How Do I Become a Music Tutor?

A music tutor teaches individuals or groups of students how to play certain instruments or about topics such as musical theory or history. Someone wishing to become a music tutor can either apply for a formal role at a college or school or enter into informal tutoring agreements with clients. Generally, anyone planning to become a music tutor must either be an accomplished musician or have completed a college degree program.

Universities employ tutors to provide additional one-on-one coaching sessions to undergraduate and postgraduate students. In some instances, these tutors are also responsible for leading lectures and seminars. Typically, anyone wishing to become a music tutor at a university must have first completed both an undergraduate and a postgraduate degree in the subject. Many colleges prefer to hire individuals who have completed courses in specific subjects such as composition, the history of music or performance. Some colleges allow currently enrolled postgraduate students to work as tutors; these individuals may be eligible to receive a discount on tuition or receive a stipend.

Schools often employ a music teacher who is responsible for developing a curriculum and overseeing the musical program with the school. In many instances, these individuals work alongside tutors who facilitate supplementary sessions for individuals or small groups of students. Typically, tutors employed by schools are instrumentalists or vocalists who teach students how to play different kinds of instruments or vocal technique. In some countries, industry associations offer a series of tests that are designed to test the skills of instrumentalists. Anyone wishing to become a music tutor may have to pass several of these examinations before being able to teach others to play a particular instrument.

Aside from performers, some music tutors who work in schools are concerned with teaching students about musical theory which entails studying the mechanics of musical composition. As with instrumentalists, many of these individuals have taken theory related industry association examinations while others working in the field are college graduates. In many instances, music tutors are not actually school employees although school's allow these individuals to teach classes on school premises. Therefore, tutors are often responsible for agreeing their own pay rates with students.

While many tutors have some kind of affiliation with schools or colleges, others are individuals who enter into informal arrangements with classmates, friends or neighbors. Normally, such people are skilled musicians or graduates who studied music while in college. There are no specific job requirements for these individuals and many of these tutors begin to attract clients simply by placing advertisements in local newspapers or journals.