Teaching Artist - Electronic Instruments & STEM (After-School)

Position Details

Willie Rock Camp (WMRC) is seeking contract teaching artists to facilitate music education programming at our Brooklyn studio and throughout NYC.

Frequency: Three to four consecutive, two-hour, after-school sessions per month.

Teaching artists, in collaboration with WMRC staff, work directly with students across our suite of programs to provide hands-on instruction, mentorship, and creative guidance. WMRC teaching artists bring expertise and skill, allowing our students to connect with and learn from professional musicians, artists, and experts in music and technology fields.

We support STEM! In our after-school partnership, we connect STEM concepts from a science curriculum to hands-on musical experiences. For example, during an environmental science unit, we used a field recording of a tree as our main sound source and experimented with electronic effects to create the sound of our own ecosystem.

After-school workshops take place on a monthly basis at three New York City public school locations (totalling three workshops per month). Teaching artists who facilitate this partnership should have some familiarity with STEM and basic science concepts, and be able to connect and reinforce the science theme with our musical lesson. Electronic instruments such as synthesizers and drum machines are our primary teaching tools for this partnership, though there is room to choose which electronic instruments you’d like to bring along!

Compensation is paid by gig.

Core Responsibilities

  • Facilitate workshops based on provided goals and class outlines

  • Lead in-person workshops for youth ages 10-17

  • Show up on time and prepared for the day

  • Take attendance daily

  • Meet with and share feedback to program staff

Qualifications

  • Working knowledge of music theory and expertise in one or more of the following instruments: drums, guitar, synthesizers, bass, voice, or software/code based practices

  • One to three years of experience working with youth

  • Ability to improvise & meet the moment

  • One to three years of workshop leadership experience

  • Basic administrative skills including familiarity with Google forms and sheets for daily note-taking and attendance tracking

  • Have a positive and encouraging attitude

  • Must be able to pass a background check

  • Experience working with diverse learning communities

  • Commitment to social justice and equity

  • Experience within New York City Public Schools is a plus

  • Basic administrative skills, including familiarity with Google Forms and sheets for daily note-taking and attendance tracking

To Apply:

Email your resume and cover letter to jobs@williemaerockcamp.org, and include “Teaching Artist” in the subject line. No telephone inquiries please. All responses will be kept strictly confidential. Please include which program or programs you’re interested in, or if you’d like to be considered for our general teaching artist pool.

COVID-19

Willie Mae Rock Camp requires vaccination for all staff and program contractors, and compliance with health and safety guidelines.