih and had worked for most of his adult life as an engineer, retraining to teach piano after taking early retirement.

[agricola]

I knew a lady for many years who restarted piano at 50 from about Grade 5 level, worked up to take an ALCM and taught very successfully into her 80s with many pupils, so it can be done.

[Cyrilla]

Neither Bagpuss nor I started out as music teachers or with any aspirations in that direction.

And now look at us!!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[lottie]

Go for it! I know several people who started playing in mid-life or later who went on to become successful music teachers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

In terms of length of time I think ten years to reach grade 8, especially in two instruments, is not unrealistic when you have other commitments in life. I would also recommend taking the ABRSM theory exams for a good all-round musical education out-with Uni or Conservatoire.

I believe the ABRSM has a range of diplomas for potential teachers that are very worthwhile (when I looked for my current teacher their diploma qualifications were important to me) and I'm not sure but there may be short courses in teaching out there - others will have more info (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[Viledin4u]

Thank you for all the very encouraging messages. It was definitely worth joining these forums and I can see that, if I decide to go down this route, I will have a lot of support (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif)
Does anyone have any idea, based on the fact that I may take grade 5 violin at the end of the year and am starting from below grade 1 in piano, and around grade 2 level in theory, how long it will take the average person, with family commitments, to reach grade 8 in both.
I will look into the ABRSM teaching qualifications. I am already a trained and experienced teacher so have many skills already in place. In a way, I feel fortunate to be learning as an adult because it gives me the opportunity to look at how my teachers teach and learn from that too.
Thank you again to everyone for being so positive.

[Norway]

I have returned to playing violin (at approx grade 5) after many years absence, and I am very interested in taking up piano (probably did to about grade 1 or 2 many moons ago). I am a teacher, but not a music teacher and have a great deal of experince teaching all ages, abilities, backgrounds etc and know that I am good at it.
I am absolutely loving relearning my music and now definitely have a long term (lifetime) goal to stick at it and improve.
Recently, I have beginning to think a lot that I would like to teach music. It is an itch that won't seem to go away. Am I being daft? My teaching skills are excellent and I know that if I became skilled in piano and violin that I would probably teach then well. I have an excellent teacher at the moment with high expectations so I know that I will be taught to play well.
I don't expect to do this in the short term, if at all. Maybe I would not be any good or maybe I just won't grasp the instruments well enough to pass on my expertise. But, if I set myself a ten year goal I would expect that I could reach violin and piano grade 8, and all being well could teach children/adults taking lower grades. Maybe I could achieve all this, and be good ...who knows....? I expect it would take a lot of hard work.
Has anyone learned as an adult and then gone on to teach, or knows of anyone? Has it worked out, or not. Just very curious at this stage. I am in my forties by the way..

[chraze1]

Hi Viledin4u!

I can see some of myself in you!, I achieved grades 1-4 in classical piano when I was young. I was taught well but my teacher had no patience and I left in my mid teens thinking that no matter what I did or how good the marks were, it would never be good enough for her! I joined a function band, playing music by ear and have gigged for years in pubs, clubs and hotels which I totally love doing, however there was always something at the back of my mind that told me one day I would teach!

I'm 39 now and I started re-learning to read music (which strangely, after so long I didn't struggle with at all) about three years ago. I found myself an amazing teacher and I have acheived grades 5,6&7 practical. Although I understood some theory, I had never done any exams, now I have distinction in theory grades 1-5 and am currently studying grade 6 as my goal for the future is to do the diploma in the principles of teaching with the Associated Board.

I started teaching my friends daughter a few years ago on the basis that we would give it 6 months and then decide whether to continue, she now has Grade 1 &2 practical and Grade 1 Theory!

I think if you have these thoughts about teaching, and your passionate about learning and passing it onto others, then go for it!, it was the best thing I've ever done. I'm on the Associated Boards "Being an Effective Teacher" course at the moment, which has been really interesing, it finishes at the end of June/beginning of Jul sometime.

I'd definately advise you to get the theory workbooks and begin working through them, there maybe a lot you can do on your own as you obviously have knowledge playing violin, and your teacher can help you when things get tougher!
It would mean you don't have a mountain to climb when you reach grade 5 practical, as you can't do the higher practical grades until you have grade 5 theory under your belt!

I wish you the very best of luck and please keep posting to let us know how things are going!

[Norway]

I have returned to playing violin (at approx grade 5) after many years absence, and I am very interested in taking up piano (probably did to about grade 1 or 2 many moons ago). I am a teacher, but not a music teacher and have a great deal of experince teaching all ages, abilities, backgrounds etc and know that I am good at it.
I am absolutely loving relearning my music and now definitely have a long term (lifetime) goal to stick at it and improve.
Recently, I have beginning to think a lot that I would like to teach music. It is an itch that won't seem to go away. Am I being daft? My teaching skills are excellent and I know that if I became skilled in piano and violin that I would probably teach then well. I have an excellent teacher at the moment with high expectations so I know that I will be taught to play well.
I don't expect to do this in the short term, if at all. Maybe I would not be any good or maybe I just won't grasp the instruments well enough to pass on my expertise. But, if I set myself a ten year goal I would expect that I could reach violin and piano grade 8, and all being well could teach children/adults taking lower grades. Maybe I could achieve all this, and be good ...who knows....? I expect it would take a lot of hard work.
Has anyone learned as an adult and then gone on to teach, or knows of anyone? Has it worked out, or not. Just very curious at this stage. I am in my forties by the way..

Forty is the new 21! You should definitely go for it - I wouldn't necessarily wait until you have grade 8 in both instruments, or for 10 years. Just make sure you are well ahead of your pupils' standard (including music theory) and know when to pass a pupil onto someone else. There are teachers with modest playing skills who are wonderful teachers and there are brilliant players who have little interest in teaching. It's such an enjoyable job to do, and you could bring so much experience to it - good luck!