<p>This has crossed my mind a million times when debating Music Ed, and this is my main roadblock in being gung-ho about the major: What's it like, trying to get into the HS Band Director game? This is what I want to do the most. I dunno, just something about the band camps, the drill cleaning, the competitions, the leadership, the pep talks, the competition, the excitement, the music, the kids, it's what I want to do. However, I want to be able to get a job in the area.</p>
<p>Is getting a HS Band Director gig more of a networking thing? That's what my band director has told me, that the ''good ol' boy'' system runs rampant. Would a Master's help me more in getting a job? Also, what do band directors make? I'm sure it's not much, but my band director does own 2 BMWs...</p>
<p>Thanks for your time guys.</p>
<p>P.S.: As for colleges, I'm looking at Middle Tennessee State, Univ. of Tennessee, Tennessee Tech, or UT-Chattanooga.</p>
<p>In our state, HS band director are hired as high school teachers. Everything goes through the school district hiring process. They are paid on the teacher's pay scale with most getting an extra curricular contract for the work required outside of the regular school day. The EC contracts are usually negotiated with the district. I don't know a single HS band director that could even think about owning one BMW let alone 2. </p>
<p>As for the good ol' boy network, I am sure there is some of that in terms of recommendations and hiring committees. I know don't know of any female HS band directors in our area which I find somewhat disturbing. </p>
<p>Getting a Master's will be essential at some point if you want to move up on the district pay scale, but it may not help you get the initial job. Sometimes districts are interested in hiring people fresh out of college because you get paid less than someone with a master's or experience. The desire to higher inexperienced people will vary from district to district. Your most likely to get hired first as an assistant director at a large or by a smaller school out in the country. From there you gain experience, get to know people and hope to make a change to the kind of program you want. Or you find a program whose program is not doing well with hopes of building the kind of program you want. </p>
<p>The most important thing for any high school band director is support from their principal and the district administration. You are going to need people who will go to bat for you for the resources that you need. You will find yourself fighting a losing battle if you try and work for a district who is not supportive of the arts.</p>
<p>Don't be a HS Band director if you do not really love to TEACH. All the other stuff is the icing. You are first a teacher, to students that sometimes don't do what they are suppposed to do. Don't understand what it is you want. Don't get the support at home or have crisis affecting their participation and behavior. It's not all competitions and flash and excitement. It is being a teacher day in and day out. Make sure you have an in school experince with what the band director really does each and every day before you decide this is what you want. And BMWs are not standard unless they are "pre-owned".</p>
<p>They publish the teacher's salaries in our local paper annually and our band director earns more than the principal, maybe even the highest paid teacher. BUT, a lot of hard work comes with that (a lot of degrees too). He is, without a doubt, the hardest working teacher. He's the first one there, the last one to leave, works all thru summer, coordinates all band fundraisers, and always answers emails late into night from his home. He is organized and attends all meetings, and is involved with every aspect of band and how it relates to a very large school. It is unbelievable the amount of work he does. </p>
<p>I mentioned to my son a few years ago that I thought he might like doing this as a career and he immediately said, "no way!" He's no dummy - he sees the amount of work his band director does! </p>
<p>But all this being said, retiring with a school district has it's perks and compensation. </p>
<p>It truly takes a special person to be a band director!</p>
<p>Where we are the high school marching band directors are also high school instrumental music teachers. SO...to "break into" that mold...you would have to first and foremost be a high school music teacher (as others above have noted). Also...where I am...no one is dying to do that marching band job as it's a LOT of time both with the kids in practice and also EVERY weekend at least one day...sometimes two. Believe me...the stipend the music teachers receive is not all that terrific in New England. Perhaps it is in areas where football reigns. </p>
<p>Agreed with others...don't do this JUST for the marching band job...do it because you want to TEACH young musicians to be better young musicians.</p>