Percussion Teaching Artist

About Play On Philly

Play On Philly (POP) is a non-profit organization that provides daily, after-school music instruction to over 300 K-12 students. We work in communities that historically have had little or no access to formal music education.

We are seeking a Percussion Teaching Artist for our music center location at St. Rose of Lima School. Drummers with basic knowledge of piano are encouraged to apply. This TA will work with a group of approximately 12 students who are in their first or second year of playing.

Job Description

Teaching Artists (TA) work collaboratively and independently to ensure students are making steady progress on their instruments, music literacy skills, and repertoire and can manage their class to create a safe, welcoming, and rigorous environment in their classrooms and at their Music Center, at-large. All POP TAs are responsible for encouraging students to adhere to the POP rules and guidelines for student citizenship. This position will also assist the Program Coordinator with daily tasks such as student attendance and dismissal, uphold citizenship and disciplinary policies, and help maintain accurate student records.

As POP team members, TAs actively participate in professional development and continued education to cultivate and hone their teaching skills. TAs receive regular feedback and coaching on their job performance. Successful candidates are interested in cultivating their skills in group instrumental teaching and are excited to grow.

This role is supervised by the Music Center’s Program Coordinator and works in partnership with the Director of Educational Programming, Music Director, and other POP TAs within specific instrument families. We are looking for lifelong learners, and collaboratively-natured individuals who enjoy and have experience working with school-aged children (K-12), are creative, and can problem-solve and multi-task.

A successful candidate:

• You are passionate about music education.
• You are calm under pressure.
• You have experience with teaching groups of five or more students at once.
• You are excited to serve a community through music.

• You are a professional musician.
• You have at least one year of formal music teaching experience with young people.
• You can work occasional nights and weekends as required.
• You have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

As a social justice organization, POP is committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace. Discrimination against race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability or genetic information is both illegal and against our organization’s values. If you would like to volunteer your demographic details strictly for informational purposes, you will be invited to respond to the optional section in the job application.

Our Community

POP is rooted in the community of Philadelphia. We welcome all applicants and invite our local community members to apply. We want to hear from you!

Salary Range

Salary is contingent upon class schedule and scope of work.

$7,500 - $9,000

Work Commitment

Remainder of Fall Session: November 28 - December 9, 2022

Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 2:45pm - 5:15pm

Tuesdays from 1:45pm - 3:15pm

Wednesdays from 2:45pm - 4:15pm

Winter/Spring Session: January 3, 2023 - May 26, 2023

Exact schedule to be finalized but will be similar to the above.

In lieu of a cover letter, please be prepared to answer the following questions: [250 word maximum per response]

• Why are you interested in POP?
• What do you like about working with children or young adults?
• Tell us about a teacher or role model who really influenced you.