BSO OrchKids Substitute Teaching Artist Position 2019-20
Title: Substitute Teaching Artist, 2019-2020 School Year
This position will be offered to qualified teaching artists who will be contacted in the event that a substitute teaching artist in their area of expertise is needed.
Department: OrchKids
Reports to: OrchKids Site Manager
Classification: Part-Time
Compensation: $30/hour
Location: Baltimore, MD
Hours: Dependent on the position and site where the substitute teacher is required
There are jobs, and then there are jobs where you get to make a difference. Members of our dedicated OrchKids team know distinctively how excellent music education can create pathways to success and transform lives. As we continue to grow, nurture, and expand our programming, we strive to build our team with dedicated and experienced individuals who wish to share the power of music with our exceptional students.
Organizational Summary:
OrchKids is a year-round, during and after school, music program designed to foster social change and nurture promising futures for youth in Baltimore City’s least-resourced neighborhoods and schools. Under Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Music Director Marin Alsop’s artistic leadership and direction, OrchKids is the cornerstone of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s programs to make a difference within the broad and diverse Baltimore community. In collaboration with several community partners, including Baltimore City Public Schools, OrchKids provides music education, instruments, academic instruction, performance and mentorship opportunities, as well as meals and services at no cost to our families. Currently OrchKids works with seven public schools in Baltimore City, serving close to 1,300 children from Pre-K through 12th grade.
Job Summary:
Our Teaching Artists are dynamic educators who teach instrumental and choral group classes to students, ranging in grades from Pre-K to 12th, depending on the instrument and class. The classes are based on student level/age and meet for one hour, 3-4 days/week. The OrchKids educational philosophy focuses on student-centered learning, wholesome and evidence-based teaching practices relevant to our students’ lives, creation and improvisation, inclusion, student voice and agency, and ensemble music-making. Embracing OrchKids educational philosophy, our teaching artists help guide the musical development of the program’s students through these classes. 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).
Substitute Teaching Artist positions include: choir, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion (orchestral percussion and bucket drumming), harp, and early childhood musicianship.
Responsibilities:
- Group classes in accordance with the OrchKids curriculum and 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
- Assist with the implementation of systems, standards and evaluations related to student progress
- Perform administrative duties essential to running one’s own classroom, primarily room setup/breakdown (A lesson plan will be provided by the assigned teaching artist for that class)
- Supervise students during transitions and breaktime
- Maintain professional, prompt lines of communication with OrchKids staff
Qualifications:
- Passion for working with youth and desire to serve as a role model to students.
- Strong classroom management skills
- Bachelor of Music (completed or in progress)
- Completed Background Check (see details in the OrchKids Teacher Handbook)
- Considerable experience teaching beginner – intermediate level students, preferably in a group setting
- In-depth knowledge of instrument specific pedagogy and repertoire
- Willingness to jump in and embrace OrchKids’ practices of music-making through creative composition, improvisation and playing a variety of musical genres
- Flexibility and ability to work collaboratively
- Punctuality, professionalism and excellent interpersonal skills
The Baltimore Symphony is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The BSO is an affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employer. Discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, sexual orientation, or national origin is prohibited.
OrchKids Principles of Inclusion:
OrchKids believes in the principles of diversity and inclusion for students and all parties involved in the program regardless of race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or socio-economic status. We are proud to serve students of all backgrounds and abilities and our expectation is that all students will be treated equally, nurtured to ensure their success and we will meet them where they are. As a team, we expect and are prepared to make reasonable accommodations to address and support differences in learning styles, behaviors and cultural differences. Our expectation is also that we treat all parties involved in OrchKids (teaching artists, staff, school staff, families, community members, etc.) with respect and in accordance of our principles of inclusion.
So what that means for our community is that we recognize that we have a diverse community made up of individuals with a myriad of backgrounds and we treat everyone with respect. We respect each other’s cultural, religious, and racial, gender identity, sexual orientation and socio-economic status.
As it relates to gender inclusivity, I want to share some strategies for all of us to follow to ensure that we are living up to our principles of inclusion –
- Use the correct name which is the name that someone chooses to refer to themselves
- Use the correct pronoun with our team members
- Use inclusive language like everyone and people instead of ladies and gentlemen
How to Apply:
Applications are currently being received on a rolling basis and candidates will be contacted based on openings and qualifications. Finalists will be asked to observe an OrchKids class and possibly demonstrate teaching skills in interview.