Early Childhood Musicianship Teacher

JOB SUMMARY

The Musicianship Teaching Artist is a dynamic educator and classroom leader who teaches early childhood music and movement classes to students in elementary school, primarily kindergarten through 2nd grade (typically in classes of 15-25 students). Musicianship classes incorporate materials, practices, repertoire, and activities drawing from methods including Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze, Gordon, etc.

In addition to teaching responsibilities, the full-time musicianship teaching artist will play an integral role in day-to-day site coordination, relationship building with school partners, and will work closely with the Early Childhood Education Manger in the development and implementation of new pre-instrumental programming.

The OrchKids educational philosophy focuses on student-centered learning, evidence-based teaching practices relevant to our students’ lives, creation and improvisation, inclusion, student voice and agency, and ensemble music-making. This methodology aims to promote synchronicity and community as well as simultaneously cultivating high artistic instrumental skills (i.e. technique, learning challenging repertoire) and fostering creativity (e.g. improvisation and composition).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Teaching Responsibilities (75%)

• Teach twenty musicianship group classes weekly in accordance with OrchKids culturally responsive curriculum and trauma-informed educational philosophy
• Serve as a consistent and compassionate mentor to OrchKids students
• Hold students to high artistic standards, cultivating both their technical and ensemble skills
• Embrace OrchKids’ mission, goals, and guiding principles
• Actively incorporate into classes the perspectives, strategies, language, routines, and other pedagogical tools conveyed through the OrchKids professional development sessions
• Plan outside of class time (additional time included in salary)
• **Submit monthly content goals in provided scope & sequence template
• Creating substitute plans if there is a necessary absence
• Attend required concerts, meetings, events and professional development sessions
• Select & rehearse appropriate repertoire to prepare students for 2-3 annual showcases

Site-Based and Administrative Responsibilities (25%)

• Maintain professional, prompt lines of communication with OrchKids staff — respond to emails within 48 hours.
• Serve as a primary representative and point of contact for OrchKids, work with admin team to cultivate a strong, positive culture around OrchKids programming, and strong lines of communication at assigned site (principal, teachers, staff, etc.)
  • Coordinate regular check-in meetings with school partners and OrchKids staff
  • Identify and present any challenges that need to be rectified proactively in collaboration with Early Childhood Education Manager & OrchKids Directors
  • Update the OrchKids site-based calendar, including OrchKids event information, teacher absences, and school site events such as field trips, testing schedules, closure, etc.
• Perform administrative duties essential to running one’s own classroom, including photocopying, room setup/breakdown, lesson planning, etc.
  • Work with Artistic and Program Operations Manager, Early Childhood Education Manager to maintain site instrument inventory, equipment, and supplies at site
• Organize 2-3 annual showcases with support from the Early Childhood Education Manager & the OrchKids team
• Participate in all team meetings, curriculum meetings and teacher meetings as appropriate/as teaching responsibilities allow
  • Weekly check-ins with Early Childhood Education Manager
• Support with planning & implementation of musicianship specific PDs, department meetings, and orientation sessions

QUALIFICATIONS AND CAPABILITIES

• Passion for working with youth and desire to serve as a positive role model to students
• Experience working with groups of young children (pre-k through 3rd grade) in educational activities involving music, movement, and singing
• Familiarity with a wide range of early childhood music pedagogical methods including Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze, Gordon, etc.
• High level of musicianship and comfortability with singing
• Comfort with an accompaniment instrument (piano, guitar, ukulele, etc.)
• Training in early childhood music
• Strong classroom management and student group-leading skills
• Willingness to jump in and embrace OrchKids’ practices of music-making through creative composition, improvisation and incorporating a variety of musical genres
• Flexibility and ability to work collaboratively within the OrchKids team and Musicianship department
• Punctuality, professionalism and excellent interpersonal skills
• Personal commitment to social justice, restorative educational and anti-racist practices, as well as trauma-informed philosophies

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Health insurance: two options to choose from; all at low cost to the employee
• Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability Insurance, paid entirely by the BSO
• Generous paid time off, including personal, holidays, and sick leave
  • 10 sick days
  • 3 personal days
  • Holidays and leave in accordance with the BCPSS school calendar
• 403(b) plan
• Health Savings Account, employer contributes portion
• Flexible Spending Accounts, including Medical and Dependent Care
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free and/or discounted tickets to BSO concerts

**Note: This position will follow the Baltimore City Public Schools calendar, with school holidays and summers off. A salary for 10 months of work will be distributed over the full 12 month calendar year. Additional paid opportunities for summer work may be available.

For more information, visit: https://www.bsomusic.org/job/early-childhood-musicianship-teacher/