OrchKids Teaching Artist
3 days ago
Baltimore
Job Description Position Summary: The OrchKids Teaching Artist is a dynamic educator who leads classes to students in grades 1-12. Each Teaching Artist helps guide the musical development of the program’s instrumental players through small group classes (2-4 students), ensemble sectionals, and/or private lessons. The OrchKids educational philosophy focuses on student-centered and social emotional learning, evidence-based teaching practices relevant to our students’ lives, high artistic quality and performance, 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. 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, Director of Education, and Associate Director of Programs. Duties & Responsibilities: Teaching Responsibilities: • Instrumental lessons: May be leading group classes (5-10 students), small-group classes (2-4 students) and/or private lessons in accordance with the OrchKids curricular and educational philosophy as outlined in OrchKids orientations and teacher professional development sessions., • Ensemble sectionals: Lead sectional rehearsals on ensemble days with groups of students (number of students vary based on section size) as well as playing side-by-side with students in sections during full ensemble rehearsals. Sectional lesson plans should follow the recommendations of the String or Wind ensemble directors., • 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 and assessments., • 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., • Participate in annual teacher observation, feedback, and reflection conversations and processes as carried out by the Education team[1], • Additional tasks/responsibilities:, • Plan outside of lesson time, which includes but is not limited to:, • Creating lesson plans, reading and reviewing the weekly teacher newsletter announcements, completing all necessary planning outside of class time (additional compensated time included in scope of work), • Supply requests/maintenance/managing classroom needs, • Communicate with the team and respond to student nomination requests for external musical opportunities, • Respond to emails within 48 hours, • Complete all required student surveys and assessments by their due date [2], • Maintain professional, prompt lines of communication with OrchKids staff, • Passion for working with youth and desire to serve as a role model to students, • Strong classroom management skills, • Considerable experience teaching beginner – intermediate level students, preferably with experience teaching in a group setting, • In-depth knowledge of beginner to intermediate musical pedagogy and repertoire on their instrument of expertise, • Flexibility and ability to work collaboratively with the OrchKids team, • Punctuality, professionalism and excellent interpersonal skills About the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra For over a century, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has been recognized as one of America’s leading orchestras and one of Maryland’s most significant cultural institutions. The orchestra is internationally renowned and locally admired for its innovation, performances, recordings, and educational outreach initiatives, including OrchKids. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs annually for more than 275,000 people throughout the State of Maryland. Since 1982, the BSO has performed at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, and since 2005, with the opening of The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, MD, the BSO became the nation’s first orchestra performing its full season of classical and pops concerts in two metropolitan areas. In July 2022, the BSO made history with the announcement that Jonathon Heyward would succeed Music Director Laureate and OrchKids Founder Marin Alsop as the Orchestra’s next Music Director. Maestro Heyward began his inaugural season in September 2023. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a proud member of the League of American Orchestras. More information about the BSO can be found at . The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is an Equal Opportunity Employer The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and OrchKids do not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, differing physical abilities, genetic information, age, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. EEO is the Law: Mon-Thurs 3:15-7:00PM During school hours also available pending school schedules and teacher availability. 16 hrs/week