Since 1955, Young Musicians Foundation’s (YMF) mission has been to empower underserved students to find creativity, connection, and joy through music. YMF’s Teaching Artists are at the heart of our organization’s mission by providing tuition-free weekly music instruction to students and community members. Through partnerships with under-resourced schools and community programs, our accessible and responsive approach to music instruction reaches students ages 4 to adult across the greater Los Angeles area, covering a 195-square-mile area.

Mission Statement: 

To disrupt systems of inequity through healing-based music education, creative career pathways, and multigenerational community engagement.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Programs, Teaching Artists are responsible for music instruction for their assigned site(s). Our TAs ensure the highest-quality learning experience for our students by creating group lesson plans informed by social-emotional learning (SEL) and visual and performing arts (VAPA) standards. These lesson plans are highly engaging, build skills, are culturally affirming, and create a safe classroom environment that cultivates the holistic growth of students. This position will also collaborate with other Teaching Artists, staff, students, families, and the surrounding community.

Hours: 

This placement will occur on weekdays after school at YMF’s Center for Music and Creative Technology.

Compensation: 

• $60 per hour for in-person teaching
• $20 per hour for professional development
• $35 per hour for concerts and program events as required

You are:

• Experienced in working with students from diverse and/or underserved communities in a classroom or group setting
• Able to challenge Eurocentric structures inherent in the music education system and actively explore traditional and modern intersections of music across cultural perspectives
• Flexible, collaborative, and able to incorporate a culturally responsive curriculum and pedagogy to a broad range of youth.
• Experienced with classroom management and organizational techniques that emphasize a positive, anti-bias, and restorative justice approach to supporting students
• An effective communicator with excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written), and has the ability to excel as part of a team
• Interested in personal growth as an artist educator within a community of like-minded, talented individuals
• Able to differentiate instruction to address a variety of student learning abilities and consider varying skill levels
• A four-year undergraduate degree holder in music/music education, a post-graduate degree OR demonstrated expertise in their respective art form

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with students to foster a nurturing and engaging learning atmosphere, with a focus on enhancing retention and encouraging continued participation
• Develop and facilitate music lessons
• Track and maintain student attendance as required
• Create detailed substitute lesson plans and arrange for substitute coverage as needed
• Facilitate setup/cleanup of classrooms for lessons as needed
• Preparing students for a culminating project at the end of each term
• Additional duties as required
  

Physical and Additional Requirements*:

• Position self to interact with youth
• Communicate information clearly in what can be a loud environment
• The ability to discern and digest audio information accurately, and effectively communicate a summarization of particulars so others will understand
• Access to reliable transportation in order to travel to teaching sites
• May need to occasionally move, set up, and adjust classroom or music equipment weighing up to 40 pounds 

*We will provide any reasonable accommodations as required. 

We encourage you to apply if this job sounds like a good fit for you, even if you don’t feel you meet all the qualifications/requirements. Folks who are queer, trans, non-binary, people of color, parents, are/have been system impacted, have different abilities, are immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression and gender-based violence are encouraged to apply.  

For any questions or concerns, please reach out to cesar@ymf.org.

How to Apply: 

Please complete your application by using the 2024-2025 YMF Teaching Artist Application

Application Deadline: Open until filled

Disclaimer

The Employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.