The purpose of this case study was to describe the experience of a first year music educator teaching outside of his specialization. The participant, Joseph, had completed an instrumental music education degree and, at the time of the study, was teaching elementary general music. Research questions were designed to investigate how Joseph navigated the differences between his expected employment prior to graduation and the realities of his current teaching position, as well as the critical experiences he considered to be most relevant to his preparedness for achieving success in his current job. Implications for music teacher educators include the importance of discussing the realities of the job market, incorporating activities that develop self-efficacy, and providing authentic-context learning experiences
