General Music and Exploration Teaching Artist - South Side
Job Title: Teaching Artist, General Music and Exploration
Location: Greater South Side (5410 S State St, Chicago, 60609)
Start date: September 2026
Reports to: Program Manager
Organizational Overview
The People's Music School is Chicago’s oldest and largest completely free nonprofit music school, providing transformational music instruction to over 800 K-12 students in Chicago. The school has a straightforward mission: to provide access to the transformational benefits of high-quality music instruction to youth who otherwise would not be able to afford it. We focus our work in communities that have been systematically excluded and marginalized from receiving a high quality music education.
Through intensive instruction and performance, The People's Music School's students grow not only musically, but also socially, emotionally, and academically, developing a foundation of responsibility, self-esteem, resilience, and purpose. From putting an instrument in an aspiring young musician's hand for the first time, to teaching students how to read and write music and perform in an ensemble, The People's Music School provides opportunity and instruction at sites located in four Chicago communities: Uptown, Albany Park, Back of the Yards, and the Greater South Side. Students receive an average of four hours of instruction per week, at absolutely no cost, delivered by world-class teaching artists.
Job Summary
The goal of this class is to introduce 1st grade students to music in a fun and engaging way. The primary role of the teaching artist will be teaching group classes of 8-12 first grade students, delivering a curriculum that includes elements of theory, individual performance, ensemble performance, improvisation, and composition. This teaching artist will collaborate with the TPMS Learning & Teaching Team and teaching artists to plan and implement 2-8 week exploratory units using age-appropriate instruments.
Responsibilities - Teaching and Instruction 90%
- Deliver high-quality instruction to students in 1st Grade
- Provide high-quality instruction which leads to excellence in student performance
- Provide high-quality instruction which leads to excellence in student assessments
- Act as a consistent and compassionate mentor to each student Provide high-quality instruction which leads to excellence in student performance
- Provide high-quality instruction which leads to excellence in student assessments
- Actively incorporate into classes the pedagogical tools shared in Professional Development Meetings
Responsibilities - Administrative Duties 10%
- Active participation in faculty meetings, adjudication of juries, and student performances
- Regularly communicate about student learning expectations and activity plans with program staff and collaborative teaching artists
- Provide assessment of students’ musical and behavioral progress
- Collaborate with families, administrative staff, and other faculty
- Discuss with Program Managers learning difficulties or behavior problems with students as they arise.
- In collaboration with Program Manager, communicate all progress and concerns with tact and professionalism to families
- Regularly check and respond to email correspondence from staff, colleagues, and families
- Create substitute lesson plans for necessary absences
- Supervise students during transitions and breaktime
- Timely and accurate submission of requested materials (payroll, grading, lesson plans, evaluations etc.)
- Assist with other projects as assigned
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in music education or performance or equivalent experience/training
- A high level of personal musicianship which includes knowledge of music theory in addition to performing ability
- Prior experience teaching general music to children in early elementary school grades
- Willingness to continuously learn and evolve teaching practices to meet the needs of TPMS students; flexible and adaptable
- Self-motivated and unflappable; ability to work effectively in a busy school environment
- Knowledge of a diversity of repertoire appropriate for the age level and ability level of the students taught
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Proven experience collaborating and working with people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds
- Personal commitment to the mission and values of The People’s Music School
Physical Demands
- Occasionally required to push, pull, lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
Schedule
- Part Time position with the schedule between the hours below
- Must be available to work in person
- Greater South Side (5410 S State St, Chicago, 60609): Tuesdays OR Thursdays 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Compensation and benefits
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Sick Leave
- 403b Retirement Plan with employer match
People-Centered Hiring: Every application and hiring decision is reviewed and made entirely by human hands and minds.
Are you intrigued by this job but don’t meet every single requirement? Please apply anyway! Research shows that women, people of color, and people from marginalized groups are less likely to apply for jobs when that’s the case. The People’s Music School is committed to an inclusive and authentic workplace, supporting colleagues with a variety of backgrounds and experiences.
For more information about The People’s Music School, please visit: www.peoplesmusicschool.org.
The People’s Music School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religious belief, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, physical or mental disability or any other protected status in admission or access to, or employment in its programs and activities.