Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Vocal music instructor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

1 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Michael Mapp,

J. Anthony Allen

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical vocal music instructor skills. We ranked the top skills for vocal music instructors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 25.5% of vocal music instructor resumes contained musical theater as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a vocal music instructor needs to be successful in the workplace.

13 vocal music instructor skills for your resume and career

1. Musical Theater

Here's how vocal music instructors use musical theater:

Produced and directed drama and musical theater performances.
Specialized knowledge in musical genres such as: jazz, rag-time, classical, musical theater, pop and rock.

2. Music Education

Here's how vocal music instructors use music education:

Coordinate with administrators, counselors, parents, teachers and community officials to deliver optimal services in music education.
Administered an original, theme-based curriculum in music education for Kindergarten through Second Grade students at East Elementary School.

3. Classroom Management

Here's how vocal music instructors use classroom management:

Created innovative curriculum, mastered classroom management at all education levels.
Presented lectures on effective classroom management techniques for teachers.

4. Music Curriculum

Here's how vocal music instructors use music curriculum:

Develop specialized music curriculum to music students ages 4-25 on a weekly basis.
Cooperated with administration and peers to design a music curriculum that integrated all state and federal requirements.

5. Stage Presence

Here's how vocal music instructors use stage presence:

Teach the art of performance, stage presence, and exercises for better vocal health.
Teach students of all ages' voice, stage presence and vocal maintenance.

6. K-12

K12 is a term that incldues all 12 years of education in the US education system. It includes the education offered at the primary stage, middle stage, and secondary stage. It includes children of ages as young as 5 to 18 years. The grades included in K12 are Kindergarten, the initial 5 stages, grades 6 to 8, and 9 to 12. This system is followed specifically followed in the US and may vary in other countries.

Here's how vocal music instructors use k-12:

Introduced K-12 students to basics of creating original musical and theatrical works in accordance with their age and development.
Prepared three Christmas concerts for grades K-12.

Choose from 10+ customizable vocal music instructor resume templates

Build a professional vocal music instructor resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your vocal music instructor resume.

7. 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 vocal music instructors use ear training:

Incorporated elements of general musicianship, including ear training and theory, as well as instrumental technique and interpretation.
Instructed classes in Theory and Harmony and Aural Perception (ear training).

8. Music Theory

Here's how vocal music instructors use music theory:

Guide vocal development while incorporating movement and integral understanding of music theory.
Created units for students in grades 7-12 based on Music Theory, History, Aural Skills and active listening.

9. Group Lessons

Here's how vocal music instructors use group lessons:

Provided individual and group lessons to band students during the summer school program.
Design and market music services, including private and group lessons, workshops, and online consultation.

10. Chorus

Here's how vocal music instructors use chorus:

Designed and launched the first International Youth Barbershop Chorus Festival, an event that just completed its eighth year.
Conducted and managed all-inclusive fourth and fifth grade choirs and all-inclusive first through third grade chorus.

11. Songwriting

Here's how vocal music instructors use songwriting:

Facilitated creative exploration via songwriting, vocal improvisation and beat-boxing, and musician history.
Developed a songwriting project with the 5/6 grade class, utilized GarageBand software to create accompaniment with their original lyrics.

12. Drama

Here's how vocal music instructors use drama:

Served as choral director and drama instructor.
Offered After School Workshops in Drama, Voice, Keyboard, and Recorder.

13. General Music Classes

Here's how vocal music instructors use general music classes:

Developed curriculum-based units and lesson plans for five general music classes daily.
Observed and co taught elementary general music classes

What skills help Vocal Music Instructors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on vocal music instructor 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.

What soft skills should all vocal music instructors possess?

J. Anthony Allen

Assistant Professor - Music, Media and Management, Augsburg University

My gut reaction to that is that it depends on the age of the student. You need to have a lot of energy for younger students and keep them interested while also communicating with their parents. For college-age students (the world I am mostly in), you need a direct language with the student that tells them if they are on track, how they are doing, and ways they can improve that are not condescending.

What hard/technical skills are most important for vocal music instructors?

J. Anthony Allen

Assistant Professor - Music, Media and Management, Augsburg University

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.

What vocal music instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Helen Callus

Professor of Viola, Northwestern University

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 type of skills will young vocal music instructors need?

Dr. Lori Gray

Associate Professor: Director of Music Education, Boise State University

For the past several years, it has been clear that employers are seeking graduates with 21st Century Learning Skills (critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration). The four Cs of 21st Century Learning frequently come up during reference calls on my end and interviews for our recent graduates.

I would add that graduates need a strong work ethic, an understanding of professionalism and respect in the workplace, and self-awareness and an understanding of personal needs and limitations both at work and in their personal lives. In these current living conditions during a global pandemic (COVID-19), graduates also need resilience, perseverance, adaptability, and flexibility. These are all skills I would want for our Music Education majors to cultivate, as the climate in K-12 Education is ever-changing. However, I believe these are all skills that would be useful in any new career path.

What technical skills for a vocal music instructor 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?

List of vocal music instructor skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a vocal music instructor resume and required skills for a vocal music instructor to have include:

Musical Theater
Music Education
Classroom Management
Music Curriculum
Stage Presence

K-12
EAR Training
Music Theory
Group Lessons
Chorus

Songwriting
Drama
General Music Classes

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Zippia Careers
Education, Training, and Library Industry
Vocal Music Instructor
Vocal Music Instructor Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse education, training, and library jobs