Teaching Artist Summary

CHIME (Creating Harmony Inspiring Musical Excellence) is the Empire State Youth Orchestra’s intensive instrumental music education program. Operating in partnership with the Schenectady City School District, the CHIME program fosters within children a desire and excitement for musical excellence. CHIME works with the schools, other community partners and families to cultivate important skills for all areas of life, including collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. While instrumental offerings, grade levels served and program hours vary by location, the conviction that pursuing musical excellence is transformational, and that such an endeavor should be available to all, is central to CHIME. The Teaching Artist will work to inspire, empower and motivate children to participate to their fullest potential. Experience teaching and the belief that music can serve as a vehicle for social change is a must. ESYO is committed to equity and inclusion, and cultivating a program staff that reflects the diversity of our students’ lived experience is a critical priority. People who identify as Black, Latino, Indigenous and/or LGBTQIA+ are strongly encouraged to apply.

Visit Our CHIME Program page (Opens in new Window) 

Instrumental Teaching Artists Overview (multiple positions available)

Commitment: CHIME Yates program hours are approximately 2:45-5 pm (dependent on finalized school end times); Teaching artist schedules are set to include set-up/clean-up and any necessary staff prep immediately before/after programming. Additional commitments include a weekly staff meeting following program hours, and occasional required Professional Development sessions outside of scheduled program times. All scheduled prep, planning and meeting time is paid.

Location: CHIME Yates, Yates Elementary School (Schenectady)

Reports to: ESYO CHIME Program Manager

Employment Type: Part-Time (approx. 15 hours per week of teaching and non-teaching responsibilities)

Job Expectations

• Embrace a flexible working environment to deliver a responsive program that is constantly developing to meet the needs of the children and greater community.
• Implement curriculum and repertoire for ensembles, sectionals, and individual students.
• Undertake ongoing training that may cover music pedagogy and learning styles, positive youth development, child protection, working with challenging behavior, shadowing of different roles within the community including teachers, social workers, community workers, etc.
• Assist with the development and implementation of systems and procedures for monitoring and evaluating the music program and individual children.
• Facilitate any need for student recordings.
• Work collaboratively with the CHIME team to ensure a safe, fun, and positive learning experience for all students.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Excellent classroom management skills and strategies.
• Excellent musicianship and artistry both as a performer and teacher.
• Ability to work with diverse personalities and populations and to teach in mixed instrumental groups with students of different musical levels.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to collaborate with teachers on shared pedagogical and curricular goals and proactively identify ways to be supportive in the classroom.
• Willingness to be flexible and open to changes in scheduling and events in order to maintain a positive learning experience for our students. Excellent classroom management skills and strategies.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in music or equivalent; knowledge of cello & bass pedagogy and ensemble instruction experience.
• Strong low string experience lower strings preferred.
• Ability to arrange repertoire for mixed level/mixed instrument ensemble.