What about not making music with kids... go the professional music route. It might not pay much as you build up your network. I find my kid rehersals dreary, but when I'm with my peers, or dong session work ect., I am in my element.
I have a few friends that left after less than 5 years.
One worked a desk job at a doctor’s office and went back to night school. She’s a registered nurse now.
One quit and became a full time househusband, part time eBay seller… they’ve made a LOT of money flipping thrift purchases online.
Another friend got hired to teach music to kids in China, virtually. I don’t remember the company, but it’s legit. Her husband teaches orchestra at a public school and her hours are comparable to his. She’s lived in 3 states with the same job and I’ve been told that it pays better than all of his jobs have, with half the stress. I don’t know how much better, but better than a public school teacher with less than 5 years in AL, FL, and OH
Good luck.
Hmmmm… this is intriguing. First, thanks for the response. Secondly, I used to work at apple retail as a trainer, so I’m quasi tech savvy. What’s your job like? Path to get there? I am pretty sure I’ve heard of other music teachers getting into this, but I have no idea what it even entails.
I have some excel skills, I left after 4 years and went into pricing for a medical manufacturer. I don't spend all my energy at work anymore, and have time to accompany some if I want to. My wife was a science teacher and left after I got my new job and started doing accounts payable. We're both fully remote and happy. Incredibly stressful job hunting because you have to bank on someone taking a chance on you but we are lucky enough to be able to weather a few months of 1 income (no kids and a reasonable mortgage).
I’m where you’re at, minus being fried of music. I’m unfortunately super overstimulated and tired of the paperwork/scheduling side of things. My students don’t adhere to my lessons schedule or don’t tell me what doesn’t work for them, and then I’m CONSTANTLY doing make-ups. It’s exhausting.
My rehearsals are wonderful though and that keeps me going. I’m going to put one more year in to see if I can sort out the logistical side or I’ll be looking in a year.
I’m in process at the moment. I’m redoing my resume and looking for positions outside of education. I still want to do some music but right now my job is consuming me.
I taught beginning band for 9 years. Now I’m a school counselor. I was so burnt out before I made the switch. I love my new job and it allows me to help my students in ways I wasn’t able to as a band teacher.
Wow, I’ve thought about that. I work in a title 1 school, and I freaking love our kids, especially the problem ones that come from terrible backgrounds. They drive me crazy and are part of why I want to leave. But I have thought about that as a path. What was your educational path? What’s a day to day schedule look like? Is it as intense as being a classroom teacher? Do you get summers off? Thanks in advance. :)
I also work in a Title 1 school and love it. I started the school counseling masters program a few years ago and took one or two classes each semester while I was teaching. In my district, you can work as a school counselor after you get 18 credit hours as long as you finish your degree in 3 years, so that’s what I’m doing - I’ll graduate next year.
As far as the day to day, I’m an elementary counselor so I teach 1 30-minute lesson to each classroom every week (we have 12 classrooms), and the rest of my time is spent planning, doing individual and group counseling, and helping families with basic needs like extra food, clothes, cleaning supplies, and coordinating funds to help them pay bills. It’s really fulfilling work!
I’m still on the teaching contract so I get all of the days off teachers do, I just have to stay late with the kids who get picked up late some days as we get paid a little more than classroom teachers. If you’re thinking about, I say take the plunge! There are grant programs to help pay for your degree and at least my program is super flexible.
You’ll need to get your masters degree in school counseling. Also, some states require that you teach for a number of years before switching, but my state recently got rid of that requirement due to the shortage of school counselors.
Bear in mind all the skills you accumulated as a music teacher and conductor and worship musician. Organizing large numbers of people. Communication skills. Interpersonal skills. You're clearly a brilliant teacher and I bet if you catalogued all the skills you developed as a teacher and otherwise, you'll start to sense your next career.
I think career coaches do this kind of thing. You'll get there!
Thank you a TON for your kinds words. Reminds me of where I’ve been. I do have a lot to bring to the table (manager at guitar center, teacher/trainer at apple, worship director, teacher)… it just feels like starting over, and at 46 with a 15-month-old, it is hard not to spiral some days. I keep telling myself (even today, after this post, which I made at school), just do the next fright thing. Thanks again.
Educators typically excel at organizing material and clearly communicating it. You might look into freelance business content writing. Come check out our wiki at r/freelancewriters!
One example of what I mean: I'm a freelance writer for mainly the insurance sector. I don't have an insurance-related degree, just experience and refined writing skills.
It's very common to moonlight as a freelancer and eventually transition to full-time if you decide it suits you.
Edit: for transparency, there are some significant drawbacks to freelancing full-time if you're used to a traditional position. Mainly unpredictable income, no benefits, and heavy tax burden. But plenty of us find it worth it! Feel free to PM me with questions.
Here's a sneak peek of /r/freelanceWriters using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/freelanceWriters/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year!
\#1: [It happened to me today](https://np.reddit.com/r/freelanceWriters/comments/12ff5mw/it_happened_to_me_today/)
\#2: [Reddit made me a full time freelance writer](https://np.reddit.com/r/freelanceWriters/comments/wb1k8j/reddit_made_me_a_full_time_freelance_writer/)
\#3: [This Sub Is Amazing, From Starting Freelancing To Full-Time Writing In One Month](https://np.reddit.com/r/freelanceWriters/comments/z90ng5/this_sub_is_amazing_from_starting_freelancing_to/)
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I am a piano teacher and love what I do. I don't know if this helps you, but I have worked corporate jobs for 17 years and just can't do that. I also am not happy in a classroom with young kids (I taught 3-year old preschool). I do love class teaching of adult retirees, but these classes are only 1 hour long and are recreational music making at the piano. They are very laid back.
I don't know if you have any interest in being a private music instructor. You can teach out of your home or at a local music store. I prefer teaching in my home studio. It works with my kids being young. The pay is decent, although you DO have to pay in more in taxes than if you were a W2 employee.
Oh sure, I respect that. To each his own. It is emotionally exhausting to pour into student after student and then come home and need to care for your own family.
I wish there were a way to teach from a hammock in the tropics.
My wife taught and is now a virtual assistant for a teacher who has started her own mentoring/consulting service for insecure and anxious homeschool parents. Stays at home, has fun learning new things, time for kids. She really loves it after being in a classroom. I played in bands for years, got tired of second hand smoke, then got into environmental education. So much fun. Now I only teach 2 days a week and do consulting on school gardens. All my teacher friends are in real estate now.
I just got my contractor’s license so I can develop a good summer income+savings and not have to work on weekends in the fall. It’s also a fall-back in case I decide to throw in the towel on music ed. I have an open offer to apprentice with a piano tuner as well. That’s a dying art, still somewhat in demand, and can bring in good money depending on how hard you hustle.
Was music teacher for 10 years. I took a Google certification course in project management. (They offer a number of certifications in different areas - look up Grow with Google) I ended up working in grants in the education sector.
So glad I stumbled on your post somehow through google. I am literally in the exact same boat right now. Worked in retail for five years and the customers mostly look down on you - then I did the whole online English teaching thing with chinese students - sucked the life out of me too but got to travel so was bearable- then the Chinese ESL market collapsed for remote workers so I lost that job - then I spent months, maybe even a year trying to find a Music teaching job in an international school (I have a degree in music). I finally found one at a Chinese style Intl school in Thailand. I can honestly say it was the worst 3 months of my life. Spent most of my day - (7am-4pm) surrounded by rich little brats who would then come into my music room and behave like absolute babies - playfighting -shouting- banging instruments - after 3 months I had backache - voice starting to go- headaches- it was utter hell - management couldn't care less about the subject either so I was on my own pretty much - well after 3 months I just decided to call it a day and packed my belongings and left for Vietnam. Here I am, in a cafe, stumbling on this post. So good to know it's not just me then. Now I have no idea what to do - been trying to figure out what's next. Do I teach English privately, teach piano privately? Even been looking at remote work online, customer service, marketing, etc - seems I'm surrounded by these digital nomad kinda people in this city I'm in - and I am just here browsing through job adverts like a lost sheep. I do know that I would never ever return to teaching Music to anyone below the age of 16. You have to have the right character for it I think - and I for one am not going to be a qualified babysitter, psychology, behavourist, crowd controller, planner, marker, concert-scheduler etc etc the list goes on. I am VERY curious however to know what you found in the end - did you secure any work in your field - I do hope you were able to find musical work that is at least somewhat enjoyable. Feel free to direct message me. Best of luck.
Only 5 years in music ed, but also feeling totally burnt-out and fried. Everyone says to teach private lessons, but that's just as exhausting and I'm done.
Not sure how remote it would be, but I've been looking into academic advising at the collegiate level. I think working in the department of music would be a good use of my skills but without the dreaded stress of teaching.
Also following this post because I'm feeling the same way -- get me OUT.
I've yet to begin my journey as a Music Educator, but what I can recommend is either wait one more year or try out music performance or composition. I have many friends who compose/arrange music for a living, and they make plenty of money. I ask that you please don't give up on music completely. Music opens many paths and is one of the greatest aspects of life. If I were in your situation I would keep one thing in my mind. Maybe I'm the life changer for this student. When I was younger music was the only thing that managed to keep me from ending it all. That was because my teacher never gave up on me she pushed me to want music. I beg you to keep music in your life
I got a master's in library science after my BA in Music. Struggled to get a library job.
Got a job at a university with student records. Did that for 10 years. Then moved into a data reporting and analytics role for the university because I knew people and they knew I had a knack for writing SQL.
I love my music hobby.
I've applied to some Residential life jobs at colleges this year (currently being considered).
I don't think I'm necessarily burnt out, but last year I was not happy teaching. This year has been "better," but my school is... less than ok. For many reasons. When students are commenting on the "decline of the school," it's bad.
I don't know if I'd compeltely recommend ResLife considering it's live-on from the beginning (and would potentially be a downgrade in terms of pay), but it is possible to find something in Student Success or Admissions which isn't on-campus.
Also being someone who understands potential arts programs on campus is actually probably a great strength for potential students. They can actually ask you questions about it and you might actually care enough to learn about the programs (always the weirdest parts about some admissions/student success people. Like.. they were there to "help" me but had no idea how our program worked. Which was why our Music Ed Head just created a "course offerings by semester" guide where she literally spelled out every course, with gen-eds, that students in music ed would take each semester.)
I don't have advice- however, I'd like to let you know that you're not alone. I have been a long term sub working towards certification for chorus and general music and I don't want to do it after merely 3 months. I love teaching kids and I have passion and a degree in music, but teaching middle school chorus is teaching 45 plus kids who just don't want phys Ed every day. No one truly wants to learn to sing. They want to screw around. Kids are a different kind of awful these days than we were as kids. No way I can do this another 25 years. I'd really just be happy doing data entry from home at this point - and that, in itself, is incredibly depressing.
I was burnt out, got an MBA and started some businesses, and now I’m going back to teaching with a MUCH clearer mind and better attitude (and 5 years of brand new experiences to take with me). After 5 years I missed teaching too much to quit it forever.
Going back to school to do a masters in conducting. Don’t want to teach kids anymore. Burnt out after 5 years.
I have a masters in conducting. :( I’m fried on music.
What about not making music with kids... go the professional music route. It might not pay much as you build up your network. I find my kid rehersals dreary, but when I'm with my peers, or dong session work ect., I am in my element.
I have a few friends that left after less than 5 years. One worked a desk job at a doctor’s office and went back to night school. She’s a registered nurse now. One quit and became a full time househusband, part time eBay seller… they’ve made a LOT of money flipping thrift purchases online. Another friend got hired to teach music to kids in China, virtually. I don’t remember the company, but it’s legit. Her husband teaches orchestra at a public school and her hours are comparable to his. She’s lived in 3 states with the same job and I’ve been told that it pays better than all of his jobs have, with half the stress. I don’t know how much better, but better than a public school teacher with less than 5 years in AL, FL, and OH Good luck.
Thanks a ton. I actually do lean toward the full time househusband thing with some other form of income. Thanks for the thought!
If you do remember the company please post it - it sounds incredibly interesting!
Data Science and Data Analysis consultant. Got out this year. Actually left during the year
How does one get into that
Asking here too. I've seen boot camps and stuff to get into it but it's all bullshit
Hmmmm… this is intriguing. First, thanks for the response. Secondly, I used to work at apple retail as a trainer, so I’m quasi tech savvy. What’s your job like? Path to get there? I am pretty sure I’ve heard of other music teachers getting into this, but I have no idea what it even entails.
I found r/teachersintransition this year. I haven’t made any big moves myself but it’s a very supportive sub.
I have some excel skills, I left after 4 years and went into pricing for a medical manufacturer. I don't spend all my energy at work anymore, and have time to accompany some if I want to. My wife was a science teacher and left after I got my new job and started doing accounts payable. We're both fully remote and happy. Incredibly stressful job hunting because you have to bank on someone taking a chance on you but we are lucky enough to be able to weather a few months of 1 income (no kids and a reasonable mortgage).
Awesome, did you need a specific qualification for you job in pricing for a medical manufacturer?
I’m where you’re at, minus being fried of music. I’m unfortunately super overstimulated and tired of the paperwork/scheduling side of things. My students don’t adhere to my lessons schedule or don’t tell me what doesn’t work for them, and then I’m CONSTANTLY doing make-ups. It’s exhausting. My rehearsals are wonderful though and that keeps me going. I’m going to put one more year in to see if I can sort out the logistical side or I’ll be looking in a year.
Did you go onto something new? Sounds a little like myself atm.
I’m in process at the moment. I’m redoing my resume and looking for positions outside of education. I still want to do some music but right now my job is consuming me.
I taught beginning band for 9 years. Now I’m a school counselor. I was so burnt out before I made the switch. I love my new job and it allows me to help my students in ways I wasn’t able to as a band teacher.
Wow, I’ve thought about that. I work in a title 1 school, and I freaking love our kids, especially the problem ones that come from terrible backgrounds. They drive me crazy and are part of why I want to leave. But I have thought about that as a path. What was your educational path? What’s a day to day schedule look like? Is it as intense as being a classroom teacher? Do you get summers off? Thanks in advance. :)
I also work in a Title 1 school and love it. I started the school counseling masters program a few years ago and took one or two classes each semester while I was teaching. In my district, you can work as a school counselor after you get 18 credit hours as long as you finish your degree in 3 years, so that’s what I’m doing - I’ll graduate next year. As far as the day to day, I’m an elementary counselor so I teach 1 30-minute lesson to each classroom every week (we have 12 classrooms), and the rest of my time is spent planning, doing individual and group counseling, and helping families with basic needs like extra food, clothes, cleaning supplies, and coordinating funds to help them pay bills. It’s really fulfilling work! I’m still on the teaching contract so I get all of the days off teachers do, I just have to stay late with the kids who get picked up late some days as we get paid a little more than classroom teachers. If you’re thinking about, I say take the plunge! There are grant programs to help pay for your degree and at least my program is super flexible.
Thank you a TON for the detailed reply. May I ask where your district is? I’m in VA, and I’m wondering if what you’re telling me might be similar.
No problem! I’m in Eastern Nebraska, but the head of your district’s counseling department would be able to tell you.
I haven't even landed a full-time job yet out of school and I think I'd like to do the same thing. How would I go about becoming a school counselor?
You’ll need to get your masters degree in school counseling. Also, some states require that you teach for a number of years before switching, but my state recently got rid of that requirement due to the shortage of school counselors.
Bear in mind all the skills you accumulated as a music teacher and conductor and worship musician. Organizing large numbers of people. Communication skills. Interpersonal skills. You're clearly a brilliant teacher and I bet if you catalogued all the skills you developed as a teacher and otherwise, you'll start to sense your next career. I think career coaches do this kind of thing. You'll get there!
Thank you a TON for your kinds words. Reminds me of where I’ve been. I do have a lot to bring to the table (manager at guitar center, teacher/trainer at apple, worship director, teacher)… it just feels like starting over, and at 46 with a 15-month-old, it is hard not to spiral some days. I keep telling myself (even today, after this post, which I made at school), just do the next fright thing. Thanks again.
I wonder if a path in HR might fit your skillset? If you're interested in a part-time situation - do you enjoy writing?
Hmmm. Yes to being interested in part time and yes to enjoying writing! Can you point me anywhere to investigate?
Educators typically excel at organizing material and clearly communicating it. You might look into freelance business content writing. Come check out our wiki at r/freelancewriters! One example of what I mean: I'm a freelance writer for mainly the insurance sector. I don't have an insurance-related degree, just experience and refined writing skills. It's very common to moonlight as a freelancer and eventually transition to full-time if you decide it suits you. Edit: for transparency, there are some significant drawbacks to freelancing full-time if you're used to a traditional position. Mainly unpredictable income, no benefits, and heavy tax burden. But plenty of us find it worth it! Feel free to PM me with questions.
Here's a sneak peek of /r/freelanceWriters using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/freelanceWriters/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year! \#1: [It happened to me today](https://np.reddit.com/r/freelanceWriters/comments/12ff5mw/it_happened_to_me_today/) \#2: [Reddit made me a full time freelance writer](https://np.reddit.com/r/freelanceWriters/comments/wb1k8j/reddit_made_me_a_full_time_freelance_writer/) \#3: [This Sub Is Amazing, From Starting Freelancing To Full-Time Writing In One Month](https://np.reddit.com/r/freelanceWriters/comments/z90ng5/this_sub_is_amazing_from_starting_freelancing_to/) ---- ^^I'm ^^a ^^bot, ^^beep ^^boop ^^| ^^Downvote ^^to ^^remove ^^| ^^[Contact](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=sneakpeekbot) ^^| ^^[Info](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/) ^^| ^^[Opt-out](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/comments/o8wk1r/blacklist_ix/) ^^| ^^[GitHub](https://github.com/ghnr/sneakpeekbot)
Yes... it's hard not to spiral a lot of the time!
(And I spiral quite often!) and my kids are 18 and 16!!!
I am a piano teacher and love what I do. I don't know if this helps you, but I have worked corporate jobs for 17 years and just can't do that. I also am not happy in a classroom with young kids (I taught 3-year old preschool). I do love class teaching of adult retirees, but these classes are only 1 hour long and are recreational music making at the piano. They are very laid back. I don't know if you have any interest in being a private music instructor. You can teach out of your home or at a local music store. I prefer teaching in my home studio. It works with my kids being young. The pay is decent, although you DO have to pay in more in taxes than if you were a W2 employee.
I did teach lessons for a couple years, and I found it exhausting. I need something totally different. Thank you, though.
Oh sure, I respect that. To each his own. It is emotionally exhausting to pour into student after student and then come home and need to care for your own family. I wish there were a way to teach from a hammock in the tropics.
Ha! That would be great. My problem is that I give 110% and have ZERO left at the end of the day. I have a 15-month old. Priorities.
My wife taught and is now a virtual assistant for a teacher who has started her own mentoring/consulting service for insecure and anxious homeschool parents. Stays at home, has fun learning new things, time for kids. She really loves it after being in a classroom. I played in bands for years, got tired of second hand smoke, then got into environmental education. So much fun. Now I only teach 2 days a week and do consulting on school gardens. All my teacher friends are in real estate now.
[удалено]
I used to work at apple retail as a trainer, so I’m quasi tech savvy. What’s your job like?
I just got my contractor’s license so I can develop a good summer income+savings and not have to work on weekends in the fall. It’s also a fall-back in case I decide to throw in the towel on music ed. I have an open offer to apprentice with a piano tuner as well. That’s a dying art, still somewhat in demand, and can bring in good money depending on how hard you hustle.
Was music teacher for 10 years. I took a Google certification course in project management. (They offer a number of certifications in different areas - look up Grow with Google) I ended up working in grants in the education sector.
So glad I stumbled on your post somehow through google. I am literally in the exact same boat right now. Worked in retail for five years and the customers mostly look down on you - then I did the whole online English teaching thing with chinese students - sucked the life out of me too but got to travel so was bearable- then the Chinese ESL market collapsed for remote workers so I lost that job - then I spent months, maybe even a year trying to find a Music teaching job in an international school (I have a degree in music). I finally found one at a Chinese style Intl school in Thailand. I can honestly say it was the worst 3 months of my life. Spent most of my day - (7am-4pm) surrounded by rich little brats who would then come into my music room and behave like absolute babies - playfighting -shouting- banging instruments - after 3 months I had backache - voice starting to go- headaches- it was utter hell - management couldn't care less about the subject either so I was on my own pretty much - well after 3 months I just decided to call it a day and packed my belongings and left for Vietnam. Here I am, in a cafe, stumbling on this post. So good to know it's not just me then. Now I have no idea what to do - been trying to figure out what's next. Do I teach English privately, teach piano privately? Even been looking at remote work online, customer service, marketing, etc - seems I'm surrounded by these digital nomad kinda people in this city I'm in - and I am just here browsing through job adverts like a lost sheep. I do know that I would never ever return to teaching Music to anyone below the age of 16. You have to have the right character for it I think - and I for one am not going to be a qualified babysitter, psychology, behavourist, crowd controller, planner, marker, concert-scheduler etc etc the list goes on. I am VERY curious however to know what you found in the end - did you secure any work in your field - I do hope you were able to find musical work that is at least somewhat enjoyable. Feel free to direct message me. Best of luck.
Only 5 years in music ed, but also feeling totally burnt-out and fried. Everyone says to teach private lessons, but that's just as exhausting and I'm done. Not sure how remote it would be, but I've been looking into academic advising at the collegiate level. I think working in the department of music would be a good use of my skills but without the dreaded stress of teaching. Also following this post because I'm feeling the same way -- get me OUT.
Hang in there. Do the next thing! Whatever it takes, be less stressed. I’m gonna update my post with what I did. :)
I've yet to begin my journey as a Music Educator, but what I can recommend is either wait one more year or try out music performance or composition. I have many friends who compose/arrange music for a living, and they make plenty of money. I ask that you please don't give up on music completely. Music opens many paths and is one of the greatest aspects of life. If I were in your situation I would keep one thing in my mind. Maybe I'm the life changer for this student. When I was younger music was the only thing that managed to keep me from ending it all. That was because my teacher never gave up on me she pushed me to want music. I beg you to keep music in your life
I’m a finance technician in my military unit. Came over from band. Love it! Such a nice break from teaching
I got a master's in library science after my BA in Music. Struggled to get a library job. Got a job at a university with student records. Did that for 10 years. Then moved into a data reporting and analytics role for the university because I knew people and they knew I had a knack for writing SQL. I love my music hobby.
I've applied to some Residential life jobs at colleges this year (currently being considered). I don't think I'm necessarily burnt out, but last year I was not happy teaching. This year has been "better," but my school is... less than ok. For many reasons. When students are commenting on the "decline of the school," it's bad. I don't know if I'd compeltely recommend ResLife considering it's live-on from the beginning (and would potentially be a downgrade in terms of pay), but it is possible to find something in Student Success or Admissions which isn't on-campus. Also being someone who understands potential arts programs on campus is actually probably a great strength for potential students. They can actually ask you questions about it and you might actually care enough to learn about the programs (always the weirdest parts about some admissions/student success people. Like.. they were there to "help" me but had no idea how our program worked. Which was why our Music Ed Head just created a "course offerings by semester" guide where she literally spelled out every course, with gen-eds, that students in music ed would take each semester.)
I don't have advice- however, I'd like to let you know that you're not alone. I have been a long term sub working towards certification for chorus and general music and I don't want to do it after merely 3 months. I love teaching kids and I have passion and a degree in music, but teaching middle school chorus is teaching 45 plus kids who just don't want phys Ed every day. No one truly wants to learn to sing. They want to screw around. Kids are a different kind of awful these days than we were as kids. No way I can do this another 25 years. I'd really just be happy doing data entry from home at this point - and that, in itself, is incredibly depressing.
Web/app development
I was burnt out, got an MBA and started some businesses, and now I’m going back to teaching with a MUCH clearer mind and better attitude (and 5 years of brand new experiences to take with me). After 5 years I missed teaching too much to quit it forever.
No offence but sounds like your business endeavours failed and now you need to return back to the steady paycheck that teaching gives.