Music teacher jobs in schools

Music teaching in schools splits into two quite different jobs. Classroom music teachers have qualified teacher status (QTS), teach whole classes from Key Stage 3 to A level, and are paid on the teachers’ pay scales. Peripatetic (instrumental and vocal) teachers give individual and small-group lessons on an instrument or voice, often across several schools, and are usually employed by a music hub, a music service or the schools themselves, or work self-employed. Which one suits you depends on whether you want to teach the subject or the instrument.

Classroom music teaching

A secondary classroom music teacher teaches every pupil at Key Stage 3, covering performing, composing and listening, then GCSE and sometimes A level music or music technology. In primary schools music is usually taught by class teachers, sometimes with a specialist who teaches across the school.

To teach classroom music in a maintained school in England you need a degree and QTS, as for any secondary teacher. Most trainees have a music degree; providers expect strong practical musicianship, keyboard skills for accompanying, and the ability to read and teach notation. The usual routes are a PGCE, SCITT, School Direct or a salaried route. There is no training bursary for music in 2026/27.

Departments are often small. In many secondaries the head of music is one of only one or two music teachers and is responsible for the whole department, including the extra-curricular programme.

Peripatetic teaching

Peripatetic teachers usually teach one instrument family (strings, brass, woodwind, percussion, piano, guitar) or voice. A typical week involves travelling between schools, teaching individual or small-group lessons through the day, and leading ensembles in the evenings or at weekends.

There is no single entry route. Hubs and schools look for a high standard of performance, often a music degree or conservatoire training, and experience of teaching children. Teaching diplomas from the music exam boards and conservatoires help. QTS is not normally required.

The employment arrangements vary a great deal:

• some music services employ teachers on salaried contracts with sick pay, holiday and a pension
• others use hourly or zero-hours contracts tied to the lessons sold to schools
• many instrumental teachers are self-employed, paid by schools or parents per lesson

If you are offered work, check whether you are an employee, a worker or self-employed, because your holiday pay, sick pay and pension rights depend on it. Zero-hours contracts covers your position if your hours are not guaranteed.

How music hubs fit in

In England, music hubs are partnerships, led by a lead organisation in each area, that receive government funding to support music education. They run or coordinate instrumental lessons, area ensembles, whole-class instrumental programmes in primary schools, and training for teachers. Many hub lead organisations grew out of the old council music services and still employ peripatetic staff.

For a classroom teacher, the hub is a source of support, ensembles for your pupils and training. For an instrumental teacher, it may be your employer. Hub jobs appear on council and hub websites as well as on general job boards.

Pay

Classroom music teachers in maintained schools are paid under the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document. From 1 September 2026, after a 3.5 per cent award, the main pay range runs from £34,069 to £46,940 outside London and from £41,729 to £54,131 in inner London. A head of music normally receives a TLR, with TLR2 values of £3,651 to £8,913 from the same date. The new figures are in the draft 2026 pay document, expected to be final around early November and backdated. See teacher pay scales in England.

Peripatetic pay has no national scale. Some music services pay instrumental teachers on a teachers’ scale or a council pay scale; others set an hourly rate. Self-employed teachers set their own fees. Compare offers on a like-for-like basis, including whether travel time between schools is paid. Employed instrumental teachers must be paid at least the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over, and travelling between assignments during the working day generally counts as working time.

Extra-curricular expectations

Both jobs come with a lot of activity outside lessons: choirs, bands, orchestras, concerts, shows and exam performances. For classroom teachers much of this is expected as part of running a department. Ask at interview what the school’s calendar looks like and how much of it falls on the music department alone. For peripatetic teachers, ensemble work in the evenings and at weekends may be paid separately or built into the contract, and it is worth knowing which before you agree to run a youth orchestra or a Saturday music centre.

Getting started

For classroom teaching, get experience in a school music department and apply through the DfE’s Apply for teacher training service, using the Get Into Teaching website for advice. For peripatetic work, contact your local music hub and schools directly, and build up teaching experience with private pupils. Classroom music posts appear on Teaching Vacancies; hub posts are often only on the hub’s own site.