No Experience Necessary

Who Can Teach Music History?
Strange as it may seem, music history is not just for high-brow academics who ride segways.
Music history is for everyone. If you are a piano teacher, you know more about music than your student does, so share what you know.

The MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) has about 17,000 piano teacher members. Of those, fewer than 40% have a Bachelor's degree in piano. Though a degree translates into more education, teaching piano is clearly not restricted to musicians with the fancy initials after their name. And likewise, teaching music history is available to all as well.

How Do I Learn Music History?
The following are excellent resources for starters:

• The Great Pianists by Harold C Shonberg
• The Lives of the Great Composers by Harold C Shonberg
• Bach, Beethoven, and the Boys by David W. Barber
• Great Contemporary Pianists Speak for Themselves by Elyse Mach
• The Life and Death of Classical Music by Norman Lebrecht

The more you read, the more you will share with your students, so get started now!