I have, for a long time, (secretly) wanted to work as an upper string teacher but have never had the confidence in myself to do anything about it as I did not do a music degree and only have minimal experience in the area. I always thought I would not be good enough.

Today, some representatives from a new local music 'academy' came into the primary school where I work in order to demonstrate some instruments to the children as I think we will be getting them in next term to teach instead of the (presumably more expensive) county music service teachers.

When the violinist started playing I was absolutely shocked. Appalling technique, diabolical intonation, sense of pulse and rhythm... just quite ghastly - not sure it would have scraped a pass at grade 4. And yet, this person is apparently a peripatetic violin teacher who may well be coming into school next term to teach violin! Afterwards, I asked the children which instruments they would like to play and a few said violin - and my heart sank I have offered to teach violin at school for the past two years but have always been told no.

So I am now wondering if actually I might as well just go for it and try to go into string teaching as I think I could do at least as good a job as this person who played with such little musical understanding. I do have one violin diploma and play the viola (though no formal training on it). I'm thinking next steps might be to have some viola lessons and try to get some kind of qualification and also to try and get a few violin pupils to gain more experience. What do people think? I'd be interested to hear of people's different routes into this kind of teaching too.

Thanks! Sorry about the rant...

The very fact that you're talking about it in such a way that you'll be really concerned for your pupils' musical welfare suggests to me that you'd make a very good instrumental teacher.

One little bit of advice I will give you : stick to instruments you are comfortable with : start teaching viola only when you know you won't cause damage to technique. I've been asked to teach oboe (and trumpet ) before now, and have always refused, as I know I wouldn't do a good job on either of those instruments.

Good advice - thanks barry!

And you have a diploma in violin to back you up as well. Don't worry about the lack of a degree - there are some things in music teaching that are far more important than that. If this is what you want to do, go for it! And good luck!

Totally agree with all that's been said. I have a music degree, but a diploma and a real passion for maintaining standards and technique in the instruments that you teach are excellent qualifications for your aspirations.

I'm a specialist oboe teacher as well as a piano teacher (I did both instruments as joint 1st study at music college) and agree with ensuring that you are confident in the necessary technique of an instrument before you teach it - I won't teach other woodwind instruments because I don't have the necessary skills. However, you are clearly being realistic about what you want to achieve, so go for it!

Best of luck!