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BSO OrchKids Bucket Band Teaching Artist, 2019-2020 School Year

Title: Bucket Band Teaching Artist, 2019-2020 School Year
Department: OrchKids
Reports to: OrchKids Program Manager
Classification: Part-Time
Compensation:  Hourly. Rate negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
Location:  Baltimore, MD
Hours:
  • Approximately 9-13 hours/week, 27 weeks/year (early October 2019 – mid-May 2020).
  • Teaching hours take place Monday – Thursday between 3:00-7:00pm (Exact hours vary by school site.)
  • Some evening and weekend availability may be required for performances and events.
 
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:
The Bucket Band Teaching Artist is a dynamic educator who teaches bucket band classes to students in grades 2 – 8. Working with larger groups of 15-25 students, the Bucket Band TA works to develop students’ fundamental musicianship skills of ensemble playing, listening ability, and internal rhythm. 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. 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). OrchKids supports the professional development of all our teaching artists by providing compensated and mandatory training on topics including trauma-informed teaching, classroom routines and practices, implicit bias and racism within the context of Baltimore City, and other pedagogical resources. Support and feedback is also provided through teacher observation, reflection meetings, and regular communication with Program Managers, Senior Education Manager, and Director of Programs. OrchKids Teaching Artist also have the opportunity to participate in a number of student concerts and partake in our unique Collaborative Composition projects, during which we work with our students to create and perform new, original music.


Responsibilities include:
  • Teach bucket band classes of 15-25 students in grades 2 – 8, developing students’ listening, improvisatory, ensemble skills, and care for their instrument
  • 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, including photocopying, room setup/breakdown, lesson planning, etc.
  • Supervise students during transitions and breaktime
  • Attend required concerts, meetings, events and professional development sessions
  • Actively incorporate into classes the perspectives, strategies, language, routines, and other pedagogical tools conveyed through the OrchKids professional development sessions
  • Maintain professional, prompt lines of communication with OrchKids staff
  • Creating substitute plans if there is a necessary absence
  • Additional tasks/responsibilities:
  • Copy necessary music/scores
  • Plan outside of class time (additional time included in salary)
  • Supply requests/maintenance/managing classroom needs
  • Communicate with the team and respond to student nomination requests for outside musical opportunities
  • Respond to emails within 48 hours

Qualifications:
  • Passion for working with youth and desire to serve as a positive role model to students
  • Strong classroom management and student group leading skills
  • Considerable experience teaching beginner – intermediate level students, preferably in a group setting
  • In-depth knowledge of beginning percussion pedagogy and repertoire; familiarity with bucket drumming styles preferred
  • 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 within the OrchKids team and departments (brass, woodwind, string, percussion departments, etc.)
  • 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: 
Please submit a cover letter and resume to orchkids@bsomusic.org. No phone
calls.  Applications are currently being received on a rolling basis and candidates will be contacted based on openings and qualifications.  Finalists will be asked to demonstrate teaching and rehearsal skills at interview. Should a position no longer be available at the time of the candidate’s interview, they may be asked to be listed on the OrchKids substitute teacher list.