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Having a CV that really brings out your musical skills and talents together with your teaching ability and formal qualifications when you’re applying for a job as a piano teacher is key to your success. With our piano teacher CV sample, you’ll be able to create your personal CV from scratch thanks to the professional format guide as to what to write.
Our piano teacher CV template will get your CV to the top of the pile, capturing the attention and imagination of those selecting the interview candidates and making sure you’re included in the shortlist.
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Sample piano teacher CV
Mary James
4 Covington Close, London WC2 4TF
07912345678
Mary.James@example-example.co.uk
Professional summary
Energetic Piano Teacher enthusiastic about helping students express themselves and understand their world via a wide range of dramatic performances.
Work history
February 2016 – Current
London School of Arts – London
Piano Teacher
- Developed student confidence in music theory, aiding attainment of theoretical exams to allow for practical exam progress.
- Taught in-person and online piano lessons, allowing for maximum flexibility to suit student needs.
- Supported musicians in developing self-expression through music, encouraging music composition and adaptation.
January 2011 – January 2016
Chirp Music School – London
Head of Keyboard
- Taught students to sight-read sheet music using memory techniques to ensure the best results.
- Provided engaging lessons on foundational music theory and history to ensure a thorough understanding of piano playing.
- Supported 200+ music students over 5 years.
Skills
- Advanced piano teaching
- Music tuition
- Student development
- Sheet music interpretation
- Theoretical learning
- Student instruction
- Personalised learning
- History of Music
- Assemble leadership
- Individual and group instruction
Education
London University London – 2011
Bachelor of Arts Music
What is the best format for your piano teacher CV?
An easy-to-read and thoughtfully organised piano teacher CV has countless benefits. It’s easier for employers to scan through, getting you off on the right foot. Plus, the formulaic structure showcases your qualifications, sought-after attributes, and professional history.
There are two widely accepted CV formats to choose from: the reverse-chronological CV and skills-based CV. The former leads with your career achievements, while the latter concentrates on your potential.
If you’re applying for a piano teaching job in an educational setting, we suggest using the reverse-chronological CV. Schools, colleges, and universities require tangible experience and watertight credentials. The overall structure looks like this:
- Contact details – name, address, email, phone number.
- Brief personal summary – three to four sentences
- Work history – starting from your current or most recent role
- Education – academic and outside training
- Skills – ensure they reflect the job description
- Additional information – interests and references
As with any teaching position, you might want to swap around the work history and education sections. Highlighting your academic qualifications near the top helps employers quickly identify suitable candidates.
Piano teachers come from all walks of life, and plenty of people share their passion for music part-time. If you’re a university student who teaches on the side or a talented retiree seeking additional income, consider a skills-based CV instead. The overall structure looks like this:
- Contact details
- Brief personal summary
- Skills – include a mixture of job-specific and transferable skills in place of work history
- Education
- Additional information
Top tips for piano teacher CV writing
Note your specialism
Piano teaching is an umbrella career that comprises many specialisms. Some teachers work with secondary school pupils, while others prefer older students. You might focus on specific grades – there’s a significant difference between what newly qualified and experienced tutors can teach. Cover this information in your CV, so employers understand your strengths.
Mix hard and soft skills
If you’ve come into piano teaching via a non-traditional route, blend hard and soft skills to compensate for a lack of formal education or work experience. You could mention how many years you’ve been practising and valuable personal qualities, like “dedication” and “creativity”.
Don’t skip over education
If possible, prioritise the education section to prove your proficiency. Employers can’t hear you play through your CV, so having the relevant qualifications will reassure them of your talent.
Lead with real-world results
Have you got any evidence to back up your claims? For example, you might have a 98% pass rate or a former star student you can mention. The more figures you include, the better – if you’re going to talk the talk, you’ve got to walk the walk!
Writing a cover letter for a piano teacher CV
Even the best piano teacher CVs can be unsuccessful without a compelling cover letter – many employers no longer accept applications without one. Wondering how to write a cover letter? Firstly, organise the prose into three punchy sections, including:
- Three to four sentences stating your interest
- Nine to twelve sentences spotlighting your skills
- Three to four sentences stating your availability
Then, we recommend:
- Reflecting the job specification – mirror the adjectives in the ad
- Researching the company – use their language to guide your tone
- Integrating statistics to back up your experience
How to write a CV for a piano teacher
Writing a piano teacher CV doesn’t have to be complicated – simply implement our expert tips and tricks. Above all else:
- CVs should be one to two pages long, maximum
- Sections should be concise and to the point
- All information must be up to date and factually correct
- Double-check spelling and grammar
- Tailor your CV to the job specification
The best applications also include a short cover letter emphasising why you’re the best person for the job (more on this later). Read on for answers to your most pressing questions on how to write a CV, including the secret to a winning personal statement and cover letter:
- Adding contact details to your piano teacher CV
- How to write a personal statement for your piano teacher CV
- How to present your work history on a piano teacher CV
- Top skills for your piano teacher CV
- How to add education to your piano teacher CV
Adding contact details to your piano teacher CV
Before you get into the nitty gritty details, outline your contact details at the top of your piano teacher CV. Sounds obvious, right? However, you’d be surprised how many people skip over this essential section. Remember to include:
- First name and surname
- Location – town, city, or address
- Email address – keep it professional
- Phone number – the best one to reach you on
Example of contact section for a piano teacher CV
John Smith
1 Anystreet, Anytown,
Anycounty, Postcode
07777 666 555
johnsmith64@anymail.com
How to write a personal statement for your piano teacher CV
The first thing an employer reads on receiving a CV is the personal statement. Think about it as a kind of professional dating profile – it’s a chance to express your enthusiasm, show off your positive qualities, and underline what sets you apart from the competition.
A personal statement makes all the difference if you and several other candidates have similar education and career backgrounds. Plus, it’s one of the only places, bar the cover letter, where you can let your personality shine through. Usually, it contains three to four sentences:
- Sentence one explains who you are – e.g. an accomplished piano teacher with over a decade of experience
- Sentence two stresses what you can achieve – e.g. support students in completing their Grade 1 to 5 qualifications
- Sentences three to four prove how – e.g. creates and delivers engaging class plans and syllabuses
When crafting your personal statement:
- Write in the third person – it sounds more professional
- Use positive adjectives, like “caring”, “patient”, and “motivated”
- Back up expertise with real results – you might have helped over 100 pupils achieve their Grade 3 certificate
- Mention any specialisms, such as age groups or online teaching
Example of personal statement for a piano teacher CV
Talented piano teacher with considerable experience in teaching different ages and skill levels, from beginners to advanced. Particularly adept at teaching children and younger students. Able to teach a variety of musical styles, including jazz, blues, classical, and improvisation, coaching students towards taking examinations and performing live on stage.
OR
University student with over two years of teaching experience. Uses an effective variety of specialist teaching techniques to make lessons fun and enjoyable. Helps students to understand musical theory as a basis for their learning. Eager to move into full-time professional piano teaching after graduation.
How to present your work history on a piano teacher CV
A comprehensive work history section is crucial, especially if you’re applying for a position in an educational institution. As well as emphasising your musical talent, you must demonstrate teaching experience. Employers need reassurance that you can handle multiple students of various abilities and ages.
Starting with your current or most recent position, include:
- Employer’s name and location
- Job title
- Start and end date
- Responsibilities – between three to six
If you haven’t worked as a piano teacher before, focus on transferable roles and skills. Perhaps, you were part of the local orchestra? Have you ever conducted music lessons on a voluntary, not-for-profit basis? Include any information that’s relevant to the job specification.
Most importantly, think outside the box when listing your duties and substantiate your accomplishments. Employers read through hundreds of piano teacher CVs, so this will help yours to stand out. For example, which sounds more exciting?
“Coordinated yearly talent shows for students.”
OR
“Successfully ran yearly talent shoes with over 100 participants and 300 spectators, preparing pupils for their future live performances.”
Lastly, avoid repetition. Every role is a fantastic opportunity to reveal something brand-new about yourself, giving employers an holistic view of your capabilities. If you’ve covered class planning in one job, mention extended piano techniques, like flageolet or sound icon, in another.
Example of work experience for a piano teacher CV
Piano Teacher | Hollyhead Music School 2009-present
- Teaching different genres of piano playing to students from 4 years upwards.
- Preparing students to take exams.
- Coaching students towards live performance.
- Liaising with parents of younger students.
- Participating in staff meetings.
Head of Keyboard | Brightside School | 2002-2009
- Head of keyboard, teaching piano and keyboard skills to students.
- Teaching piano to students with special needs.
Top skills for your piano teacher CV
Shouting about yourself can feel awkward, but it’s the only way you’ll get your foot in the door. If there’s one thing employers love, it’s a confident candidate with a repertoire of impressive CV skills. Incorporate a mixture of hard and soft skills to wow the hiring manager.
Hard skills are technical and job-specific – for instance, your Piano Grade 8 qualification. In contrast, soft skills sell your personality. You might be a calm communicator who can always get the best from timid students. If you’re struggling with what to write, ask your friends, family, and former colleagues for their input.
Here are some examples to illustrate the point:
Essential skills for a piano teacher
- Piano Grade 8 (with distinction)
- Music Theory Grade 8CT
- BA in Music
- Can develop individual lesson plans
- Able to teach an extended repertoire
Desirable aptitudes to set you apart
- Specialist in teaching students with learning difficulties
- Good with nervous students
- Innovative and imaginative tutor
- Able to relate to piano students of all ages
- Innovative and imaginative tutor
How to add education to your piano teacher CV
Piano teaching differs from other subjects because you don’t necessarily need a qualification to teach the instrument (it’s not a regulated profession). However, formal education demonstrates a good understanding of musical theory and an aptitude for practical techniques. Most employers won’t accept candidates who haven’t gone through the traditional grading process.
Piano teaching and teaching, in general, are similar when it comes to working in educational environments. You’ll need a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) or a postgraduate diploma of education (PGDE) if you already have a degree in music. Alternatively, you can become certified to teach without a degree through the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).
When listing education or other qualifications, include:
- School, college, university or other awarding body
- Study and graduation dates
- Qualification levels, such as BTEC or PGCE
- Subject title – not required for GCSEs
Example education section for a piano teacher
BSc (Hons) in Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying University of Example, 2001-2004 A Levels
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), 2012 – 2016 Piano Grade 8 (with distinction) Music Theory Grade 8CT BA in Music
Milton Keynes College, 2010 – 2012 A Levels: Music A, English B, Maths B
Milton Keynes High School, 2005 – 2010 10 GCSEs: Grades A* – C
Your piano teacher CV questions answered
How would you describe a piano teacher?
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when applying for a piano teacher position is splitting the two roles – the best musicians may make lousy teachers, and vice versa. Job descriptions place equal importance on musical mastery and teaching capacities, so ensure your CV is well-rounded. For example, while a musical genius needs creativity, teachers require discipline and structure.
What is the job description of a music teacher?
Music teachers carry out countless day-to-day tasks that depend on the professional setting. However, essential duties often include:
- Developing engaging lessons plans
- Selecting course material
- Assessing theory papers and practical performances
- Advising students on their future career prospects
- Collaborating with other departments or institutions
- Maintaining a good knowledge of classical and modern scores
What are the skills of a piano teacher?
The abilities of a piano teacher are multifaceted. On the one hand, they must possess outstanding musical aptitudes that feed into their teaching. On the other, they need to be fantastic communicators and motivators. Highlight:
- How many years you’ve played the piano
- Musical theory knowledge
- Imaginative teaching skills
- Class management experience
- Ability to instruct all ages and abilities
- Understanding of student’s educational needs
How do I write a CV for teaching with no experience?
As mentioned above, you must approach piano teaching as two positions rolled into one – this means you might not be able to teach without the relevant credentials, even if you play beautifully. To become an instructor, you can complete a Certificate for Music Educators (CME) at the ABRSM.
Otherwise, showcase your transferable skills in a skills-based CV. Although not as highly regarded as a reverse-chronological format, it’s still effective at selling your potential.
Write a persuasive piano teacher CV today
The piano teacher CV sample is part of our online resources ready for you to use to build an impressive career summary that’s perfect for getting you the job you want. You can also draw inspiration from our CV examples and use our selection of pre-made CV templates to make the process easier.
For further help with building the perfect CV, consult our online tools and get started on our site today.
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