Music Education Majors: Build a Reference Base
are some very good resources out there on substituting, including "Teacher (Substitute) Survival Activities Kit Vol. 1; Emergency Activities Material on Class Control Guide" by Thomas J. Randquist and A Survival Kit for the Substitute and New Teacher by Jennifer Gaither.
If the secondary level is your interest, find out how you can get involved at the high school level. For instance, if you have any percussion or color guard experience, see if you can volunteer to help the local high school band during marching season (although this might interfere with your own college's season!). If you're a pianist, see if the choral director needs an accompanist, as long as rehearsal times don't conflict with your class schedule. The drama teacher might appreciate assistance with the high school musical. There might even be a community theater or ensemble group with which you can get involved. My county has a youth theater group that performs Biblical-based musicals each summer. One of the directors is a college student majoring in English. This has given her experience and credibility that will go a long way when she looks for her first teaching position.
Your avenues of experience don't have to be limited to music. Teach swimming at the Y, see if a church needs a Sunday school teacher, work part-time at the college daycare, or volunteer for a youth group or as a Big Brother/Big Sister. All of these services increase your people skills, which are just as important as your discipline skills with youngsters. After all, you'll probably have to associate with difficult colleagues, parents, or even principals, so it never hurts to learn to be diplomatic, but at the same time, standing your ground!
Of course, if your area is performance, you'll be needing a different experience base. Find out if there's a local association for your instrument and take advantage of all the recitals and masterclasses. Audition, audition, audition as much as you can, but not to the point of burn-out. And don't forget about giving lessons.
Cultivate these relationships with those in authority during this time, and ask for references as soon as your time with them is through. (Of course, be absolutely positive your job performance was satisfactory, and that you didn't accumulate too many jobs and volunteer positions for the sake of having a lot on your list!). And, NEVER add a reference without permission.
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