Music Teacher, Preschool - Grade 3 (Part Time)

Location: East Palo Alto, California
Type: Part Time
Salary: $33 - $38 per hour

About the role

La Scuola International School seeks an experienced and passionate Music Teacher for the upcoming school year. The role is anticipated at 8 - 10 hours per week. The Music Teacher develops students’ interest in and appreciation for music through practical skills, creative expression, and cultural and historical context. The teacher collaborates with the Director of Performing Arts, Pedagogical Leadership, and classroom teachers to support a developmentally appropriate, child-centered curriculum grounded in methodologies such as Orff-Schulwerk and Kodály.

The teacher is expected to be onsite for in-person instruction as agreed upon with the Director of Performing Arts, Division Head, and/or Assistant Head of School.

Responsibilities

• Support the Preschool - Grade 3 music curriculum in alignment with the IB PYP & Early Years framework and collaborate with teachers and coordinators.
• Teach fundamental music concepts, musicianship, and aural skills through singing, movement, instrumental exploration, and performance.
• Incorporate music creation, movement, and dance into lessons.
• Design creative learning activities that expose students to different musical styles and allow them to interpret and compose music.
• Use a variety of teaching strategies, including direct instruction, discussion, projects, and cooperative learning.
• Foster student engagement, curiosity, and a lasting appreciation for music.
• Introduce students to musical instruments and assess readiness for instrumental learning.
• Support the school’s Italian language immersion program through music instruction.
• Select and maintain appropriate teaching materials, instruments, and equipment.
• Assist in selecting and purchasing music, books, and instructional resources.
• Contribute to extracurricular programs and schoolwide events.
• Plan and support school performances, including Winter and Spring concerts.
• Collaborate with teachers and support staff to meet diverse student needs.
• Establish clear learning objectives and assessment strategies.
• Maintain classroom management aligned with school policies and procedures.
• Communicate effectively with students, parents, and colleagues.
• Attend faculty meetings and collaborate regularly with IB coordinators and school leadership.
• Support school initiatives, events, and units of inquiry.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Division Directors or Head of School.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Music or equivalent, or Early Childhood Education and/or Child Development Certificate.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience teaching in preschool, preferably in a Reggio Emilia-inspired environment.
• Bilingual and bi-literate in Italian and English with native or near-native Italian proficiency (a plus).
• Language Immersion and International Baccalaureate (IB) experience (a plus).

Skills

• A genuine passion for music, energy, and love for teaching children, with the ability to convey the love of music and singing to children.
• Excellent communication skills and willingness to adapt to the demands of an international school.
• A working knowledge of prominent music education methodologies.
• Ability to inspire mixed culture and ability classes by creating challenging and engaging learning opportunities for all students.
• Ensure the best learning environment for every student.
• Address the needs of a diverse student population in age, cultural background, ethnicity, and academic preparation.
• Coordination and collaboration of all music and performing arts-related school initiatives, including ensembles.
• Knowledge and ability to teach various instruments from different families (e.g., mandolin, guitar, percussion) and ability to arrange music for these families.

About La Scuola International School

La Scuola International School is the only Reggio Emilia-inspired, International Baccalaureate (Early, Primary, and Middle Years) and Italian Language Immersion school in the world. Teachers are researchers and are supported with robust Professional Development opportunities throughout the year. Learning is a part of everything that we do, not just what happens in the classroom. While our school experience is rooted in highly regarded curricula, the magic of La Scuola is more than what we teach. It is how we teach and learn, which is truly a way of living, thinking, and interacting with the world.

Founded in 2002, La Scuola serves 465 students across locations in San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Milano, Italy. The school is an independent non-profit accredited by NAIS, CAIS, WASC, and CIS and is one of two Italian schools recognized by the Italian government in the United States.