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Music theory teacher skills for your resume and career
Updated January 8, 2025
1 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Michael Mapp,
Joelle Morris
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical music theory teacher skills. We ranked the top skills for music theory teachers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 43.0% of music theory teacher resumes contained ear training as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a music theory teacher needs to be successful in the workplace.
6 music theory teacher skills for your resume and career
1. EAR Training
Ear training is formal musical training that helps musicians to connect notes and learn to identify rhythms, pitches, melodies, intervals, chords, and other various basic elements of music solely by hearing them.
Here's how music theory teachers use ear training:
- Assisted music students who were having difficulties in their particular music theory or ear training courses.
- Assist students at with music theory, ear training, and basic piano skills
2. Freshman
Here's how music theory teachers use freshman:
- Teach freshman, sophomore, and graduate students
- Teach Intermediate Algebra to Freshman college students Attend office hours to help students with math assignments
3. Music History
Here's how music theory teachers use music history:
- Led discussions about music history, involving resident/students personal history and interests where applicable.
- Developed Music Explorations class covering world music and music history, Medieval through contemporary.
4. Private Lessons
Private lessons provide knowledge, learning, or practice to an individual on a one on one basis.
Here's how music theory teachers use private lessons:
- Offered private lessons to approx.. 10 undergraduate students per semester in the areas of Music Theory and History.
- Teach private lessons for violin, viola, piano, organ, guitar, music theory and drums.
5. Chorus
Here's how music theory teachers use chorus:
- Organized a flute chorus with the students and gave concerts in several school events.
- Prepare chorus and instrumental students for two perform- ances per year.
6. Review Sessions
Here's how music theory teachers use review sessions:
- Combined instruction and mentoring with review sessions preparing students for examinations.
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What skills help Music Theory Teachers find jobs?
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What skills stand out on music theory teacher resumes?
Dr. Michael Mapp
Director of Bands, Professor of Conducting, New Mexico State University
Experience is always taken into consideration. Eager individuals should be seeking out ways to build that experience and increase their skills. This experience can come in the form of volunteering, various teaching opportunities, performing frequently, whether it be self-promoted gigs, auditioned festivals, competitions, or masterclasses, and seeking out leadership positions.
As the pandemic has highlighted, a need to understand technology and apply it within one's individual area will be valuable no matter the job. For musicians, the lack of performance opportunities will also no doubt, create even more competition in the future thus requiring high technical ability.
Additionally, it is also a plus to see applicants that have creative areas of interest outside their field of expertise that only strengthen their critical thinking skills, diverse world views, and work ethic.
As the pandemic has highlighted, a need to understand technology and apply it within one's individual area will be valuable no matter the job. For musicians, the lack of performance opportunities will also no doubt, create even more competition in the future thus requiring high technical ability.
Additionally, it is also a plus to see applicants that have creative areas of interest outside their field of expertise that only strengthen their critical thinking skills, diverse world views, and work ethic.
What hard/technical skills are most important for music theory teachers?
Joelle Morris
Visiting Lecturer, Director of Bates College Choir, Associate in Voice, Bates College
As an educator? Gosh, that's a hard one. I suppose it goes back to the soft skills question. Personally, I find that the more organized I am, the better I can communicate and motivate my students.
As a performer? It never ends. I'm always learning, growing. I like to challenge myself with new compositions and new collaborations. The ability to collaborate is so incredibly important to a performer.
As a performer? It never ends. I'm always learning, growing. I like to challenge myself with new compositions and new collaborations. The ability to collaborate is so incredibly important to a performer.
What soft skills should all music theory teachers possess?
Frederick Burrack
Personal musical performance quality.
What music theory teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Lisa Beckley-Roberts Ph.D.
Chair and Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology, Jackson State University
I would recommend students be very familiar with digital audiovisual software as well as composition and arranging software. I've always been an advocate for business training and marketing skills so these would be my recommendations.
What type of skills will young music theory teachers need?
Dr. Claire Fedoruk
Professor of Musicology, Azusa Pacific University
In the new environment, recording and mastering skills may be the new requirement for any performer. I'm sure that sound engineers will experience a Renaissance of employment in this post-pandemic world! Young musicians are already much more tech-savvy than those in middle age, so this may not be an issue, and at APU, our music technology courses are first-rate and teach all of these skills through Logic, Pro Tools, etc. Additionally, I believe that writing is a skill that can never harm a musician, especially as they may need extra funding from grants to complete projects or hire additional personnel to handle online recording and performances, COVID compliant initiatives, etc. Flexibility, patience, and perseverance are highly sought-after traits and playing well with others, both literally and figuratively.
What technical skills for a music theory teacher stand out to employers?
Fred David Romines Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Marywood University
Instructional templates that employ the latest software seamlessly integrated with in-person and remote instruction.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about music theory teacherList of music theory teacher skills to add to your resume
The most important skills for a music theory teacher resume and required skills for a music theory teacher to have include:
- EAR Training
- Freshman
- Music History
- Private Lessons
- Chorus
- Review Sessions
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025