Grand Vision Foundation is a non-profit community arts organization whose mission is to inspire and engage the diverse communities of Los Angeles through culturally-responsive arts and educational experiences. Meet the Music (MTM) is Grand Vision’s youth education program, which nurtures the next generation of our creative community. Founded in 2009, MTM has grown into a model education program, annually serving over 3500 primary school students in Greater Los Angeles through innovative, sequential musical-skill-building and engagement curricula. MTM stands out in its commitment to equitable access to music education—all students at a given grade level are encouraged to participate—and to arts integration— programs are held in schools during regular school hours and our teaching artists work closely with classroom teachers to make music a regular part of students’ routine.

Grand Vision is currently looking for passionate, experienced and resourceful teaching artists to serve students at multiple schools in the Los Angeles Unified and surrounding school districts. Successful candidates will have an exceptional track record as both educators and artist practitioners and be prepared to teach in the following program areas:

• Recorders in Schools (grades 3-5): a year-long program, focused on recorder playing technique, beginning sight reading and ensemble performance
• Roots of Music Program (RoMP) (grades 3-5): a semester-long program, emphasizing group singing and dance, that introduces fundamental music concepts through the lens of multicultural music making and interactive concert experiences
• Percussion in Schools: a year-long program consisting of two tracks:
• Beginning Percussion (grades K-2) tailored to pre-readers and emphasizing music fundamentals and ensemble performance through percussion rudiments and
• Advanced Percussion (grades 3-5) focused on pitched and unpitched percussion techniques, beginning sight reading and ensemble performance
• Violin in Schools (grades K-2): a year-long program tailored to pre-readers emphasizing beginning music fundamentals through violin care, bow technique and performing basic melodies alone or as an ensemble.

The Teaching Artist will report to the Manager of Music Education and teach at one or more school sites in the Greater Los Angeles area. The course load will consist of approximately eight to twenty 30–45 minute lessons per week (however, the exact schedule will depend on fall enrollment). This position will begin in August 2023.

Required Qualifications 

• A commitment to providing inclusive, equitable education to all young people
• Exceptional classroom management skills including at least 3–5 years of in-school or after-school teaching experience in applied music (instrumental or vocal performance)
• A high level of musicianship and artistry as a teacher/performer
• Ability to use a variety of teaching strategies to address students’ learning styles and  grade levels
• Ability and willingness to “think outside the box” regarding engaging, accessible music education
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills
• Ability and willingness to follow simple lesson plans
• Ability and willingness to teach an existing curriculum with creativity and flexibility
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a team
• Availability during regular school hours (Monday–Friday, approximately 8AM – 3PM)
• Valid California driver’s license
• Ability to lift 25 pounds

Desired Qualifications 

• Experience working with students from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Some ability to communicate in and understand spoken Spanish
• Some familiarity with culturally relevant/responsive pedagogies, social emotional learning or critical race theory
• Recognition of learning needs and nuances of post-pandemic elementary education
• At least one year of practical experience teaching beginning band, orchestra or comparable multi-instrument ensemble

Please visit Grand Vision’s website at www.grandvision.org before applying. Email cover letter describing your fit for the position & resume/curriculum vitae (as a single PDF) with “Teaching Artist (Multi-instrumentalist)” in the subject line to sukari@grandvision.org by July 25th, 2023. 

Compensation & Time Commitment

$50 – $75/hour (depending on experience) – in-person – 8–20 hours/week