Teaching Artist, Violin

Job Type: Part-Time

Pay Rate: $50 per hour

Location: Various

About Harmony Program

At the Harmony Program, music changes lives every day. Through collective music-making, children from under-served communities explore new avenues and realize their full potential.

For over 15 years, the Harmony Program has distinguished itself by serving children in need, reaching them within their own communities, providing them with instruments and intensive, high quality musical training, and helping to develop in them the life skills that support their healthy development -- musically, academically, and socially. The Harmony Program also recruits and trains accomplished musicians as its teaching artists and provides them with formal professional development training, observation and evaluation, access to a network of their peers, and competitive compensation for their services, with the goal of instilling in them a long-term commitment to community outreach and education.

The Harmony Program is inspired by Venezuela's national youth orchestra system, "El Sistema." Committed to improving society through music, El Sistema has gained international acclaim for the breadth of its reach, the quality of its musicians, and the power of its positive influence on the young lives it touches. In the spirit of El Sistema, the Harmony Program emphasizes the influence of music-making on social development, encourages learning through ensemble playing, fosters a supportive community for program participants and families, and requires of all involved a high degree of commitment to daily music study.

Jobs, duties, and responsibilities

● Lead weekly violin classes for elementary and middle school students;

● Prepare lesson plans aligned with Harmony Program’s curriculum, emphasizing both musical excellence and social-emotional learning;

● Create an inclusive, energetic, and supportive classroom environment using effective classroom management strategies;

● Oversee classroom logistics, including attendance, instrument care, and student transitions;

● Assess and track students’ musical growth and social development;

● Communicate student progress and challenges with program administration;

● Participate in all required professional development workshops (paid);

● Attend select organization-wide events, including student performances and community programs.

Required Qualifications

● Minimum of 2 years of teaching experience with children in grades K-8;

● Undergraduate degree in violin or music education performance;

● Energetic and adaptable teaching style with excellent classroom management skills;

● Ability to commute between Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx;

● High degree of professionalism, including punctuality, reliability, and respectful collaboration;

● Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds;

● Must be able to clear background check for work with the Department of Education;

● Must be authorized to work legally in the United States.

Application Materials

● Resume

● Cover letter

● Teaching philosophy statement (250-500 words)

● Sample lesson plan

● Two professional references

Candidates should submit their completed applications via this form (https://harmonyprogram.org/teaching-artist-application/). If you have any questions, please contact us at programs@harmonyprogram.org.

Pay: $50.00 per hour

Work Location: In person