Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Percussion teacher education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a percussion teacher. Percussion teachers usually study music, general education, specific areas, or education. 62% of percussion teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 109 real percussion teacher resumes to see exactly what percussion teacher education sections show.
The most common colleges for percussion teachers are the The New England Conservatory of Music and the The New England Conservatory of Music.
There are also many online percussion teacher courses to help get the education required to be a percussion teacher.
What education do you need to become a percussion teacher?
What degree do you need to be a percussion teacher?
- Bachelor's, 62%
- High School Diploma, 14%
- Associate, 12%
- Master's, 11%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a percussion teacher?
- Music, 45%
- Education, 8%
- Psychology, 5%
- Other Majors, 28%
Most common colleges for percussion teachers
| Percussion teacher common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| The New England Conservatory of Music | 8.70% |
| The University of Alabama | 8.70% |
| The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga | 8.70% |
| Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico | 4.35% |
| California State University - San Bernardino | 4.35% |
Best majors for percussion teachers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Music | 45.5% |
| 2 | General Education, Specific Areas | 13.6% |
| 3 | Education | 7.6% |
| 4 | Psychology | 4.5% |
| 5 | Fine Arts | 3.0% |
Best colleges for percussion teachers
The best colleges for percussion teachers are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.
A percussion teacher with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for percussion teachers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become percussion teachers.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
3. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
4. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
5. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
7. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
10. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
20 best online courses for percussion teachers
Advertising disclosure
1. How to play Drums: The Ultimate Guide to Drumming
Learn to play the drum set with this step-by step beginners course! Everything you need to be a pro at drums is here!...
2. Drum Programming Masterclass, Part 1: Rhythms & Patterns
Build Better Beats through drum programming patterns and style tips including hip hop drum programming and much more!...
3. Learn To Play The Drums Without A Drum Kit
Become a proficient drummer with coordination exercises & techniques you can do at home with no equipment required...
4. How To Play The Drums From Beginner To Pro
This complete drum course will take you from beginner to pro! Master the essentials of drumming and have fun doing it!...
5. Learn To Play The Drums
Become a drummer with a step by step programme to get you from being drumming novice to drumming expert...
6. Music Theory for Electronic Producers - The Complete Course!
Join Successful students in Music Theory for Electronic Producers for Creating, Arranging, and Analysing Music Theory...
7. Programming Amazing Drum Tracks: a Guide for Non-Drummers
A non-drummer's guide to creating and mixing amazingly realistic drum tracks. Make your music professional and saleable...
8. How to Play Djembe,Drum & Rhythm and teach Children. Level 1
Play Djembe, Drum & Rhythm and Teach Children too. Develop a playful relationship with , drum, rhythm or any instrument...
9. Mixing Music - Learn how to mix a Pop Rock Song like a Pro!
Mixing Music: Improve your mixes & learn the BEST techniques in the industry used on multiple platinum selling records!...
10. Adventures in Classical Music-Music Appreciation for All!
Understand and enjoy classical music at your own pace. A music history course, including a music theory introduction...
11. Music Theory Comprehensive: Part 1 - How To Read Music
A Complete College-Level Music Theory Curriculum. This is Part 1: Reading Music & The Symbols of Music Notation...
12. Music Theory - Fundamentals for Composition in Any Genre
Expand your music composition skills through learning universal music theory principles, mindset, and ear training...
13. Orchestral Music Composition & Music Theory for Video Games
Learn orchestral video game music composition & game composer music theory secrets to compose music for any video game!...
14. Music Theory Comprehensive Complete: Part 4, 5, & 6
Learn music theory through this music theory course app, music theory exercises, and music theory tutorials...
15. Music Theory
An in-depth and straight forward approach to understanding music...
16. Music Producer Masterclass: Make Electronic Music
Compose Music At A Professional level. Learn FL studio From Beginner To Expert Level. Become A Music Producer...
17. Music Theory for Electronic Music COMPLETE: Parts 1, 2, & 3
Electronic music theory, digital music theory, and dance music theory. Learn music theory with ableton live and more!...
18. Music Theory Comprehensive Complete: Part 7, 8, & 9
Learn music theory through this music theory course app, music theory exercises, and music theory tutorials...
19. Music Theory Comprehensive Complete: Part 10, 11, & 12
Learn music theory through this music theory course app, music theory exercises, and music theory tutorials...
20. Music Theory for Electronic Music Producers - Complete Guide
This is the only Music Theory for Electronic Music Producers you will ever need. Learn Music Theory the Easy & Quick Way...
Top 10 most affordable universities for percussion teachers
The most affordable schools for percussion teachers are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and hunter college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for percussion teachers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for percussion teachers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
6. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
9. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
10. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for percussion teachers
The hardest universities for percussion teachers to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for percussion teachers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for percussion teachers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
3. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
5. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
8. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
9. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for percussion teachers
The easiest schools for percussion teachers to get into are Wayland Baptist University, mount saint mary's university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a percussion teacher without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for percussion teachers.
1. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
5. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
6. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
7. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
8. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
9. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
10. Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA • Private
Admissions rate
95%
SAT average
980
Average percussion teacher salary by education level
| Percussion teacher education level | Percussion teacher salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $48,252 |
| Doctorate Degree | $55,925 |
Percussion teacher education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
Search for percussion teacher jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025