Education · 1 of 4

The path

There is no licence. The path is getting good, then learning how to teach.

1. 1

   Learn your instrument properly

   Childhood onward

   Years of lessons and daily practice, usually working up through graded conservatory exams.

2. 2

   High school

   Grades 9 to 12

   Music and theory courses, plus any band, choir or ensemble you can join.

3. 3

   Pick a credential, or skip it

   0 to 4 years

   A performance diploma such as the ARCT (Associate of the Royal Conservatory), a university music degree, or neither. Private teaching requires none of them.

4. 4

   Learn to teach

   Pedagogy courses teach you how beginners actually learn, what order to introduce skills, and how to keep a 7 year old going.

5. 5

   Build a studio

   2 to 4 years

   First students through family, your old teacher, local schools and community boards. Word of mouth does the rest.