Teaching Artist

About the organization

Founded in 2011, Austin Soundwaves seeks to make learning music accessible and equitable. Our vision is a world without barriers to music education. We serve over 700 students in grades K–12 across our school partnerships and community, helping them achieve creative, social, and academic success.

About the role

Teaching Artists are skilled musicians and teachers responsible for teaching and leading lessons, sectionals, and group classes. The ideal candidate will also be a dynamic team player with a strong work ethic. Instructors will work to support organizational goals and to ensure the highest-quality experience program-wide, helping make Austin Soundwaves a successful national model for collaborative music education.

Responsibilities

• Lead individual and group lesson teaching, including sectionals
• Support 1–5 ensembles across multiple school sites
• Ensure consistent, engaging, and effective pedagogy across partner schools
• Assist program events, including concerts and workshops
• Assist with select advocacy and fundraising events
• Represent Austin Soundwaves within the community, within Texas, and around the United States

Qualifications

• A commitment to music as a vehicle for social change
• Experience working with children and families from diverse ethnic, economic, and cultural backgrounds
• A musical and education background, including previous classroom experience, general or instrumental music teaching, or proficiency in 1 or more instruments/voice (a bachelor’s degree in music is highly desired, but not required)
• 2+ years of private teaching and classroom lead teaching experience
• Substantial and varied knowledge of music pedagogy
• Accomplished instrumental musician
• Growth mindset
• Fast learner with a natural curiosity and a desire to grow skills necessary for success
• Excellent work ethic
• Organized enough to not let things slip through the cracks
• Detail-oriented with documentation, information reporting, and giving/receiving instructions
• Efficient with time and execution of “to-do” lists
• A proven track record of reliability and consistency
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Comfortable with clear and concise communication over Zoom, phone, email, Slack, or in person
• Spanish language skills a plus

Employees must be based in Austin, TX and able to teach in person. This is an hourly, part-time opportunity from September to May. Pay is $50/hr.