Benefits:
Company parties
Free food & snacks
Paid time off
Training & development
Position Title: Musician Instrument Instructor (Drums, Guitar, Piano, Bass, Beginner & Advanced Choir, Beginner & Advanced Music Ensemble, Musical Theatre, Beginner & Advanced Songwriting, Music History)
Classification: Non-Exempt / Part-Time
Pay Rate: $23 - $25 per hour
About Us: Founded in May 2014 as a 501(c)(3) organization, Jazz Hands For Autism is a talent advocacy group that uses a strength-based approach to empower musicians with autism and amplify their voices by providing necessary resources and avenues that will assist them with forging a rewarding and career path as a working musician.
Our Mission: Provide platforms and avenues where musically inclined individuals on the autism spectrum can express and explore their talents.
Our Vision: We are working towards a world where individuals on the autism spectrum are fully integrated members of society who are confident in their ability to make valued social, cultural and economic contributions in their communities.
Our Values:
Music First!: We believe that our staff, students, and performers are musicians first; autism comes second. At Jazz Hands For Autism, We are all about T.H.E. M.U.S.I.C.
Creative Growth: Harness the self and the talents within by exploring new abilities.
Confidence: We work to enable the realization of the power of expression, and freedom with that expression.
Unity: We work to create an atmosphere of unity and equality.
Support: We work to encourage the development of confidence in abilities and talents.
Inclusivity: We are a community that welcomes individuals of all backgrounds, and we want everyone we work with to know that their contributions are valued.
Community: We work to create an atmosphere that fosters relationships, teamwork, and camaraderie across the spectrum and with individuals without autism.
We are seeking a highly motivated, reliable and creative individual to join our team. The ideal candidate is someone who truly loves working with teens and adults on the autism spectrum and is passionate about spreading the gift of musicianship. The ideal candidate is also someone with a high level of creativity and strong organizational skills.
SUMMARY OF POSITION
The Musician Instrument Instructor plays a key role in accomplishing our mission of providing opportunities for our students on the autism spectrum to express and explore their talents. Instructors must be both experts in their crafts as musicians as well as able to foster a structured environment to support creative growth of our students while navigating and guiding through the behavioral aspects of those on the autism spectrum.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Act as technical and creative Subject Matter Expert (SME) in the areas of musicianship, instrument mechanics, and performance.
Instruct beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert level musicians and foster opportunities for advancement and growth in their craft.
Ensure students are learning the fundamentals of music, not just songs.
Assess and provide positive and constructive feedback on individual skill levels, identify challenges and obstacles to musical progression, and work with students to set and achieve goals.
Communicate expectations to students
Prepare and deliver course materials
Involve and encourage students to set good practice habits, keep music organized and up to date, set realistic goals in their musical practice and participate in JHFA recitals, events, and performances.
Occasionally, accompany or perform with students during concert performances, as appropriate.
Use instructional aids and leverage resources appropriately to enhance the curriculum (e.g. Blackboards/whiteboards, make arrangements for guest performers, etc.)
Design interactive and motivational activities to fully engage participants and to reinforce student learning.
Respond to student needs and questions
Create a high-performance environment in which students of diverse backgrounds are motivated to succeed
Identifying student goals and differentiating instructions to provide relevant learning opportunities for each student
Develop sequenced lesson plan and curriculum in your field of practice
Communicate with appropriate levels of JHFA management and administration on a timely basis
Maintain clean, organized, and personalized classroom space, or organized virtual classroom structure.
Perform basic repairs of student instruments, as needed.
Support JHFA performances, recitals, special events, recruitment events by setting up and tearing down, producing/stage management, marketing/community outreach, student instruction/direction, producing, speaking on behalf of JHFA as assigned
Create a safe space for clients and promote psychological safety
REQUIREMENTS
Must be at or near professional level for the instrument(s) providing instruction for.
BA, or equivalent relevant experience, or a combination thereof in Music Performance or related field.
Must be available to teach in person at least three days in one week.
Must be available to work on Saturdays occasionally.
Must have the following characteristics:
Represent JHFA, maintaining a professional attitude at all times
Have a willingness to learn
Be solutions oriented
Maintain open mindedness
Act with transparency
Act with initiative
Must be able to complete an Introduction to Autism Online Course within 30 days after start date.
Experience with working with people with disabilities/autism is a plus.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.