a blog about the cultural experiences my husband and I have because of our work abroad...what's delightful and beautiful about different countries and cultures...what we have learned from living and working in countries other than our home country...and how those experiences have changed us

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Music Teacher in Butte, Montana USA

Happy November! I tried to get this post ready for October but it just didn’t happen.  


As it’s been two full months since I started, I think it’s a good time to announce: I am the new elementary music teacher in Butte, MT! 

I have 520 students across three elementary schools, teaching general music to 3rd grade through 6th grade and orchestra class for the 6th grade at one of the schools. 

So let me back up a bit.

On a Sunday night in July, I submitted online job applications to two music jobs in different towns in Montana. I received a call for an interview in Butte that following Monday morning! By Thursday, I was offered the job for Butte and then received another call for an interview for the other job I applied for. I liked the the job description for Butte the best so I accepted their offer. Stephen and I also liked how friendly people were across the town. Although born and raised in Montana, I’ve barely been to Butte. Mostly, I drove past on the way to Billings or Bozeman. 

As many of you know, in January of this year, I attended the University of Montana and started a Master in Music Education program. I originally thought I would spend two years getting my second masters degree. But by mid-summer, I had completed all the steps for certification in Montana and felt like the best idea for the fall was to start working with kids again instead of continuing with the music education program. Having already earned certification in Washington made the process somewhat easier, but Montana has a pretty lengthy process.

It was a good decision: I’m really enjoying my new job! The district spent $60,000 last year buying new instruments and a new curriculum.


New xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels and more. These barred instruments are super fun for the kids and I love the curriculum that incorporates them into the lessons every week! After so many years writing my own curriculum and creating my own activities, having a great curriculum like this one is awesome. I still have to work tons of hours outside the school day to prepare, but it does make life somewhat easier.

Well I better get back to it. I have to practice cello, violin, piano and trombone! But I'll try to post a bit more often!