Music Teachers Blog

We’re all adults, so getting dressed should be a no brainer, but we are also private teachers, which means many of us don’t have a boss telling us how to dress. I thought it would be nice to open up a discussion of what it means to dress professionally as an independent music teacher. Doctors have a uniform, as well as corporate accountants. How do we dress for our job in a way that expresses who we are as professional, creative, independent music teachers? I’ve tried to tackle this one as a business owner, but also as someone working with kids. The keys are comfort, professional attire, and cleanliness. 

Comfort

If you are teaching kids, it is absolutely essential that you are comfortable. Kids love to sit on the floor with their theory books.  Many of them also favor those electronic keyboards that do not come with traditional benches, so sometimes you may have an undesirable seating situation (kid’s chairs, anyone?). Personally I cannot teach in a skirt for all of the above reasons. Some women are perfectly comfortable in skirts.  It is up to you to decide what clothes you feel most comfortable in and make them a part of your personal uniform.  Some people are really comfortable in track suits or ratty jeans, but neither are very professional. So let’s talk about how to get your comfort up to the professional level.

Professional Attire

By professional attire, I don’t mean a business suit. In fact, I think there is such a thing as overdressing for a music teacher. If you are over dressed, you will for sure  be uncomfortable, and your student will sense that. Since our profession is casual in nature, here is a list of basic casual items that you can wear if you follow some rules in order to make them appear more professional than weekend sports ware.

Jeans

I live in jeans. I love them, and if you get a dark wash, straight leg pair, you can get that neat but casual look. They send a message that you are in charge, but you are also ready to have a good time playing music with your students. Holes, acid wash, too tight, too low, super long, or baggy jeans are not ok! This only portrays a sloppy image. Dressing sloppy sends a message to everyone that you really don’t care what they think of you, and that is offensive in a business situation because you are supposed to care what they think. 

Sleeveless Tops

Men, this is never okay in a teaching situation, so this sections is really intended for the ladies. Generally speaking, it is not considered professional to wear sleeveless tops, but these are modern times with very hot global warming summers. With that said, here are a few tips on how to wear sleeveless in a professional way.

First of all, it’s really only appropriate if it is ridiculously hot outside. If the temperature outside is 70 degrees, you should really put on a cardigan before greeting your student and their parent. Second, tank tops are never okay. They are meant for lounging around the house or working out at the gym.  Instead, go for a sleeveless top that is made from a more structured fabric such as crisp cotton. Anything tight or clingy will appear immodest.  You also want to make sure the skin exposure is balanced, so no low neck lines if your bare the arms. Here is a good example of what I am explaining. (Ignore the price, it’s just an example!) One more note about sleeveless: if you have any religious families with personal dress codes that you teach, keep a cardigan in your bag so that you can slip it on before greeting the student. I do this when I teach my Orthodox Jewish students. 

T Shirts

I don’t think there is anything wrong with T Shirts if you just follow a few rules. For men, make sure it is clean, fitted properly, and doesn’t have any political statements or offensive jokes printed on it. Currently, you see a lot of men layering opened Button up shirts over T-Shirts. This is clean, and perfectly professional enough for a music teacher. It certainly dresses up the T-shirt look without over doing it. 

For women, baggy T-shirts are sloppy and send the wrong message. Instead, try to wear one that is more fitted, but not tight. Also, 3/4 length sleeves are perfect all year round. For short sleeve Tees, make sure it isn’t too tight and it isn’t see-thru. 

Cleanliness

This is number one, and it’s all very common sense. Men, make sure you shave, or if you have one, trim those beards. Make sure you have showered and wear deoderant.  For the ladies, I recommend carrying some wipes to freshen up your face and makeup later in the day when the makeup starts to come off. If you sweat easily, this will also help to get rid of that shiny forehead (my biggest problem…damn that Italian heritage). Keep some facial morsturizer in your bag as well to apply in the afternoon along with some lip gloss and you’re good to go. Finally, keep your hands and nails clean. The kids will be looking at them the most, so you want them to look good. Also, keep some gum or breath mints handy. You get pretty close to your students and you don’t want to repel them with your breath.

Well, I hope that helped you. Hopefully this will help you get ready for the day faster and with more ease and comfort. Please feel free to chime in and let us know what you do to stay professional and comfortable. 

Posted in Studio Management, Teaching Tips |

About the Author

When I was just a college Junior, I started teaching private guitar lessons in order to support myself. I was in a rock band, writing songs and performing on a regular basis, and I certainly did not plan on becoming a teacher. My plan was to graduate, get a job in social work, and just continue writing songs. Teaching surprised me. I ended up falling in love with the act of guiding a student from point a to point b. To watch someone go from knowing nothing about a subject, to simply performing in a recital, is such an awesome thing. I ended up scrapping that social work idea. I was doing more good as a teacher, minus the intense stress that most social workers go home with. I currently have a busy program that teaches private guitar, piano, and voice lessons in Los Angeles homes. I am also the creator of the music and service blog 38 Ways to Change the World Through Music.