That's Life

[PercussionChick]

So, I still have a few years before I graduate college but obviously job's are seriously on my mind already. I'm an education major and teach with a local high school marching band and have already landed teaching gigs at local middle schools and even a youth symphony. I feel pretty comfortable about where I'm starting and hopeful that I'll continue to find jobs available when I graduate.

Here's the frustrating part. Even though I love concert music and marching music (etc) very very much. I've come to realize that I really just want to work with percussion. Haha, that's my dream job. Just to work with the percussion in marching band, concert band, etc. And also to lead an indoor, percussion ensemble, and whatever else I could provide. No real problem here, just a frustration. I'll go to work as a band director to pay the bills (hah) but do all those other things for me and the students :-)

You mean I can't make six figures teaching percussion ensemble?

I was curious if there are many band directors or potential band directors that feel the same way about their true instrument?

[Marimba6]

Well, as an assistant band director in a decent sized school system I actually get to do almost exactly what you have described. I get to teach 6,7 grade percussion in a like-instrument class. It's all done in an separate setting where we only combine for concert rehearsals. 8th grade percussion is part of the normal band class, but split up into concert and honors band.

High school marching percussion is divided up into a Battery class and a Front Ensemble class, both with separate after school sectionals. They get to play with each other and the horns during our before school marching band rehearsals and at Monday evening full ensemble rehearsals. Our High School now requires all personnel to go to district/region auditions, so when not doing marching band they have things to work on with me or their private lesson teachers. We run a keyboard percussion ensemble that plays at all of the regular concerts and also does a small tour every year.

Some of the kids and I are also involved in an independent open class winterline that started this year.

I would suggest that you look specifically for a larger program with many directors at the high school and middle school levels. Most of these kinds of programs will do team-teaching, allowing you to learn valuable classroom management skills from the other staff members and allowing your input into the overall direction of the program. It's great to be part of a good team where everyone has their specialty. It is possible to get into the kind of position you want...you just have to look for it.