Hello all! I had a number of questions and I was hoping that some of you educators out there could help me get my bearings :)

My dream job is to be a full time percussion teacher at the secondary level. My BM is in Music ed and math. I currently teach math due to a lack of band jobs in the area, but I do teach drumlines/pits/lessons on the side. In my state (virginia) there are about 3 schools in the whole state that are able to employ either a 2nd band director or a full time percussion guy, so I'm probably looking toward texas or the midwest.

I suppose I could technically land this type of job with my Bachelors, but I really want to get my Masters in performance. I was thinking of auditioning this January for a number of places, but the I'm very worried about school budgets and my ability to get a teaching job once I graduate. Here in VA things are getting pretty terrible money-wise and they are laying off 4-10 teachers per school in many counties. Our whole chorus program even got the axe!

I suppose it's possible to teach math + percussion classes at a given school, and I'm open to that, especially given the financial situation many states are in right now.

So I guess my questions are...
1. Would getting a masters help/hurt my quest for this type of job? (or neither)

2. Is it common in texas and the mid-west to have these positions? (i've heard it is, but i'm not sure if that's changed)

3. Does anyone know of any open positions of this nature ;)

Any advise is highly appreciated :)

[quote author=perpetualpoet link=topic=3577.msg18783#msg18783 date=1268587832]
So I guess my questions are...
1. Would getting a masters help/hurt my quest for this type of job? (or neither)

>>[color=red]It probably wouldn't hurt at all. But, I don't know how necessary it would be, either. I have mine and am glad that I took the time to do it, but I don't really know how much it has helped me in job competitiveness. On paper, it would probably make you look more qualified, but we also know people who have a lot of education, but can't hold down a job or teach out of a brown paper bag... [/color]

2. Is it common in texas and the mid-west to have these positions? (i've heard it is, but i'm not sure if that's changed)

>>[color=red]I can only speak for Texas and Oklahoma to an extent (I'm from OK, but have never taught there). These sorts of jobs are plentiful in Texas. For a while, I used to think that there were a lot of percussion specialist jobs, but now I'm realizing that most of the jobs that look like specialized jobs are really HS assistant positions, where that particular director oversees the percussion. You might be thinking, ";well, that's splitting hairs,"; but it's not. A percussion specialist job is only that and everything that comes with it. More often is the case that you are a HS assistant who teaches a band class and maybe even a beginner class outside of your expertise (I've taught saxophone, baritone and clarinet -- having to learn on the fly!). My job is the HS Assistant who oversees the percussion. I take the second HS band to contest every year and, especially this time of year, it is the main focus of my work hours. The rest of my classes are percussion only. I really like the way my job is set-up, but it's not for the sort of person who doesn't want to take a band to contest. I really enjoy it, so I'm game!

In OK, it seems like the jobs are far fewer between and when you find them, they are usually paid by the boosters. So, much less job security and little or nothing in the way of salary, benefits, retirement, insurance... A little too unstable for me![/color]

3. Does anyone know of any open positions of this nature ;)

>>[color=red]Take a look at tmea.org: go to the job postings. You might not see anything for a percussion specialist per se, but look for the ones that say percussionist preferred. And if you have DCI experience, you will automatically look better on paper. We might not do everything in the same vein as DCI/BOA or WGI, but we get the job done and recognize that that's where the innovation and talent is (that's for you, Harmsen!) You'll also need to look into getting certified to teach in Texas. Here's the best place to start your research: http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline/certinfo/becometeacher.asp?width=1920&height=1200[/color]

>>[color=red]Good luck! Email me if I can answer any of your other questions![/color]

Any advise is highly appreciated :)
[/quote]

Wise words from a wise man.

[quote author=erath link=topic=3577.msg18784#msg18784 date=1268595169]
We might not do everything in the same vein as DCI/BOA or WGI, but we get the job done and recognize that that's where the innovation and talent is (that's for you, Harmsen!)
[/quote]

Thanks, Eric! I just like a circuit where it's not just who's the cleanest but innovation is in fact recognized, rewarded, and actually attempted ;-) 

Thanks for the reply guys ;)

I marched under Lee Beddis at the Crossmen (before they moved to TX) So I do have that going for me :) I've also been teaching in VA for 3 years now and I'm told that after 3 years you can go to any state and teach without having to take additional tests ect. (so i've been told anyhow :) 

Thanks for the links too! I've heard of some assistant band directors being paid through the boosters, but seeing that I'm married I'd probably want the benefits ect :)

Any other useful tips and ideas?

Charlie,

You might be able to look through the MENC site for a list of states which will accept your VA license without any problems. It really is up to the individual states.

[quote author=ted_boliske link=topic=3577.msg18794#msg18794 date=1268660325]
Charlie,

You might be able to look through the MENC site for a list of states which will accept your VA license without any problems. It really is up to the individual states.

[/quote]

Thanks!  I just found a few sites today that basically said that my VA license should transfer to 48 states including texas!

And given that SBEC is the holy grail of certification here, you'll probably want to get the final word from them. If it transfers, you are golden!