Websites Advertising Music Education Vacancies
Rhinegold Jobs
A useful source of job vacancies in music including vocal/instrumental teaching jobs.
Music Mark
The website and Twitter feed include vacancies with music services.
TES Jobs
eteach.com
Both these sites primarily list classroom teaching jobs; however, they do include some vacancies for visiting instrumental and vocal tutors.
Arts Jobs
From Arts Council England.
Websites to Advertise Teaching Services
There are a number of websites where you can advertise for pupils, including:
First Tutors
Free listing for instrumental and vocal tutors in a searchable database.
MusicTeachers.co.uk
The site has a free service allowing musicians to register as a teacher or accompanist. Details are included in a searchable database covering the UK.
Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM)
Members of the ISM can have a free listing on the ISM Music Directory, which is used by members of the public looking to hire musicians including music teachers, performers and composers.
European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA)
EPTA UK is the Association for professional pianists and piano teachers in the UK. EPTA UK offers a student membership category for students in full-time music education. This is at a concessionary rate of £10 per annum and, among other benefits, entitles the student to public liability insurance cover whilst teaching. Full professional members (i.e. not student members) who meet the eligibility criteria will be included in the EPTA UK Register of Professional Piano Teachers.
Signing up with an agency
There are a number of agencies that take on music teachers to provide home music tuition. There is helpful advice from the MU (Musicians’ Union) about what to consider when finding teaching work through a third party, such as a teaching agency.
Other Useful Information
DBS Checks
Advice on obtaining a Disclosure and Barring (DSB) check if you are interested in working with children and wish to gain employment or work experience doing so.
Training
A guide to continuing professional development and training for instrumental and vocal teachers and music leaders.
Resources
Signposting to websites and publications that offer practical advice and useful resources for music teachers and leaders.
Trainee Music Leader Schemes
Spitalfields Music Trainee Music Leaders Scheme
A trainee scheme for musicians and music leaders interested in gaining hands-on leadership experience working within education and community settings.
Wigmore Hall Trainee Music Leader Scheme
A, 11-month bursary scheme that aims to provide a structured apprenticeship for a musician wanting to develop their workshop leadership skills in the context of the learning and participation events and projects at Wigmore Hall. For details of the next scheme, check Wigmore Hall’s website.
Working With Groups
Artis Performing Arts Education
Artis Specialists work in schools delivering workshops that combine music, drama, and movement. See the website for details of when they are next recruiting.
Working as a Visiting Music Teacher in Schools (Peripatetic Music Teaching)
Rhinegold Jobs is a good place to look for vacancies for visiting instrumental and vocal music teachers in schools as well as for year-long Graduate Music Assistant posts within schools in the independent (private) sector.
You may also wish to make contact with schools local to you, to find out if they are looking for instrumental or vocal teachers. You can search for schools using a search function available on the GOV.UK website.
Look at a school’s website (or telephone the school office) to find out the name and email address of the Head of Music so that you can contact them directly to enquire about possible teaching opportunities.
Music Education Hubs
Since September 2012, music education is being delivered by local Music Education Hubs. Hubs are tasked to give all children the opportunity to learn an instrument, make music with others, learn to sing, and progress.
For more information about Music Education Hubs and about the background to the provision of whole class instrumental/vocal teaching in schools (also known as wider opportunities), please visit our page on Music Education Hubs
The Music Mark website and twitter feed include vacancies with music services.
If you are finding it hard to get jobs with a music service due to lack of experience (particularly if you lack experience in whole class instrumental/vocal teaching), you could always try contacting the music service that is leading the music education hub in your area and ask if you can observe experienced teachers working with individuals or groups. You can then include this work shadowing experience on a CV or application form when applying for jobs.
Music and Performing Arts Centres
The Conservatoire
The Conservatoire is Blackheath’s local independent arts centre offering a range of music classes to adults and children. Job vacancies are advertised on the website, or apply speculatively (i.e. send a CV and covering letter asking to be considered for suitable vacancies when they arise).
Music House for Children
Music House for Children employs teachers to work in a range of settings. Private one-to-one instrumental teaching in London homes, group tuition in schools and at their music school, music workshops and shows are all part of freelance work a music teacher may get involved with.
One-to-One Private Teaching
Advice for tutors
- Both the ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians) and the MU (Musicians’ Union) offer very useful advice to those working in music education.
- The Superprof website offers advice for those starting out as home tutors.
Safeguard yourself online
- Please ensure that you have read the relevant terms and conditions before adding a listing to a website. Please be aware that you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information on sites where it becomes public information.
- Please note that it is your responsibility for investigating the veracity of any contacts you make through placing an advert on the internet.
- Be alert for scams. For information about online safety see Get Safe Online.
Personal safety
- If you arrange to meet someone who has made contact with you in response to a job advertisement that you have posted, please be aware of your personal safety: arrange to meet in a public place and make sure somebody knows where you are.
