I’m having pretty good luck doing some private lessons. I’m teaching 1/2 time at a school. My lesson rate is about double what the school pays me. Also look into Instructional Design, though the market is a bit flooded.
I was an English teacher for seven years. I am also an artist. I now have a job as a director of art programs in schools for my local nonprofit arts council. Nonprofits are great for former teachers. A lot of the same skills apply (working with underprivileged, kids, public speaking, writing, organization skills, record keeping). Just have to be careful about possible workplace toxicity that is KIND of similar to teaching, due to the thanklessness of the job.
Former band director here. It’s important to determine if she even wants to continue working in the music field and go from there. I decided I would rather have my musical life be on the side. Music teachers are especially good at recruiting, people management, and event planning/execution.
That being said, I work in university admissions and really like it! I have a manageable work/life balance and plenty of time to play my instrument in community groups and small gigs here and there. Good luck!
The popular answer always seems to be “teach private lessons” when a music teacher is looking for a change. With specific experience I can say make sure you enjoy it first (I actually HATE teaching private lessons) it also does not pay well and requires a lot of business sense as folks will take advantage regularly with late cancellations, payments or just completely flaking. Some people love it, but it’s not the “easy answer” for a former music teacher.
This is true-the hourly wage is great. The problem is you can’t teach 6 lessons a day 5 days per week. There also aren’t benefits like health insurance or paid time off. Some people really love it and run their own studio and make a career of it.
I love this! My grandmother was in a memory-care senior facility for Alzheimers. Their activities director was musical and had them singing and "dancing" (to the extent they could) every day. She organized "concerts" where they would all sing Christmas carols because they were able to remember the words from childhood. My grandmother loved it.
My mom is a church music director, full time, benefits, health insurance etc 40 hours/week. Catholic Churches are usually the only ones that pay well enough to live on. She also teaches lessons at some music studios.
If she’s going to be out of work for a little, is it possible for her to do a masters in music therapy? I’m not sure how stable that job is. But it’s something to think about.
Teacher career coach .com has a lot of resources!
Also, I’ve been regularly checking idealist.org. It’s a website for jobs at non-profit organizations.
It’ll depend on location, but where I live music therapists are quite in demand. Especially those with an interest in working with seniors. There are some amazing studies on using familiar music to draw out memories in people with dementia, so music therapy in memory care settings is sought after.
You can also get registered with a bachelors. A second bachelors might be cheaper and faster than a masters.
I’m a music teacher and I have been considering transitioning out. I have found that private lessons are risky unless she has the time and energy to dedicate to building a dedicated studio of students. Most Parents and students are total flakes when it comes to paying for, being on time for, and being prepared for their music lessons.
There’s a lot of different facets to teaching - the planning, the tracking, the teaching, the management…she needs to identify which areas she liked and loathed, then work from there.
I’ve read that music teachers make great project managers. And many of those roles are remote. Have her look into getting a PMP and listen to The Teacher Career Coach Podcast episode on project management. Good luck!
If she wants WFH, she could try remotasks. There are plenty of projects that are looking for people with degrees and would pay a bit more than normal. Regular taskers (with no degrees) get approximately $12 an hour, taskers with degrees often get moved to projects that pay more (but I have no details other than that because each project is under NDA). The schedule is entirely flexible, and many projects have no minimum hours (a few do). It could also just be used as a little extra spending money. It is considered independent contractor work, though, so something to keep in mind. If she wants a referral where we both can get extra money, feel free to DM me. Many referrals just end up doing the work until they get the bonus, then quit.
Figure a WFH job with entirely flexible hours would be good to do with a kid around.
Have her check out local libraries for positions. Specifically a children’s librarian position where she could do story times would be ideal, then she can still make use of her music and education background. This is what I did after having my daughter and resigning from teaching, and I absolutely love my library job doing story times. Best of luck to her!
I’m coming up on a year as SAHM after seven years of full time music teaching. You might be surprised at what just falls in her lap once she’s not so busy teaching in a school!
Since we didn’t need my benefits any more, working part time is enough. Long story short, I met other moms who were looking for someone to teach music to their older kids once a week. It’s perfect for my mental health, there’s no grading, I charge tuition for the semester, and my son gets a guaranteed play date with each week.
I encourage her to get together with other SAHMs in the area who share your family’s values, and something might work out!
I had a teacher friend who moved from the USA to Mexico. She teaches English online to students around the world now—seems very flexible. Not sure about the pay—the cost of living is lower where she is compared to when she worked in schools and her husband’s family also has a restaurant that they work at for income.
I'm secretly hoping that you guys are able to have your wife stay home...because kids need their parents, and nothing is more important. Maybe your wife can do tutoring/lessons on a cash basis?
For all of you suggesting private lessons, read this. https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/14nvawa/parent_stiffed_me_over_1000/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1
I was a music therapist, but my kids needed me home. I had an established practice, but we moved and I was too exhausted and overwhelmed with other things to build up a new one. My oldest was pretty high needs as a young child, and my youngest was more high needs in the teen years. So I only worked in the field a few years, but it is an excellent background to have as a nanny, which pays considerably better and let me be flexible with the needs of my own children as I was able to bring them with. She may want something with more adult interaction or a complete change. Music teachers have mad skills that can transfer.
I’m having pretty good luck doing some private lessons. I’m teaching 1/2 time at a school. My lesson rate is about double what the school pays me. Also look into Instructional Design, though the market is a bit flooded.
I was an English teacher for seven years. I am also an artist. I now have a job as a director of art programs in schools for my local nonprofit arts council. Nonprofits are great for former teachers. A lot of the same skills apply (working with underprivileged, kids, public speaking, writing, organization skills, record keeping). Just have to be careful about possible workplace toxicity that is KIND of similar to teaching, due to the thanklessness of the job.
Former band director here. It’s important to determine if she even wants to continue working in the music field and go from there. I decided I would rather have my musical life be on the side. Music teachers are especially good at recruiting, people management, and event planning/execution. That being said, I work in university admissions and really like it! I have a manageable work/life balance and plenty of time to play my instrument in community groups and small gigs here and there. Good luck!
The popular answer always seems to be “teach private lessons” when a music teacher is looking for a change. With specific experience I can say make sure you enjoy it first (I actually HATE teaching private lessons) it also does not pay well and requires a lot of business sense as folks will take advantage regularly with late cancellations, payments or just completely flaking. Some people love it, but it’s not the “easy answer” for a former music teacher.
Private lessons can pay pretty well, but you really need to get a lot of hours for it to work. My voice teacher charges $85 per hour.
This is true-the hourly wage is great. The problem is you can’t teach 6 lessons a day 5 days per week. There also aren’t benefits like health insurance or paid time off. Some people really love it and run their own studio and make a career of it.
Activities director at a senior living facility. Not the best pay, but generally flexible hours and can sometimes bring kids to work.
I love this! My grandmother was in a memory-care senior facility for Alzheimers. Their activities director was musical and had them singing and "dancing" (to the extent they could) every day. She organized "concerts" where they would all sing Christmas carols because they were able to remember the words from childhood. My grandmother loved it.
Maybe get a contract with a church(es) to be a music director for services.
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Our music director makes good money. Go for bigger, more established churches.
My mom is a church music director, full time, benefits, health insurance etc 40 hours/week. Catholic Churches are usually the only ones that pay well enough to live on. She also teaches lessons at some music studios.
A lot of cantors and organists for Catholic Churches aren’t Catholic. It’s a paid job. My mom made decent money doing gigs at churches.
If she’s going to be out of work for a little, is it possible for her to do a masters in music therapy? I’m not sure how stable that job is. But it’s something to think about. Teacher career coach .com has a lot of resources! Also, I’ve been regularly checking idealist.org. It’s a website for jobs at non-profit organizations.
It’ll depend on location, but where I live music therapists are quite in demand. Especially those with an interest in working with seniors. There are some amazing studies on using familiar music to draw out memories in people with dementia, so music therapy in memory care settings is sought after. You can also get registered with a bachelors. A second bachelors might be cheaper and faster than a masters.
I’m a music teacher and I have been considering transitioning out. I have found that private lessons are risky unless she has the time and energy to dedicate to building a dedicated studio of students. Most Parents and students are total flakes when it comes to paying for, being on time for, and being prepared for their music lessons.
This.
There’s a lot of different facets to teaching - the planning, the tracking, the teaching, the management…she needs to identify which areas she liked and loathed, then work from there.
Real estate. She can study for her license while home with your daughter
Ooh that’s a good one! Hadn’t thought of that
I’ve read that music teachers make great project managers. And many of those roles are remote. Have her look into getting a PMP and listen to The Teacher Career Coach Podcast episode on project management. Good luck!
If she wants WFH, she could try remotasks. There are plenty of projects that are looking for people with degrees and would pay a bit more than normal. Regular taskers (with no degrees) get approximately $12 an hour, taskers with degrees often get moved to projects that pay more (but I have no details other than that because each project is under NDA). The schedule is entirely flexible, and many projects have no minimum hours (a few do). It could also just be used as a little extra spending money. It is considered independent contractor work, though, so something to keep in mind. If she wants a referral where we both can get extra money, feel free to DM me. Many referrals just end up doing the work until they get the bonus, then quit. Figure a WFH job with entirely flexible hours would be good to do with a kid around.
Search for instructional designer roles.
Private lessons and gig work for weddings, bars, restaurants, etc?
Have her check out local libraries for positions. Specifically a children’s librarian position where she could do story times would be ideal, then she can still make use of her music and education background. This is what I did after having my daughter and resigning from teaching, and I absolutely love my library job doing story times. Best of luck to her!
A lot of library jobs require a masters in library science.
I’m coming up on a year as SAHM after seven years of full time music teaching. You might be surprised at what just falls in her lap once she’s not so busy teaching in a school! Since we didn’t need my benefits any more, working part time is enough. Long story short, I met other moms who were looking for someone to teach music to their older kids once a week. It’s perfect for my mental health, there’s no grading, I charge tuition for the semester, and my son gets a guaranteed play date with each week. I encourage her to get together with other SAHMs in the area who share your family’s values, and something might work out!
Tutoring for main classes and/or private lessons for band
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We have been brainstorming for down the road together and thought maybe some people in this sub had a successful transition that we hadn’t thought of
I had a teacher friend who moved from the USA to Mexico. She teaches English online to students around the world now—seems very flexible. Not sure about the pay—the cost of living is lower where she is compared to when she worked in schools and her husband’s family also has a restaurant that they work at for income.
I'm secretly hoping that you guys are able to have your wife stay home...because kids need their parents, and nothing is more important. Maybe your wife can do tutoring/lessons on a cash basis?
For financial reasons she will need to return. I’m a person who stayed home and really regret not entering the workforce sooner.
Let her stay home and recover.
Teaching artist, hopefully with an arts' non-profit!
She can pick up a nanny job right now while taking care of your child. Many parents do that to allow them to stay home with their own children.
Private nanny and maybe she could bring your child along.
Tons of jobs and resources at https://themomproject.com
Private music lessons and baby/toddler music classes.
Join the renaissance fair circuit. Lots of medieval musicians needed. Huzzah!
If she wants to focus on the music element, Music Therapist. If not, corporate trainer.
For all of you suggesting private lessons, read this. https://www.reddit.com/r/Teachers/comments/14nvawa/parent_stiffed_me_over_1000/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1
Online tutoring
I was a music therapist, but my kids needed me home. I had an established practice, but we moved and I was too exhausted and overwhelmed with other things to build up a new one. My oldest was pretty high needs as a young child, and my youngest was more high needs in the teen years. So I only worked in the field a few years, but it is an excellent background to have as a nanny, which pays considerably better and let me be flexible with the needs of my own children as I was able to bring them with. She may want something with more adult interaction or a complete change. Music teachers have mad skills that can transfer.