Classroom Guitar Instructor (Project GRIT)
Gifted Music School is pleased to announce the opening of a Classroom Guitar Instructor faculty position at City Academy. Duties begin August 2023 or later, as negotiated.*
*Note: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Highly qualified applicants should complete the online application as soon as possible to guarantee consideration. For more information, or to suggest nominations for this position, please contact careers@giftedmusicschool.org.
JOB SUMMARY
Gifted Music School seeks an accomplished group guitar specialist to teach afternoon group guitar lessons at City Academy in Salt Lake City, UT. One of Gifted Music School’s GRIT partner schools, City Academy is an accredited 7th-12th grade public charter school adjacent to the Gifted Music School campus. The Classroom Guitar Instructor reports to the Executive Director of City Academy and will work in close cooperation with the Gifted Music School Guitar Department Chair as well as other members of the team. The instructor's primary role is to instruct, guide, and inspire students by developing an engaging curriculum within a positive learning environment.
Specific responsibilities for the Classroom Guitar Instructor will include but are not limited to:
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Teach 3 sections of group guitar courses—small cohorts of students from grades 7-12 with skills ranging fom beginner to intermediate
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Design and facilitate structured and empowering learning that is student-centered, relevant, and meaningful
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Serve as a faculty advisor
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Supervise a warm, safe, and well-managed classroom environment
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Devise drills, assignments, tests, and other methods to assess students' progress throughout the school year
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Provide clear and constructive feedback to students
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Attend faculty meetings and departmental professional development activities
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Coordinate with colleagues across campus (e.g. Chamber Music Coordinator, Choir Director, Conservatory Director, etc.) and encourage students to audition or apply for classes and performance opportunities as appropriate
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Conference with parents and students to address problems or provide counseling on students' musical development
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Perform administrative tasks associated with students’ attendance, grading, and communications
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Attend, assist, and contribute to school and departmental events
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Perform other related duties as requested by the department chair, City Academy Executive Director, or Gifted Music School Executive Director
Hourly wage commensurate with the candidate’s credentials and experience. The hours for the 2021-22 school year are 3:20 to 4:10 PM two days a week.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
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Minimum of a BM or BA in guitar performance or the equivalent experience.
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MM, MMA, or DMA in performance, music education, or music pedagogy preferred.
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Demonstrated evidence of successful teaching in a group setting. Commitment to continuous training and professional development.
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Interest in and ability to teach guitar students of varying levels, grades 7-12. Experience in teaching diverse styles of music is preferred.
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Demonstrated English proficiency; Spanish or other language would be a strong asset.
PREFERENCES
In particular, we are looking for candidates with:
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A passion for working with young students and background in teaching beginners with little to no experience
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A firm grasp of music theory rudiments and introductory aural skills
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Experience in developing lesson plans and delivering lectures to beginners
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Advanced degrees in songwriting, composition, music theory, or theory pedagogy
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Experience teaching composition, music theory, and aural skills to young students in a supportive and integrated classroom setting
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Commitment to maintaining a reliable schedule, adhering to the school calendar, and attending all classes throughout the school year
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Commitment to consistent participation in faculty meetings and professional development activities
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An earnest desire to make their teaching work a career priority
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Excellent communication skills and ability to contribute to a high-performance team environment while being supportive of colleagues, staff, parents, and students
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A strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the studio and meeting the needs of a diverse population
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A strong understanding of the value of comprehensive music instruction
Familiarity with Gifted Music School’s or City Academy’s policies and procedures is preferred but not required. Qualified applicants are invited to apply for a cross-appointment as Applied Guitar Instructor.
PROCEDURE
Step 1) Qualified applicants should upload the following materials to and complete our online application form at www.giftedmusicschool.org/employment-application-form.
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Cover Letter
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Teaching Philosophy Statement
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CV or Résumé
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Contact Information for 2-3 Professional References from whom we may solicit a recommendation
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(Optional) Video Teaching Sample
Step 2) Upon reviewing your application materials, the search committee may invite you to interview or audition at Gifted Music School and/or provide teaching samples. This position may also require the successful completion of a criminal background check.
