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Researched by Jessica M. 2001-02 |
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What Do Band Directors Actually Do?
School band directors teach students ranging in age from about elementary to college. For beginning students, things like how to read music, and how to play your instrument are taught. For experienced players, the students learn things like advanced rhythms and the history of music. There’s so much more to it than that! Band directors teach many things, like musical etiquette, different beats, rhythms, and even how to march in marching bands!
A good way for the teacher to show off their talented students is through performances. Having a band concert is a way for the students to show how much they have learned and progressed. There are many different responsibilities in performances, such as setting up, making program brochures, making sure the students arrive on time, and selecting the music for each grade level.
Other everyday responsibilities for teaching band are being prepared, keeping the class under control with discipline, and basically having a good attitude.
Work Schedule
The work schedule of band directors is very much the same as a normal
teacher. Every day, they work about seven to eight hours. Just as the students
do, band directors take holidays, vacations and weekends off. Their work
schedule could be different though. If they had a part time job as a musician,
they might have to work in the evening, or if they offered private music
lessons, their schedule might change a little bit.
Where They Work
These teachers usually work in the same classroom and school everyday.
In some cases though, band teachers work in baseball fields or football
fields as the directors of junior high or high school marching bands that
play during school games.
Specific Kinds Or Categories
Band directors don’t really have many specialties. The different ages
need various types of music to fit their playing level but other than that,
there isn’t much specialization except different styles of music. Some
examples are jazz, rock, blues, country, classical, and western.
Tools and Materials
Every job uses different types of tools. Band directors use many, such
as instruments, music books, stands, chairs, tape recorders, and a metronome.
Ms. Kari Giorgi, the band director for Selah Intermediate School, says
that her most important tool is imagination.
The Good Things
There are many good things about teaching band. One major advantage
is that these teachers get to teach what they love. Teaching band gives
the opportunity for them to teach almost all of the students and to pass
on their love of music.
Frustration
As well as enjoyable things, band directors also experience frustration,
like when the students forget their instruments. If one person needs extra
help, the teacher needs to leave and help them separately, which isn’t
fair to the rest of the band. Also, when band directors pick pieces of
music for the class to play in performances, the best music is often too
challenging.
Education
Before starting a career of school band directing, there are some degrees
required, like a Bachelors degree. Most people involved with this career
major in music education. Paying attention in math class is important.
While they are teaching, many obtain Master’s degrees.
Personal Skills Needed
Like all jobs, band directors need certain personal skills. Lots of
energy and patience is a good idea. You need to really be organized, creative
and very willing to take risks.
Band Directors Salary
Teaching band gives you about the same salary as a regular teacher.
Beginners get somewhere between $20,000-$30,000 a year. When you have had
this job for a longer period of time, you are more advanced and you receive
somewhere around $60,000 a year. Some people give private music lessons.
Usually each lesson charges from $10-$20 per lesson. Sometimes teachers
charge up to $150! It depends on who the person is, how good they are,
and what their reputation is.
Outlook for the Future
The outlook for the future is not exact. The number of jobs stays the
same most of the time but it does vary a small amount sometimes. Today,
the number of jobs in Washington is somewhere around 500-600.
History
Music has existed for longer than 5,000 years! Every country in the
world makes different types of music with strange, interesting instruments.
Take Africa for instance, Africa has many drum like instruments in the
percussion category. There are Talking drums, Kissars, Gondjes, and Donno
drums. Europe has many instruments too. Some examples are the Ud and Rebab
that later were renamed as the Lute and Rebec. China has Kotos and Hu ch’ins.
Music goes so far back that you can never learn it all!
More Related Jobs
Teaching band isn’t the only music-related career. There are actually
quite a few others, such as conductors. A conductor’s job is to direct
professional symphonies and bands. Composers are the people who write the
music for the symphonies to play. The conductors lead the musicians that
play the music that the composers write.
How to Get This Job
Spending time in the school district and knowing people in the school
are really advantages to getting this job. Also if you are really good
on your instrument and receive an advanced college degree you can get a
job more easily.
Where Can This Job Lead?
It might not seem like it, but having the job of a band director can
lead places someday. If you are good at organizing, teamwork and management
someday you could end up leading corporations or directing large symphonies
instead of school bands.
Best Web Sites
A really good web site to visit on the internet is the Occupational
Outlook Handbook at…
http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/LINKS/careerURLs.cfm?Topic=Careers
Fun or Unusual facts
FACT: Other than PE, band directors have the largest classes in the
whole school. They get to see almost all of the kids.
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