How do you become a band director?

what college classes do you have to take to become a band teacher?
im in the top band class and im a favorite, top student. i play piano, percussion instruments, clarinet, some flute, and cello.

i have no idea of what classes i need to take, and you would really help!

First of all- Great job for being a top student and in your school’s top band! As a more advanced student, you’re probably asking this question to get ahead and find out what to do when you start looking for colleges.

In my music program I am required to take these courses:

1) Music Theory- the study of the structure of music and what makes it work. After four semesters of theory, my university requires a theory proficiency exam. You can get ahead by looking at websites like: www.musictheory.net and www.teoria.com, which will show you the basics.

2) Aural Skills- a class that teaches the singing part of music theory and trains your ears to hear music from a theory perspective. My university also has a Aural Skills proficiency exam. You’ll need to prepare yourself to sing using the singing syllables, which are commonly used in all music programs. (Do, Re, Mi)

3) Primary Lessons- I play the flute, so I take flute lessons every semester. The final for my lesson is called a jury. This means that I play a piece of music as my final exam in front of my flute teacher and a few doctoral students.

4) Secondary Lessons- My university requires that all Music Majors take piano class so that we can pass a piano proficiency exam. If you want to get ahead with your piano, which is required for music degree programs anywhere, you can start by learning your scales and how to play four part choral music. If you get there, you can also learn how to transpose small short melodies. (Transposing means that you take a melody from one key and play it in another. www.musictheory.net can help you learn how to do it.)

5) Music History- This is just as it sounds, a series of classes that help you know the history of music and important pieces, composers, and events in history. To help you in these classes, I would listen to as much band and classical music as possible. It would be helpful to do some independent research on well known composers, modern and present day. (For example: Mozart, Bach, Beethoven… Tichelli, Ives, and Mahler.)

6) An Ensemble- This will mean a band or orchestra class to take. If you’re going to be a band director, you will be required to take marching band.

7) Music Education Classes- These classes tell you how to teach a band. At my university, there are three main classes: An introduction class, a "Music for Children" class, and an upper level music education class.

Conducting- You will be required to take some kind of conducting class so that you can conduct your band. If you want to learn in high school, I would suggest trying out for your marching band’s drum major. If you don’t make it, don’t worry about it because you have a lot of other things you can be working on.

9) Methods Classes- To be a band director, you need to know how to play all of the instruments. You will take classes to learn voice, strings, brass, percussion, and woodwinds.

In addition to these music classes, you will probably have some regular education classes with the College of Education in your university. Also, you have core classes like English, Math, and Science. If you’re able to do some kind of dual credit in high school or AP classes, take advantage of them. I did both and my university only accept the dual credit that I took at a community college during my senior year. Some colleges only take a score of 4 or 5 on the AP tests.

To get into a Music Education program, you’ll have to perform an audition at a university to apply for admission. You can look up the required audition materials on the universities website.

Best of Luck in your Endeavors!