I am currently student teaching for music at an elementary school this semester and will be graduating in May.  For some reason, I cannot see myself being a teacher.  I love playing music, but I am having a hard time feeling the teaching thing.  I was at a middle school for the first half of the semester teaching band, and I generally liked it, but I don't think that I'm good enough to be teaching children.  I have a hard time coming up with lesson plans (it's like coming up with 6 different curriculums!!!).  I also feel like I'm constantly being evaluated and that I have to "put on a happy face" for the kids.  I feel like I need a new direction.  I DON'T want to give music up, but I think teaching in a school setting is going to be very difficult.  I feel like this degree will be a total waste now.  Would it be wrong to go into a different field?  Please help me.
130430
for me, what I did was, and I graduated with music education, was I taught privately and created my own business. music is a good art, my suggestion is stay close to it as possible, there are others jobs associated with music look into that. if u need any suggestions e-mail me Klm4k8@umkc.edu
272780
That was unfair of your teacher but we are all human.  The problem may simply be that you are in a difficult grade right now.  Some grade levels tend to be more difficult than others, usually 5th and 7th for example.  Most teachers who play teacher's pet don't do that with grades, only privileges.  If you liked your previous teacher, maybe you tried harder. I'm sure if you do your best you will find that your grades will reflect that.
41053
If you're a student, ask your music teacher. If you're a teacher, ask your students who accompnies them.
14640
Teaching may be your gift in the Spirit. Go for it! I still want to be a teacher when I grow up (I'm 22, but still... :) ), and I already teach dance and PE at a Christian school. I started with teaching guitar in High School. The world needs lights for Jesus, and teaching is such a rewarding-- but exhausting-- lifestyle.
669795
Sounds to me you are a great candidate for teaching.  What type of bachelors do you hold?  Have you thought about alternative certification?  For instance, if your BA is in business you can enter into a "fast track" program that provides the opportunity to earn a teaching certificate.  I am not a big fan of the program due to the absence of specialized educational/psychology /childhood development classes.  However, quality teachers are badly needed all over the country and the alternative certification program helps to meet that need.   By the way, if you land a teaching position and at the same time, return to college to earn your Masters, look into funding programs that will help or pay all of your tuition.  \n\nI am a teacher.  I wish you all the best.
637320
Encourage education and finishing college first.  Make it a deal, you can play music as long as your grades are maintained (whatever you decide that should be).  \n\nMy son played in a very popular local Seattle band. We fought him tooth and nail to finish college.  The band was on its way signed with a major record company, when the lead singer and his best friend died tragically.  I cannot tell you how happy his now that he earned his degree.\n\n Music is great and full filling, but very few make it as a career.
499071
I am 36 and this is my eighth year teaching.  The first 1-3 years are tricky because you have to figure out how to NOT spend 2-3 hours after the fact grading papers.  It took me about 2 years to figure out what works for me and what doesn't.  I spend a lot of time around positive people who love their jobs and who are willing to share and receive new ideas.  I keep a binder of ideas, good and terrible, to help me keep from making mistakes over and over.  As far as the pay goes...yeah, I'm underpaid.  But you know what?  I work 180 days a year from 7:30-3:30.  I am out of school when my child is out of school.  I do something everyone of those 180 days a year that really matters.  Talk to people who love their jobs and see if they say things that sound appealing to you.  Truth is...nobody ever decided to be a teacher because the pay is awesome or because it is easy as pie.  Folks who love teaching either feel called to do it, love kids, enjoy the opportunity to do something different in the summer (I got my real estate license and sell at my will), etc.  If you have a deep feeling that it isn't the right thing for you, move on.  There are children who deserve a teacher who wants to be there and who feel good about their work.
655368
you are going to have to deal with kids that are difficult, act up, possibly threaten you...and you can do very little about it.\n\nit is very frustrating and sometimes deters people from entering the field in the first place.\n\nhowever, if you truly want to teach, then you won't be worried about the "problem" kids that you will inevitably face...and the "problem" parents....don't forget about them !!!\n\nalso, the pay can be rough at first, but once you are teaching for a few years, it gets better.  also, it's based on where you're teaching.\n\ntake care.
69394
"The way you see the problem IS the problem." Stephen R. Covey, to borrow one of MJ23 4Life's sources, has certainly given any reader of his book something to mull over, even if the aforementioned quote is the only thing that they take away from his writings. Perception. It seems obvious, but it really is something that goes overlooked constantly – human beings are blest (or cursed) with the ability to rationalize anything. While your current feelings are very likely the byproduct of any number of events leading up to this moment in time, whether or not you let any of your misgivings ruin your day is completely up to you. Is this a highly idealistic concept? Yes, I think so. Several other posts have mentioned this sentiment, but if you are really not satisfied with being a teacher of kindergarten students, then perhaps you should go exploring outside of your comfort zone and attempt to instruct children during another phase of their early development. Also, salary should really be of no concern if you are doing something that you are truly passionate about. In the management courses I have taken (this doesn’t make me an expert) we have studied how there is absolutely no correlation between pay and one’s intrinsic desire to do work. Money can only take you so far and it certainly “can’t buy me love,” as the Beatles would say. You can justify this to yourself however you like. Good teachers are few and far between and if it is your goal to become a good one, and not just another statistic, then perhaps it is time to cast any doubts you may have aside and start to focus on why it is that you will be good at what you do. Life really is too short to spend all of your days questioning what it is that you are doing here.
65386
Good Things:\n1.If you like kids you will see alot every day.\n2.You will learn from the kids and from learning how to be a teacher,and you will learn from the subject you teach.\n3.You will make friends with the students and other teachers.\n4.You will get to know lots of people.\n5.You will get money,because its a job.\n6.You will be considered a good person for teaching kids.\n7.You get an hour long break.\nBad Things:\n1.If you get a headache you dont want to be near kids.\n2.Some kids or teachers might not like you.\n3.Teaching might be boring for you.\n4.You might realize that teaching is not for you.\n5.You have to like kids and other people to be a teacher.\n6.Sometimes teachers dont get paid alot.\nIt really depends on the person to know whether teaching is good or bad.You should try teaching and see how it works out.:]
479041
Kim, I teach at a public university and I am very demanding of my teacher education students.  It's not meanness, it's not evil intent; instead, we just want them to work as hard as they are able, to soak up as much as they can, in preparation for life.  You see, you are about to go into the big-bad world in a couple of years -- wouldn't you rather apply yourself now so you will have success then?  \n\nMy students know I am hard.  They have commented, and I readily acknowledge, that I am the toughest of all the teachers.  However, that said, they say how much more prepared they will be when they leave due to this high level of expectations.  Instead of thinking the teachers are out to get you, couldn't you think they are just trying to get you as prepared as possible?  And be grateful?  If they aren't going to push you, who will?\n\nGood luck -- and I hope it makes sense to you!
427370
I wish I had known how much paperwork and "fluff" was involved.  After student-teaching, I was SO EXCITED to have my own class and just TEACH.  I was motivated and had fun, interactive lesson plans on which I had worked VERY hard.  However, when I started out the school year, I quickly realized how much fluff there is - committees, meetings, paperwork, demands of your time from administration, etc. and felt that I wasn't really being given much time to do what I truly loved and what brought me there in the first place...to TEACH.\n\nI learned to be as efficient as possible and use your planning time VERY effectively so that those things can be minimized and put to the side...as they should be.  Then you have more time with your students, who are all that really matter.\n\nHope this helps!  :o)\np.s. I have taught third and fifth grades...mostly third.
141035
Contact the school board in your area they will have the procedures and guidleines in a packet for you.They will tell you what curriculums are acceptable for the state in which you live. Then ask yourself why do you want to home school? If it is for selfish reasons like you don't want your five yr old to leave you.Or you think they will learn bad habits, you need to think again. These things will happen anyway and your not really helping them. Ask yourself is your child already shy or outgoing? Keeping them home because they are shy is not good it only sets it in stone. I home schooled my youngest son it's not an easy task and it is a very big commitment. You just can't pick and choose when you feel like teaching and what you feel like teaching( although many do). You must teach even when you don't feel good or they are in a bad mood. What kind of relationship do you have with your child? Does he listen well? You'll only be hurting your child if you don't do it the correct way. Many home school children fall very far behind because mom is not very consistant or tough. My son is now in Public High School and in Honors programs but my friend who is home schooling her children do nothing but crafts and play games and seem very behind for their age in all their academic studies.She won't get out of bed until 9:30am and stops teaching at Lunchtime. They go shopping everyday. Is this teaching her children?? You also need some support people, parents  or friends who can lend a hand now and then to give your child a variety of teaching techniques. And you must absolutely get them involved in other activities in the outside world, such as soccer or ballet or some type of group sport. Not a homeschooling group. It keeps them too sheltered and they never learn how to put up with negative people. Which the world is full of. Hope this helps feel free to e-mail me if you have any problems and good luck.
221642
I am considered a good teacher by my peers and my students.  I have won awards for my teaching.  I say this only to preface what I am about to say.\nI was a B-C student in high school.  Never made straight A's in my life.  Sometimes very brainy people know their subject matter but can't teach it to anyone else.  If you have a love for teaching and for kids, you can learn any subject.  Plus even after 30 years of teaching I still learn new things all the time.  Teaching is a calling and it sounds like you have it.  Don't let a number keep you from your goal.
479748
Helly!\n\nDont give up now, you have put a lot into your career choice, treat it as experience and move on to a better school in a better area, tell them about your experience  they will understand, all teachers have been there at one time or other, thats life. Go for it, its your life you are talking about. Good luck helly !
258757
Hi!  I'm Asian-American, I have a college degree in music, and my primary intrument is piano. I also have a few Asian friends and non-Asian friends who went to school with me.  \n\nAlthough both of my parents were born and raised in Japan, I would say that I grew up in a non-traditional Japanese family because I didn't become a doctor or an engineer.  This is nice, but probably has nothing to do with me becoming a professional musician.  I just enjoyed it and my parents allowed me to explore it.  And usually, when you enjoy something, you spend more time doing it and you get better at it.\n\nBelieve it or not, your private music teacher's ability to teach an instrument has more to do with your ability to succeed as a musician than your parents, or anything biological or mental.  Some teachers, quite frankly, are not not trained to teach music.  Most of the time if a teacher is an amazing performer, they're a horrible teacher because they can't explain what they do.  Some teachers are better at teaching beginning students and intermediate-advanced students should seek another teacher.  So, maybe it's time to find another teacher?!  \n\nFirst I'll list a few stereotypes I've heard over the years being a musician and an asian musician.  I've heard Asian musicians tend to be technical and mechanical.  They're good at Mozart and fast music, but can't really play the heavier Romantic stuff.  Basically, Asian musicians have the emotional equivalent of a computer.  These are all stereotypes.\n\nUnfortunately, these stereotypes become truths only when people start believing them. There is no reason a non-asian kid can't play just as well as an asian kid given the same training.  Believe that and it will become true for you.\n\nMusic is a very subjective field.  Of course, this is assuming you are playing all the right notes in a way that makes rhythmic sense.  Beyond the notes and the rhythms are interpretations that are very subjective from person to person.\n\nGood Luck with the viola!  And keep up the good work.
105805
I found teaching at the university level a whole different experience from teaching at the elementary or middle school or high school level.  The work load is quite different - extracurricular is not expected, for example.  You don't teach five hours a day and do recess duty and lunch duty and bus duty and after school activities.  There aren't behavior issues as a rule.  Students are responsible for themselves and if they don't complete work you don't chase them for it.  Teaching adults, or almost adults, is less stressful in many ways than teaching in the secondary school system.  The content is more demanding, but also more structured in many ways.  You have an office of your own, and sometimes even a teaching assistant or a graduate student assigned to you.  On the other hand, I didn't find it as rewarding as teaching younger kids.  So there is a balance there.\n\nI hope these thoughts help.