Page 79 - 2020 Classical Singer Magazine January Summer Program Issue

and several years of teaching in public schools, which qualifies them to teach education courses including classroom management, choral methods, mentoring student teachers, etc. College voice professors, opera directors, and choir conductors are recruited for their demonstrated skills, not necessarily their degree specialties.
For example, my university title is assistant professor of voice and director of opera. I have a BM in music education, an MM in voice, and a DMA in voice and theatre. I never taught full time in a public school, but my education degree proved helpful in securing enjoyable jobs as a part-time teaching artist in public schools and as head teacher in some prestigious early childhood music programs.
My priority was always to sing professionally and work toward becoming a university voice teacher. Part-time teaching jobs along the way helped me become a better educator and allowed me the flexibility to take singing gigs when they came along. My university teaching colleagues have vastly different career experiences, but they all include a doctorate degree and several years of professional musical experience.
Soprano Christi Amonson is an assistant professor of voice and director of opera initiative at Augusta University and a teaching artist in residence for the summer Festival de Ópera San Luis in Mexico. She earned her DMA at the University of Arizona, her MM in voice at the Manhattan School of Music, and her BM in music education at the University of Idaho. Amonson is an active singer, writer, and member of NATS and NOA. She lives in Augusta, Georgia, with her husband and three daughters.
Endnote
1. Salary schedules for teachers are available online for in- dividual school districts. Many teachers with a bachelor’s de- gree will take credited courses and be eligible for higher salary increases by the six- or seven-year mark. Similarly, teachers with a master’s may accumulate more credits and be eligible for higher pay increases by their sixth or seventh year. This chart is a simple comparison of starting salaries for education levels in different areas of the United States.
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