2024-2025 Keyboard & Aural Skills II for Vocalists Instructor

The Chicago High School for the Arts seeks a Keyboard & Aural Skills II for Vocalists Instructor for the 2024-2025 school year.

Title: Keyboard & Aural Skills II for Vocalists

Department: Music

Classification: Part-time instructor

General Summary

The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts ®) develops the next generation of artistically gifted, diverse scholar artists through intensive pre-professional training in the arts combined with a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum. The school approaches the development of students through a whole-student approach and through a continuous learning environment for all staff to continuously develop their understanding of our scholar-artists. We strive to build upon and improve our practices to make sure we are always serving all of our students to the best of our abilities.

Position Overview

The Keyboard & Aural Skills II Instructor supports the mission of the school by fostering a safe, healthy, and inspiring learning community for students and teachers. In this course, students will continue to sight read and aurally identify melodic and harmonic structures as supported by their keyboard skills. They will continue strengthening their aural skills by singing more rhythmically and melodically challenging selections and diving into minor key sight singing. Students will use their prior keyboard skills to identify starting notes, and build upon those skills by sight reading and playing pieces. By the end of this class, students will be able to confidently use solfege to sight sing a melodic passage from pieces presented to them in choir, vocal technique classes, or private lessons.

Classroom and professional duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Embrace and promote the ChiArts vision, mission, educational approach, goals, and core values
• Prepare structured lessons that encourage and foster skill development, critical thinking, applications, and ethics.
• Instruct conservatory-level courses, serving students with various learning styles, abilities, and needs.
• Employ outstanding classroom management skills and implement the school code of conduct.
• Regularly assess student achievement, skill mastery, and career development skills.
• Submit unit plans on a timely basis.
• Manage classroom administration and record keeping, including grades, attendance records, student progress, and documentation of student work.
• Regularly communicate with students, parents and other ChiArts staff to share artistic progress, encourage positive behavior, and resolve behavioral and artistic issues.
• Attend and participate in faculty and administrative meetings, parent conferences, open house, other school functions, and in- service professional development sessions.
• Collaborate with the staff to develop “best practices” tailored to the unique philosophy and instructional approach of ChiArts and to the needs of its student population.
• Collaborate with other ChiArts artistic and academic faculty and the larger arts community.
• Perform other duties as the needs of the school and needs of the students may demand (e.g., competitions, exhibits.)
• Work with academic staff to ensure student’s overall success at ChiArts.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities/Attributes

• Minimum (7) years of professional experience in the music field.
• Minimum (4) years of previous teaching experience at a pre-professional or professional level, experience working with high school students is preferred, but not required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent classroom management skills.
• Experience in lesson planning.
• Comfort working in high-accountability school culture.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven organizational skills.
• Proven ability to work with a diverse population.
• High regard for student potential and an ability to provide opportunities for students to develop and succeed.
• Willingness to be bold and creative in pursuit of what is best for students.
• Able to adapt and improve in changing situations.
  
  

Working Conditions

Job Hazards: This position requires a fingerprint and background check conducted by Chicago Public Schools.

Job Tasks: Must be able to lift up to 35 lbs.

Travel Requirements: This position does not require travel as part of the job responsibilities; however, travel may be required to attend professional development/conferences.

Salary And Benefits

Part-time position.

Pay Will Be Commensurate With Experience And Qualifications.

Application Process

Qualified applicants should apply online at www.chiarts.org and upload the following documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Contact Information for 3-5 Professional References; do not include letters of recommendation.
  
  

Applicants who do not follow the submission directions will not be considered. Please be aware that every item listed on a resume is subject to verification and that any offer of employment is contingent on a successful background check.

The Chicago High School for the Arts (“ChiArts”) began its life as part of a quest for greater diversity among Chicago’s arts and cultural institutions. ChiArts continues that quest by building holistic diversity at all levels, including students, faculty, staff, and board of directors. As part of that continuing quest, ChiArts embraces and carries into effect the Illinois Human Rights Act and the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance.

Please visit www.chiarts.org for more information.