Ernest Said:

How can I prepare for a career in elementary music education?

We Answered:

It sounds like you're doing all the right things! Here are some other things to be doing...

1. Research music schools that you might be interested in online. In some states you will need a masters, in others a bachelor's degree will do.

2. Practice like crazy. You will have to sing or play an instrument or both in order to get in by audition.

3. Play/Sing in as many extra curricular ensembles as possible. It will make you a better musician and it looks good on your college applications.

4. It sounds like you're just taking lessons on Voice. You might look into private piano lessons.

5. Get a job working with children like at a park or daycare.

Stacey Said:

Lesson finding help!

We Answered:

There is a website I used a lot called lessonplanspage.com and another one called ABC teach. They both helped me with ideas. Also for science, discovery.com (school) has science lesson plans.

Matthew Said:

I'm an RN and hate my job... thinking about going back to school to become an elementary education teacher?

We Answered:

Y'know what, I'd really recommend for you to go back to school. I went through a similar experience in that I was having trouble choosing a career right for me. I couldn't decide between biology or journalism. I chose biology... and was miserable. I thought there wasn't a way out, until I checked out the journalism curriculum at my university... and everything fit in! It seems like the grass is greener on the other side quite a bit, it turns out.

Have you possibly thought of getting a graduate degree? That way, it may be less school time-wise, and you'll likely end up with a better career because of it since it's an advanced degree. I think you could still be able to get your master's in education- then you can be any sort of teacher you wanted! Maybe they even have a degree for ECE... who knows?

Whatever you do, choose the thing that will make you the happiest, because we've only got one life to live.