Case studies: Music teacher: Angie

Angie graduated with a Masters of Music in 2009. She now runs her own music teaching business called Now Hear This.

The teaching of music has always fascinated me. I enjoy being able to equip people with valuable skills needed to succeed within the music community while providing life skills that are fun, vibrant and dynamic. No two days are the same in this career, which keeps it exciting and fresh.

As I started my teaching business, I advertised heavily in targeted places - newspapers and websites where potential musicians would gather. A music shop in the area knew of my private teaching through recommendations and from playing in venues. They asked if I would join their in-house music service. This led to more students through word of mouth. To teach music in schools, I needed to apply through the local music service. It's all about getting your name and reputation out to potential customers.

A qualification for teaching is not essential but helps a great deal. A music-related degree is usually needed to teach within schools. Personality-wise, you have to be able to balance being friendly and patient with strictness. You need to network as much as possible with other musicians, venues and the music community.

I would suggest starting to look for music placements before you leave university. This will allow you to build up relations with schools and other music establishments. Other people are always your best source for job leads, so let teachers, colleagues and students know that you are looking for work. Decide on what type of teaching you want to focus on. There is a lot of competition out there, so researching the market to see what unique music service you could offer is important.

I learned many skills through my undergraduate and Masters degrees that have been relevant to finding employment as a music teacher. The study of music involves combining creative and analytical thinking. While setting up workshops and performances during my course, I learned the skills of cooperation and negotiation that have allowed me to promote my music business services. I learned how to express my ideas both orally and in writing while developing my social and organisational skills.

Being a music teacher, you have to perform a variety of tasks. These include scheduling appropriate lessons for individual student needs, understanding and organising subject matter for student learning, creating and maintaining an effective learning environment, designing activities to allow students to experience and interpret different styles of music, illustrating musical concepts such as rhythm and pitch, developing compositional skills in computer-designed music and teaching music history, harmony, counterpoint, form and analysis.

My business now incorporates music education, recording services and music therapy. The aim of the business is to facilitate opportunities that allow the musical community to develop the means by which to engage with the young, disabled, senior and less advantaged members of society.