What are the responsibilities and job description for the Guitar Instructor (Substitute) position at Old Town School of Folk Music?
Summary: The Old Town School of Folk Music seeks substitute guitar instructors to teach in its renowned adult core guitar, ensemble, and theory programs. Ideal candidates are experienced educators with a passion for community-based music education and the ability to teach a wide range of styles.
Location: Lincoln Square
Responsibilities:
- Teach group and private guitar classes across multiple skill levels, from beginner to advanced.
- Lead ensemble classes, focusing on collaborative musicianship and stylistic interpretation.
- Develop lesson plans and adapt teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning styles.
- Incorporate music theory, ear training, and improvisation into instruction.
- Engage students in Old Town School traditions, such as Second Half and end-of-session performances.
- Maintain a positive and inclusive classroom environment that supports adult learners.
- Participate in occasional workshops, concerts, or community engagement events.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Music Education, Music Performance, or equivalent professional experience strongly preferred.
- Minimum of two years of teaching experience in group and private settings.
- Strong musicianship with the ability to teach acoustic and electric guitar using both pick and finger style techniques.
- Proficiency in staff notation, lead sheets, tablature, and chord charts.
- Broad knowledge of guitar pedagogy, technique, repertoire, and music theory.
- Experience performing and teaching in multiple genres, including folk, blues, rock/pop, jazz, and mixed ensemble settings.
- Ability to accompany oneself while singing and playing guitar.
- Ability to teach in person at both Lincoln Park and Lincoln Square locations.
- Evening and weekend (daytime) availability is required.
- Bilingual in Spanish preferred, especially for engaging Spanish-speaking students
Hourly instructor pay: $37/Hour
Discounts at the school and some voluntary benefits are available for part-time employees. If interested and qualified, please apply through our Career Center.
About Old Town School of Folk Music
Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music (“OTSFM”) is the largest community school of the arts in the U.S. and a non-profit organization committed to celebrating American music and global cultures. Founded in 1957, Old Town School provides a wide range of music, dance, and arts courses to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Whatever one's interest, Old Town School provides broad access to more than 700 weekly class of erings, a broad array of private lessons, and over 400 concerts and community events per year.
Old Town School of Folk Music opened its Lincoln Square facility in 1998 and expanded in 2012. The Old Town School operates two campuses located in Chicago's Lincoln Square and Lincoln Park neighborhoods that include world-class concert halls, classrooms, an award-winning music store, and a music resource center. Online classes were introduced in 2020 and students from nearly every state and a dozen countries participated over the course of the pandemic. Children's classes are also held at several suburban satellite locations. More information is available at oldtownschool.org Equal Employment Opportunity
OTSFM is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. OTS strives to be an inclusive and equitable organization that is reflective of the diversity of the city of Chicago. We seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. This is critical to our success as a community focused organization.
Salary : $37
