Lifland is a music teacher at Polytechnic School, where he directs the choirs, accompanies and coaches musical theater, and teaches music history. He also maintains a private studio of voice and piano students. He earned his Kodály certification from the Kodály Association of Southern California and serves on their board as executive secretary. Previously, he has taught K-5 music in LA public schools and worked in musical theater as a music director and briefly as an assistant to Hal Prince.