What Does A Postsecondary Art, Drama and Music Teacher Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Art, Drama and Music Professors

Art, Drama and Music Professors teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Salary
$84780
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Master's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Art, Drama and Music Professors teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

  • Explain and demonstrate artistic techniques.
  • Evaluate and grade students’ class work, performances, projects, assignments, and papers.
  • Prepare students for performances, exams, or assessments.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Art, Drama, and Music Professors maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records. They maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.

A typical day for a Postsecondary Art, Drama, and Music Teacher will also include:

  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as acting techniques, fundamentals of music, and art history.
  • Evaluate and grade students’ class work, performances, projects, assignments, and papers.
  • Explain and demonstrate artistic techniques.
  • Prepare students for performances, exams, or assessments.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Art, Drama, and Music Professors also participate in campus and community events. They may also maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Art, Drama, and Music Professors keep students informed of community events, such as plays and concerts. They might also select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and performance pieces.

In addition, they serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them display students’ work in schools, galleries, and exhibitions.

To some Art, Drama, and Music Professors, it is also their responsibility to Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Very High

Is this job meaningful

Very High

75% said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they found their job meaningful.


Dr. Mitchell Hutchings
Department of Music - Florida Atlantic University

As an assistant professor in music specializing in classical and commercial voice performance, my work is ever-changing. A typical day for me can include teaching classes—like lyric diction for singing, vocal pedagogy, or opera workshop—in the morning, participating in faculty meetings at noon, giving classical voice lessons in the afternoon, and providing online sessions with singer-songwriters in the evenings. Because I love what I do, I rarely stop working. Even the weekends can fill with music-related activities such as performances and research activities.

Credit: Mitchell Hutchings

Pros and Cons

I enjoy contributing to a positive learning environment where I can work alongside students and colleagues from various disciplines and backgrounds. I view my position as a vocation rather than a job. I could do this for the rest of my life and be fulfilled. Music is a gift, and I am thankful that I can share it with students and colleagues.


Pros

Suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers).

Short working hours (Less than 40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to follow routines.

It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.

How much do they make

Average salary

$84780 per year

Average hourly wage

$* per hour

Entry-level Art, Drama and Music Professors with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $34,220 to $50,300 per year or $* to $* per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $153,060 $*
Senior (Top 25%) $102,330 $*
Median $69,690 $*
Junior (Bottom 25%) $50,300 $*
No experience (Bottom 10%) $34,220 $*

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Art, Drama and Music Professors based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Junior Colleges $90980 $*
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $84590 $*
Performing Arts Companies $68490 $*
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events $67760 $*
Other Schools and Instruction $66020 $*
Technical and Trade Schools $57620 $*

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Art, Drama and Music Professors work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Art, Drama and Music Professors including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 69360 $84590 $*
Junior Colleges 16870 $90980 $*
Other Schools and Instruction 4380 $66020 $*
Technical and Trade Schools $57620 $*
Performing Arts Companies $68490 $*
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events $67760 $*

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
25%

40 hours
28%

More than 40 hours
48%

Working schedule

87%

9%

5%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
12%

Every day
86%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
44%

Every day
13%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
22%

Every day
63%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
4%

Once a year
8%

Once a month
1%

Once a week
27%

Every day
60%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
1%

Slightly competitive
18%

Moderately competitive
33%

Highly competitive
26%

Extremely competitive
21%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
6%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
4%

Once a week or more
3%

Every day
87%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
67%

Once a year or more
26%

Once a month or more
5%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
2%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
76%

Once a year or more
21%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
3%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
78%

Once a year or more
17%

Once a month or more
1%

Once a week or more
3%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Very Hard
You will need an extensive amount of skill, knowledge, and experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require graduate school and more than five years of experience. These careers usually involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Similar careers include Pharmacists, Lawyers, Astronomers, Neurologists, and Veterinarians.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
0%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
0%

Associate’s Degree or similar
1%

Bachelor’s Degree
14%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
1%

Master’s Degree
51%

Post-Master’s Certificate
2%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
32%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art

A program that focuses on using the arts to promote activism, civic dialog, community development, ecological and environmental awareness, or social justice. Includes instruction in community organizing, cultural criticism, social practice, studio art, and visual and performing arts.


Theatre/Theatre Arts Management

A program that prepares individuals to apply business management principles to the management of theatres and production corporations. Includes instruction in theatrical production, theatre design and planning, fund-raising and promotion, investment strategies, human resources management, theatre operations management, marketing, public relations, financial management and insurance, and applicable laws and regulations.

Music Management

A program that prepares individuals to organize and manage music organizations, operations, facilities, and personnel. Includes instruction in business and financial management; marketing and fundraising; personnel management and labor relations; event promotion and management; music products merchandising; artist agency and promotion; music law; and applications to specific activities such as managing theaters, recording studios and companies, bands and other ensembles, individual artists, and music organizations.

Fine and Studio Arts Management

A program that prepares individuals to organize and manage fine and studio art organizations, operations, and facilities. Includes instruction in business and financial management; marketing and fundraising; personnel management and labor relations; event promotion and management; public relations and arts advocacy; arts law; and applications to specific arts activities such as galleries, museums, studios, foundations, and community organizations.


Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

A program that prepares individuals to organize and manage various aspects of the visual arts, performing arts, and entertainment media industries. Includes instruction in business and financial management, marketing and fund-raising, labor relations for the arts, event promotion and management, product and artist management, and applicable law.

Sound Arts

A program that focuses on sound as a form of cultural expression, and its relationship to other disciplines such as computer programming, performance, and video. Includes instruction in acoustics; arranging, composing, and editing music; music theory; musicology; orchestration and scoring; and sound design.


Percussion Instruments

A program that prepares individuals to master percussion instruments and performing art for a variety of musical settings, including orchestral, solo, chamber, commercial, or nontraditional. Includes instruction in playing and personal style development.

Woodwind Instruments

A program that prepares individuals to master a woodwind instrument and performing art as solo, ensemble, and/or accompanist performers. Includes instruction in playing and personal style development.

Brass Instruments

A program that prepares individuals to master a brass instrument and performing art as solo, ensemble, and/or accompanist performers. Includes instruction in playing and personal style development.


Music Technology

A program that focuses on the creative aspects of the blending of music and technology; and that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the composition, recording, synthesis, and performance of music; audio-visual production; scoring for film and multimedia; and software and multimedia development. Includes instruction in music theory, music history, composition, acoustics, recording technology, computer composition, electronic music synthesis, technology-based performance, 3D sound and spatial audio, and music business and law.

Music Pedagogy

A program that prepares individuals to provide musical instruction and tutoring to clients in private and institutional settings. Includes instruction in music theory, music composition, mastery of one or more instruments, familiarity with various musical genres and styles, principles of music education, and client communications.

Stringed Instruments

A program that prepares individual to master a stringed instrument and performing arts as solo, ensemble and/or accompanist performers. Includes instruction in playing and personal style development.


Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
3%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
4%

1 to 2 years
28%

2 to 4 years
18%

4 to 6 years
20%

6 to 8 years
10%

8 to 10 years
10%

Over 10 years
7%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
31%

1 month
18%

1 to 3 months
1%

3 to 6 months
6%

6 months to 1 year
18%

1 to 2 years
13%

2 to 4 years
5%

4 to 10 years
3%

Over 10 years
5%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Helper

People with this personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.

The Builder
48%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
52%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
90%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
95%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
38%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
38%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

They also like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
81%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
83%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
67%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
86%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
67%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
86%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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