Secondary School Music Teacher
Secondary school music teachers generally teach in grades seventh (7th) through twelfth (12th), and they work in public, private, or parochial schools. Their duties vary depending on the type of job they are hired for. They may teach specifically on one instrument, or many. They may be responsible for leading a school band, orchestra, or choir, and for putting on school concerts and competitions. They may handle rehearsals and conduct the school groups as well.

College/Conservatory/University Music Educator
College/Conservatory/University Music Educators may be hired for a variety of different positions. They may be brought into a school as a general music educator to teach areas of music theory, music arranging, music history, or vocal or instrumental performance. Educators are also hired to coach chamber music groups or to conduct choruses or orchestras.

Private Instructor
A private instructor usually does not work through a school, but gives individual instruction to students on a regular basis. They set their own fees, unless contracted by a music store or teaching group, and develop their own teaching plans and guidelines. Private instructors may work alone out of an office or home, with a group of teachers or at a music store that offers lessons. They may teach individual lessons or offer group lessons. Lessons generally run 45 minutes to one hour and are usually scheduled once a week. They may teach at different levels of skill, from beginners to professionals.

Choir Director
A choir director provides direction and guidance to a vocal group or choir in a school, church, or elsewhere in the community. The Choir Director is responsible for researching and selecting material, rehearsing and conducting the choir, and preparing and presenting public performances of the choir.

Music Education Supervisor (or School Music Supervisor)
A school music supervisor is responsible for directing and coordinating activities of teaching personnel who are engaged in instructing students in vocal and instrumental music in a specific school or school system. This person may teach a few days a week and administer programs in the remaining days. The music supervisor plans and develops the music education curriculum.

Independent Primary or Secondary School Music Teacher
These teachers work specifically at private, independent, parochial or in cooperative home school programs. Usually, state certification is not required to work at these schools.

Music Therapist
Primarily, a music therapist uses music as an aid in healing, relieving pain, providing emotional comfort, and even entertaining patients with various mental and physical health related ailments. A music therapist develops a treatment plan and applies various strategic techniques to accomplish goals for the patient’s improvement. It is also a unique opportunity to help and contribute to improving the life of patients who are at various stages of illness and recovery. Music therapists work either freelance or in clinical settings such as in hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric centers, oncology and pain management treatment centers, as well as in drug treatment programs, correctional facilities and in hospice care programs.

Music Librarian
The Music Librarian is responsible for cataloging scores, recordings and song folios, and they work primarily at an educational institution such a school, college or university. Employers in this field generally prefer a Masters degree in Library Science.