Instructor of Music (Piano)

INSTRUCTOR OF MUSIC – JOB DESCRIPTION

The Bellas Artes School of Music (baschoolofmusic.com) is a pre-college private music school dedicated to its mission Educare et Servire in Familia (To Mentor and Serve as a Family Would). A family-owned business founded in 2009 in the Chicagoland western suburbs, we are now a large team of educators serving around 300 students every week.

We believe that learning to play music is not just about acquiring the mastery of an instrument but about enlarging the soul to see beauty and cultivating a virtue and depth of character commensurate with that beauty. This is a journey that we embarked upon when we were children, because someone believed in us a nd gave us an opportunity. And so now in turn, we are overjoyed by the fact that we are getting to invite others to join us as well in this pilgrimage. Because we view education as mentorship, not simply the transferral of information, we place high priority on relationships with our students and their families. We believe in our students and take great joy in seeing them discover that they can do things they never knew they could do before.

Everything we do is based upon a firm belief that music is a gift from God (to be given away in service to our community) and that every child is created in His image (therefore deserving of our greatest respect and care). Though w e are not explicitly a Christian school, a traditional biblical worldview is foundational to all that we do.

If you are offered a position here, you will be joining a DREAM TEAM of Chicago-based professionals trained at the finest schools in the country (Indiana University Jacobs, Berklee, Eastman, Hartt, OU, Northwestern, UIUC, Roosevelt, Depaul, Wheaton, etc). And you will be joining a highly-esteemed school with a 13-year track record of success in the western suburbs. We rarely advertise. Almost all growth has come by word of mouth referrals, which we believe is a testament to the quality of work and service we have b een able to provide our community.

POSITION SUMMARY

Job Title: Instructor of Music (Piano, Violin/Viola, Cello, Voice, Guitar, Trumpet, Fr. Horn, Trombone, Flute, Drums, Saxophone)

General Responsibilities: 
● Provide weekly instruction for students, for our 18-weeks Fall, our 18-week Spring semesters, and our 6-week Summer Term
● Prepare students for semester-end recitals, by choosing pieces appropriate to their level (that are both challenging and enjoyable) and helping them prepare well in advance.
● Attend student recitals at the end of each semester - our administrative team works hard to cluster your students together in as few recitals as possible.
● Cultivate intentional partnership with parents - welcoming all to attend and reaching out frequently with updates to those who are not able to.
● Establishing clear, written, and actionable assignments with short-term and long-term goal setting and weekly accountability
● Attend 2 annual faculty training meetings (around 2 hours each)

+Our administrative leadership team provides all logistical support for scheduling (lessons and recitals) and billing, so that our faculty can focus their full attention on what they do best, teaching.

Employment Classification: part-time; local to the area (though we have many faculty commuting from as far as Chicago, Dekalb, and Bourbonnais)

Pay Rate: $30-50/hr (depending on experience, training, and academic background), as a W2 employee

Benefits: Retirement Plan available for those who have been on faculty longer than 2 years.

Hours Weekly: part-time, 2 hrs to 20 hrs, depending on the demand and need in each respective department. Piano and violin instructors are in high demand and are most likely to fill their studios quickly.

Days/Times: We will work with each instructor to establish a consistent weekly schedule that works well for them. Mondays through Thursdays are our busiest days, 3:30p to 8:30p. We generally ask new faculty to be available for at least two afternoons, though we try to fill one day at a time first, as we are building and growing their studio.

Requirements:

● 2+ years teaching experience preferred
● Attention given to proper technique, sight-reading, ear-training, improvisation, and composition.
● Willingness to work as team member on our faculty, contributing to our curriculum and supporting/contributing to our vision as a school.
● Helpful if you have training or experience with Suzuki (especially for strings) and RCM (for piano)... though not required
● Planning to stay in the area for at least 2 years
● Music degree preferred, but not absolutely required - competence is more important than pedigree, in our view

Personal attributes we look for (ie, “who is most likely to flourish in this position”): 
● A winsome, joyful presence - the kind of person who enjoys connecting with and encouraging others and relates well with all ages. Joy in music is contagious. Children do not care if you went to Julliard, if you have lost your joy.

● An understanding that we teach more than just music - we have a unique opportunity to inspire (not just relay information) and to model some of life’s most important values (faithfulness, discipline, patience, grace, problem solving, etc)

● A humble and compassionate heart toward parents - most parents are coming to us for help and move mountains each week just to get their children to lessons. We are here to serve them and to partner with them in the formation and flourishing of their children.

● A strong internal moral compass - demonstrating integrity, responsibility, honesty and character consistent with traditional family values, which the vast majority of our clients espouse. You are being entrusted with the lives of their precious children each and every week. For that reason, we only hire faculty who we believe will be positive role models for children.

● A discerning and sensitive spirit regarding the challenges children go through, both at school and home. Emotionally healthy teachers can provide a place of stability, support and safety for children and parents.

● A clear sense for professionalism - including but not limited to: Attentive to detail, patient, quick/eager to learn, clean business casual dress, adept with technology, timely, taking ownership of your work and studio, very organized, prompt to cordially answer emails and phone calls (both from Administration and Clients), etc.

● An eager and humble desire to grow, regardless of professional stature and academic background - Teaching a five year old beginner or an advanced fifteen year old are entirely separate s kills from performing on a concert stage. We all seek to grow, and we do so by observing others, asking for feedback and tips from colleagues and supervisors, as well as former professors who may be a helpful resource, and reading. Having a teachable spirit and a growth mindset is far more valuable than any academic degree will ever be, even for those with doctoral degrees.

● A resourceful creativity - willing to think outside the box for each student’s unique needs

● A commitment to support the vision and mission of Bellas Artes - Educare et Servire in Familia - “ To Mentor and To Serve as a Family Would.”

HOW TO APPLY:

1. Submit a Resume and a Bio

2. Answer a few initial questions (brief comments for now are fine; we can discuss further in an interview, if we schedule one):

● What interests you in this position and in our organization?
● How would you describe your teaching style?
● What days and time ranges do you think you would be available to teach?

3. Send 8 references:

● 4 professional - 2 of your most recent employers and 2 families whose children you have taught
● 2 academic - 2 professors/teachers who would know you well
● 2 character - 2 mentors or advisers who know you well

4. Schedule an interview