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Job outlook for piano instructors in the United States
Piano instructor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected piano instructor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for piano instructors are projected over the next decade.
Piano instructor salaries have increased 7% for piano instructors in the last 5 years.
There are over 13,568 piano instructors currently employed in the United States.
There are 24,512 active piano instructor job openings in the US.
The average piano instructor salary is $53,474.
Are piano instructor jobs in demand?
Piano instructor job and salary trends over time
Piano instructor jobs over time
Piano instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,568 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 13,650 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 15,060 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 14,659 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 14,511 | 0.00% |
Average piano instructor salary over time
Piano instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,474 | $25.71 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | $52,443 | $25.21 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | $51,814 | $24.91 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | $51,439 | $24.73 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $49,954 | $24.02 | +1.8% |
Piano instructor jobs by state
Most common states for piano instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 495 | 9% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 580 | 7% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 66 | 7% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 52 | 7% |
| 5 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 654 | 6% |
| 6 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 313 | 6% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 249 | 6% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 66 | 6% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 36 | 6% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 521 | 5% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 420 | 5% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 157 | 5% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 34 | 5% |
| 14 | Vermont | 623,657 | 30 | 5% |
| 15 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,679 | 4% |
| 16 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 402 | 4% |
| 17 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 280 | 4% |
| 18 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 129 | 4% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 49 | 4% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 42 | 4% |
Most common cities for piano instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chanhassen | 1 | 4% | $51,620 |
| 2 | Amarillo | 1 | 1% | $47,369 |
| 3 | Scottsdale | 1 | 0% | $53,055 |
Piano Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of piano instructor experts
Idaho State University
Webster University
La Sierra University
Bates College
Augsburg University
Azusa Pacific University
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Coastal Carolina University
Albright College
Loyola University Chicago
Western Oregon University
Salem State University
Southeastern University
Arizona Christian University
New Mexico State University
Jackson State University
University of Mount Union
Kent State University
Northwestern University
Youngstown State University
Dr. Thomas Kloss
Associate Professor & Associate Chair of the Department of Music, nterim Director of Bands, Coordinator for Music Education, President of the Idaho Music Educators AssociationIdaho State University
Department of Music
What soft skills should all Piano Instructors possess?
Dr. Thomas Kloss: Teaching music is all about working with people. You have your educational community (principal, counselors, colleagues) that you need to work with to arrange students' incorrect classes and schedule events. You should feel like you are a part of that team. You then have your students, whom you need to work with to provide an excellent musical education. Finally, you have the community and parents that you will communicate with. If all of that is done successfully, your program will thrive and be supported by many different groups.
What skills will help Piano Instructors earn the most?
Dr. Thomas Kloss: Being patient when looking for a position may help someone earn more over the length of their career. The way it works here is that small rural districts end up paying more after about 10 years over the districts in populated areas. It's a supply and demand situation. If a music teacher is interested in making more money over their teaching career, they should compare the posted salary schedules and consider the long-term benefits. Obtaining a Master's Degree is also a way to move up on the traditional pay scale in education. Finally, staying in one district for a longer period is more financially beneficial than moving districts every few years. Teachers are given some years of experience, but a district does not have to give all of their years on their pay scale.
Matt Pickart
Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Chamber MusicWebster University
Department of Music
What hard/technical skills are most important for Piano Instructors?
Matt Pickart: Excellent musicianship, effective and high-quality practicing, music entrepreneurship, clear pedagogical knowledge and insights, owning the stage, effective programming, historical context and cultural awareness in music, physical awareness and efficiency in music-making, music technology, knowing your audience, etc.
David Kendall Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Music, Associate Chair, Director of Music History and ResearchLa Sierra University
Department of Music
What skills stand out on Piano Instructor resumes?
David Kendall Ph.D.: Much of this depends on the kind of instructor position one is seeking, as there are many sub-fields and concentrations in the world of music education. For those looking to teach individual lessons in voice or on specific instruments, a resume with lots of experience is always helpful. Whether you have taught as instructional faculty at an educational institution, at a community or commercial music school, or maintained your own in-person and/or online private studio, the more experience you have--and the breadth of things you have done and have the ability to do--give you the best chance at being noticed favorably by potential employers. Sometimes potential teachers will want to focus on only a single skill, such as teaching piano, while leaving out many other musical skills that an employer may desire, such as the ability to teach violin or flute or direct a children's choir. Applicants sometimes leave these skills off their resumes because they feel that they are not as proficient in them as in their core specialties, but this can cause a potential employer to overlook them because their skill set may appear too narrow.
Having a wide range of skills and experiences is also beneficial if one is applying for a classroom position, such as teaching music appreciation or conducting an elementary school band. Having a wider range of abilities shows the employer that you are flexible and adaptable--strongly desired traits in the music field. While most positions are part-time or contingent, having a range of skills can sometimes result in a position being expanded or upgraded. Again, experience is key. For those looking for a career as a music instructor, almost nothing is more important than the experience, and one should do anything they can to get it, even if it means doing volunteer teaching in a community, school, or church setting. This should be seen as an investment in your future.
What soft skills should all Piano Instructors possess?
David Kendall Ph.D.: If almost nothing is more important than the experience, as I noted above, then nothing is more important than people skills and maintaining positive relationships with peers, mentors, students, and employers. All of these groups may be in a position to employ you at some time in the future, and their opinion of you will largely be framed by the experiences they have had with you. I will give a personal example from my own life. After graduating with a degree in performance and spending a year teaching overseas, I found myself back in the United States without many prospects. However, over the next couple of years, I was able to put together a living because of positive past relationships with colleagues and mentors. I received music lecturing positions at the two universities I attended during my undergraduate and graduate programs, being hired by former faculty mentors who knew me and felt I could make a positive contribution. I was able to secure two more positions, one teaching lessons at a private school and the other as a music minister and choir director at a local church. Both of these came through being hired by former--and younger--classmates from university. Now that I am a full-time professor, I am constantly telling my students to maintain good relationships with all of these people and to never burn any bridges. Even now, I have run into opportunities presented to me by former students, and the cycle continues.
These soft skills are not, however, limited only to being nice and well-liked by your peers and employers. The ability to network is very important, as are the essential practices of being organized, accurate, well-prepared, and punctual. Because employers often have many applicants and choices in hiring, being well-networked and known for reliability is a distinct advantage. Being generally helpful and easy to work with makes it likely that you will be remembered by potential employers when a future position or opportunity opens up. Having a number of people who are eager to recommend you, whether by letter or word-of-mouth, is the best possible advertising.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Piano Instructors?
David Kendall Ph.D.: In all of the music fields, particularly in performance, the ability to self-promote is important. One should be familiar with and skilled in using the standard social and traditional media platforms. Some proficiency in web and graphic design is very helpful, as well as recording and mixing, if applicable to the sub-field. As nearly all of us have experienced some remote learning and/or teaching over the past couple of years, this has opened up new possibilities. Potential students that would never have considered taking music lessons online are now often open to it, which provides more potential opportunities for teaching remotely. Having the ability to effectively teach a class or a lesson on a platform like Zoom or Google Meet can expand your reach far beyond your geographical area. Such a remote experience should be a pleasant one for students and employers and having a clean, professional background, and at least a ring light and a decent microphone will add a touch of professionalism and added value.
What skills will help Piano Instructors earn the most?
David Kendall Ph.D.: Being very good at what you do is the first step in being successful in the music field, but it is not a guarantee of earning potential. The soft and hard skills noted above are at least as important, if not more so. Only a handful of the very best musicians in the world can get away with being disorganized, hard to work with, or unreliable. For the rest of us, financial success will largely depend on a combination of performing and/or teaching ability, the ability to use technology and media to our advantage, and a talent for working well with a wide range of people.
Frederick Burrack
What skills stand out on Piano Instructor resumes?
Frederick Burrack: -Theory skills (score analysis)
-Oral communication (clarity and focus of verbal response)
-Written communication (clarity at various levels such as administration, educated parents, uneducated parents, young kids)
-Curriculum development (determination of learning outcomes, lesson planning
-Organizational skills (curricular organization, sequencing instruction, time management)
What soft skills should all Piano Instructors possess?
Frederick Burrack: Personal musical performance quality.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Piano Instructors?
Frederick Burrack: -Conducting skills (expressive communication)
-Aural skills (error identification)
-Piano skills (accompanying, harmonization)
What skills will help Piano Instructors earn the most?
Frederick Burrack: Organizational skills by far.
Joelle Morris
Visiting Lecturer, Director of Bates College Choir, Associate in VoiceBates College
Music Department
What skills stand out on Piano Instructor resumes?
Joelle Morris: I'm usually looking for someone who's had experience teaching beginners as well as advanced.
Number two is the diversity of genres of music that person is familiar with. More than ever, students are interested in a wide range of music from classical to world to pop, jazz, and so forth. It is important to be familiar and open to various styles to educate a well-rounded musician.
Number three is performance experience. How much collaborative experience do they have? Are they doing any interesting performances in the area that may inspire their students? - this requirement would be more at the collegiate level, though.
What soft skills should all Piano Instructors possess?
Joelle Morris: Effective and clear communication - many musical concepts need to be broken down into smaller, more understandable units. The ability to connect with students at their level of understanding is incredibly important.
Constructive feedback. No need to be Pollyanna. However, I am exceedingly glad the days of strict, overbearing, and sometimes abusive 'maestros' are no longer tolerated. Students learn so much better with clear, constructive criticism. Being able to point out what students can improve on while praising them on the skills they've already refined fosters a positive learning environment for all.
Motivation. It's a difficult balance because students have to find their own self-motivation. However, as a musician, I try to show my students by example. I talk to them about my own practice schedule, how much I rehearse and collaborate with other musicians. That these skills do not come easily but with diligence, discipline, and practice. As an educator, my job is to continue fostering a love and interest in music for myself and my students.
J. Anthony Allen
Assistant Professor - Music, Media and ManagementAugsburg University
Music, Media and Management Department
What skills stand out on Piano Instructor resumes?
J. Anthony Allen: Technology. First and foremost.
Not only because we are in the age of "are we online or are we not online," but because using technology in-studio lessons can be very, very beneficial. For example, having a lesson that you can record (audio and/or video) for the student to review while practicing to help that student stay on track. In addition to that, using notation software shared documents, and other online resources can really help a student learn.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Piano Instructors?
J. Anthony Allen: In addition to the obvious: Being really good on your instrument and teaching it well, the next would be the technology stuff I mentioned above.
Dr. Claire Fedoruk
Professor of MusicologyAzusa Pacific University
College of Music and Arts
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Piano Instructors?
Dr. Claire Fedoruk: Regarding the arts, I believe there already is. Music is a true communal art, which requires the physical presence of others to truly create a legitimate sonic experience. Due to the COVID and response to COVID, this was forbidden for 18 months in California. I lost at least 20K of income from performing last year, and many of my colleagues in the performing world had no employment at all during this period. Several left or seriously considered leaving Los Angeles, which is a cultural metropolis of opportunity for artists.
In response to the lockdowns, many colleagues of mine recorded solo albums and worked collaboratively on Zoom and other recording mediums to record themselves singing. This was then mastered into a final online product. I took part in several recordings released by the Los Angeles Master Chorale. This has challenges as well. The expectations for recorded quality in online projects are very high and stressful, especially if one does not have a home studio with soundproofing and very high-quality recording equipment. While the results are often impressive online, it is not the same experience of actually making music together. One cannot hear the other performers breathe, feel the energy of the group consciousness, or decide to take risks together in an online setting. I would say it's the difference between actually playing golf and playing it in a digital game.
One last word on this. Mask mandates have made everything incredibly difficult for wind players and singers, as we cannot sing effectively in a mask. Breathing is compromised, vowel formation cannot be seen, and lightheadedness is common. As long as these exist, the vocal art is termed a super-spreader and is muffled at best, silenced at worst. I can see it declining over the long term if these conditions continue.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Piano Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Timothy Fischer: The ability to record, mix, and transfer audio at a professional level from the home recording studio. Performance opportunities during the COVID-era have temporarily diminished; utilizing this time to develop familiarity with recording technology and music production is so important. Professional musicians have had to develop familiarity in this area "overnight" to continue to have opportunities to perform. Students who can attend music programs that help them develop in these areas will be ready for the current as well as future music industry.
What's a day at work look like for a Piano Instructor?
Timothy Fischer: Continuing to practice and gain excellence on their instruments is still a large part of the musicians work day. Added to this is spending time to connect with other artists, promoting their work to generate commercial opportunities, and studying the music of others to both learn and stay culturally relevant.
What's a good job out of college for Piano Instructors?
A.J. Merlino: Any job that a recent graduate feels respected and is allowed to grow personally and professionally is an excellent job out of college. College courses and degree curricula provide knowledge and experiential learning opportunities that connect theory with practice. A job that helps a recent graduate evaluate these curricular experiences with real-world situations will solidify the knowledge obtained during their studies, and allow them to create new points of view.
Michael Scott McBride
Instructor of VoiceLoyola University Chicago
Department of Fine and performing arts
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Piano Instructors?
Michael Scott McBride: The coronavirus pandemic hit the performing arts early and is expected to create lingering effects. As a thermometer, we know that Broadway shut its doors on Thursday, March 12, 2021. Many other performing venues and unions took their cue. Even now almost a year later, as we are having conversations of opening schools, restaurants, athletics, and other businesses, the lowest priority in the national conversation seems to be the performing arts. This impacts not only those visible on a stage, who represent the tip of the iceberg, but even more consequentially those in supportive fields like various trades, marketing, hospitality, and creators.
However, this time is not all doom and gloom. Many in the arts and specifically music, have taken this 'intermission' to create progress in other ways. The conversation of diversity, equity, and inclusion has had a chance to breath now that the juggernaut of producing the next show has slowed down. This will be an inflection point to determine whose voices get to be heard and which stories get to be told. This has also been a time of technological innovation as virtual collaboration has opened opportunities of create new work (ie. the independent TikTok musical "Ratatouille") and chances for seasoned artists to connect from anywhere in the world with young artists.
The final item I'll mention of the impact is music education. The herculean lift that music educators performed to maintain continuity for their students should be one of the great marvels of 2020. This labor of love was often executed by the individual or by communities of teachers banding together to create solutions. Ironically, even though arts funding has historically tended to be challenged, the field of music education seems to be one of the lesser-impacted areas in relationship to the arts at large. Many people are viewing this time of repose as an opportunity to develop themselves musically.
What technical skills for a Piano Instructor stand out to employers?
Michael Scott McBride: There's a phrase often used in music, "happy to be here, ready to work." This shows that one of the most important skills is really a disposition that shows enthusiasm and preparedness. So many of the particular activities of a working musician are accomplished through an application of tools gained in traditional music programs rather than simply mirroring the identical circumstances. For example, a nurse might practice running an IV and then be required to do just that. A musician might practice playing a major scale at a certain tempo and then be required to perform an acoustic version of a Rihanna song at a corporate event. As a person who hires musicians myself, I look for those who have been insatiably curious of their craft to have achieved high skill levels as well as those who understand the importance of creating a positive communal work environment. Finally, that phrase also communicates the values of punctuality, dependability, and being solution-centric.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Piano Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Ethan Wilson: If there's one thing this pandemic has proven without a doubt, it's that it is possible to work remotely. No more long grueling commutes, stuck in traffic everyday, or large sterile office spaces with cubicles and horrible lighting. So don't limit your search for jobs to just your surrounding area.
Also focus on broadening your skill set to enable yourself to fill more potential roles in your field. Be ready to adapt to the unexpected.
Mike Testa
Assistant Professor, Music Technology CoordinatorSalem State University
Music and Dance Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Piano Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Mike Testa: Looking at how remote production has blossomed during the pandemic, I believe we are going to see this area continue to grow. Music production for social media applications and marketing were already big before the pandemic and should continue to grow. Areas where we will need to strengthen our skillsets will be in digital streaming, understanding of Networks, and understanding of IT technologies will be a must for musicians. How to actually get your music to another place on the internet or on a secured network will be crucial skills. Pro-Audio Sales and consulting is also a big area now. People need experts who can clearly communicate how to set up and use pro/consumer equipment.
Writing music for social media, for TV and for other platforms will be huge areas of growth.
Finally, education. With schools still remote, people are looking to teach their kids an instrument, or take music lessons. To be able to navigate the technology to do this remotely is a massive advantage over less computer literate teachers.
What soft skills should all Piano Instructors possess?
Mike Testa: Time management. Project management. Clear, effective communication.
If you don't have these, you need to start learning about them immediately.
Dr. Gregory Satterthwaite
Assistant Professor, Church Music and Music Business ProgramsSoutheastern University
Department of Music - Director of the Music Business and Church Music Degrees
What soft skills should all Piano Instructors possess?
Dr. Gregory Satterthwaite: Learning how to network, communicate and nurture relationships are vital to success. The collaborative nature of many activities that students have to participate in helps them to develop these skills. SEU graduates learn how to not only communicate effectively, but also become leaders and innovators within their fields.
Gerald Fercho
Assistant Professor of Music, Music Department ChairArizona Christian University
Music Department
What general advice would you give to a Piano Instructor?
Gerald Fercho: Start networking with peer groups to find job opportunities and maintain cutting edge practices within your discipline. Stay curious and keep growing.
Dr. Michael Mapp
Director of Bands, Professor of ConductingNew Mexico State University
Department of Music
What skills stand out on Piano Instructor resumes?
Dr. Michael Mapp: 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.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Piano Instructors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Michael Mapp: When seeking employment no one should be afraid to go where the jobs are or create your own. As musicians, we are naturally creative, but the market is competitive. One of the most plentiful areas for employment is in the realm of education and anyone can normally find a job somewhere, but they have to be willing to go where the jobs are. Consideration should be given to cost of living versus salary offered, population, and culture. One should seek out areas that provide resources to support a musical career such as networking opportunities and an established culture that supports creative, artistic endeavors.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Piano Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Lisa Beckley-Roberts Ph.D.: I expect that musicians will be expected to be much more technologically savvy. Musicians have always been business people who balance performance with teaching and managing themselves. I expect that there will continue to be more demand for virtual teaching. Moreover, the possibilities of what can be achieved artistically from a distance have increased exponentially. Collaborations using technology are going to continue to be the trend in my opinion. However, we have received tremendous confirmation on the importance and value of art and in particular music as an outlet, an extension of our culture, and as a means of restoring emotional health in times of extreme disturbances. I don't think there is in any way a chance of our relevance changing but we will have to continue to think and work creatively.
What Piano Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Lisa Beckley-Roberts Ph.D.: 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 general advice would you give to a Piano Instructor?
Dr. Lisa Beckley-Roberts Ph.D.: My advice is for them to remember that talent will get you into the door, but discipline is what keeps you in the room. Hard work is key as is their ability to think of every gig, lesson, performance, or chance meeting as an opportunity to grow, network, and demonstrate what sets them apart.
Dr. Jerome Miksell
Professor (Musicianship, Technology, Viola), Department ChairUniversity of Mount Union
Music Department
What experience really stands out on Piano Instructor resumes?
Dr. Jerome Miksell: The short answer is an experience that is similar to the desired job and place. This is undoubtedly true of very specialized university jobs.
In the performance world, a resume for entry-level jobs is a secondary matter. Your playing ability matters first and foremost. For example, most symphony orchestra auditions are blind, and resumes are not looked at until the final round.
For someone interested in music, sales experience with the products is critical.
What type of skills will young Piano Instructors need?
Dr. Jay Dorfman: Students entering the music education field need to be well-versed in varied types of music teaching. More and more, we are seeing teachers being asked to teach outside of their music specialty areas. For example, For example, a teacher focused on teaching band might be assigned to teach orchestra or general music. In our programs at Kent State, we account for both breadth and depth so that students are well prepared for whatever comes their way.
How do you envision technology impacting Piano Instructors in the next 5 years?
Dr. Jay Dorfman: Technology permeates everything teachers do. Pandemic conditions have made this even more apparent. Music teachers must be comfortable with technology for administering their classrooms, and critical that they can engage their students in meaningful music, creating experiences that involve technology. Those are not easy things to do, and teachers should receive adequate professional development to help them.
What Piano Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Helen Callus: A gap year is a terrific way to build a resume. By looking at where there might be a lack of experience like competitions, teaching, administration, summer festival interns, assistantships - they can focus their time and build their resumes well. I also think being creative in these current times, showing that you have experience teaching remotely, making a studio, creating a website, writing an article, and doing research that could be helpful later on. You could also spend the time preparing repertoire to teach or take auditions and make your first recording and video YouTube performance.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Piano Instructors in the next 3-5 years?
Helen Callus: For many of us instrumental professors (but not all, due to the limitations of the instrument's nature like percussion or piano), we had already been teaching remotely for some years, and been able to adjust to the current restrictions without impacting our student's experiences in lessons. Teaching remotely will be a part of the future - saving students the cost of travel, hotels, time. We are trying to find creative ways to do things we couldn't otherwise do in person, like having a busy guest from Europe, unable to fly in person but teaching a class via Zoom.
I imagine this might become part of the framework that we offer in the future. Students should understand how to present themselves in these situations, understanding sound and picture quality devices (what microphones and cameras are best), internet speeds, ethernet cables, router devices, lighting, etc. But it is an excellent opportunity to understand the media of film/video and how to create best a sound video recording for competitions, summer festivals, or college applications. We were already using that medium for prescreens, so this is a chance to refine that skill as, without doubt, that will be a part of our future.
What experience really stands out on Piano Instructor resumes?
Dragana Crnjak: Real-life - outside of the classroom - experiences always stand out, such as exhibitions, internships, museum assistantships, public art projects, community projects, etc. We encourage students to participate in many different activities throughout their college years with a range of experiences provided from exhibiting independently, in group exhibits, working on collaborative projects, community public art projects (such as the mural class this semester where students were involved in all stages of decision-making, from sketching and ideation, communication, site preparation, and painting, writing art proposals, etc.), internships, etc. Problem-solving and critical thinking skills are essential to all art projects and processes, and these skills not only contribute well to so many professions and fields, but they are also life-lasting skills that develop creative, engaged, and open-minded thinkers and citizens.