Essential Characteristics For a Music TeacherNancy Shankman from NYU talks about what traits music teachers must have in order to be successful in their careers. She emphasizes that music teachers must be passionate, love children, be well organized and well-prepared, and take the good days with the bad. She stresses that preparation is very important and a music teacher must know the music they are teaching and be sensitive to the needs and learning styles of the class. She also discusses that it is important for music teachers to practice music outside of the school day.