Associate Music Director (Preparatory & Apprentice)

Status: Non-exempt, Part-time 

Hours: 1-3 evenings per week teaching at 1-3 sites (approximately 2 hrs per rehearsal) plus admin/planning/meeting time 2-4 hours/week per rehearsal; some weekend and evening hours as required

Report to: Artistic Director

Compensation: $33-$38/hr

SDCC Ensemble Program Choir Directors educate and inspire children, teaching songs that instill the joy of singing while also teaching music literacy, proper vocal technique, and performance etiquette. Preparatory and Apprentice Choirs are the elementary levels, with both subconscious and conscience early music reading skills and healthy vocal skills introduced and emphasized.

There is potential for expansion to additional rehearsal site(s) in the future. Programming aligns with the school semester system and runs September – early December and late January – May, with no programming winter, spring, and summer breaks.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Lead week-night rehearsals as assigned through the academic year in preparation for 2 major semester-ending concerts in conjunction with the five other core SDCC ensembles as well as 2-4 additional performance events each semester. Preparatory and Apprentice choir rehearses regularly in 5 split groups and comes together for all-group rehearsals on Sundays roughly every six weeks.

  2. Weekly rehearsals for Preparatory and Apprentice Choir are 1 hour in length, and include between 12-25 students

  3. Attend weekly ensemble director’s meeting, 1 hour (to be scheduled around director availability)

  4. Attend weekly rehearsal prep meeting (as needed), 1 hour (to be scheduled around director availability)

  5. Repertoire and lesson plans will be provided, though Associate Music Directors are invited to suggest repertoire and there is flexibility within the lesson plans to account for personal expertise and style.

  6. No concert conducting obligations unless discussed in advance.

  7. Knowledge of and distribution to choristers of materials regarding upcoming events.

  8. Availability 15 minutes before and after rehearsals to answer parent questions and for set-up and tear-down.

  9. A collaborative pianist is provided for every rehearsal and performance. Associate Music Directors are expected to be in communication with their accompanist regarding absences and substitution needs.

  10. Maintenance of regular communication with SDCC staff regarding upcoming rehearsals and events


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  1. Bachelor degree in music education OR masters in vocal performance with extensive choral singing and teaching experience

  2. 3+ years of received private vocal coaching

  3. Minimum 2 years teaching choir to elementary-aged students

  4. Comfortability with use of Curwen/Glover hand-signs

  5. Familiarity and interest in teaching/directing a variety of choral works, including the standard choral canon through all eras of music history, as well as lesser known world music

  6. Piano proficiency

  7. Interest in collaborating on an artistic level

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Send an email with the subject “Associate Music Director” including a cover letter and CV/resume with three references to operations manager Michele Tondreau West, mtondreau@sdcchoir.org.

Prior to interview (if applicable) videos of teaching will be requested.

OUTREACH MUSIC SPECIALIST

Status: Non-exempt, part-time, hourly and project-based position

Reports to: Program Director, Introductory & Outreach Programs

Compensation: Starts at $30-$33/hr

 

SDCC’s School Outreach Program is a community outreach program of the San Diego Children’s Choir committed to providing quality music education to San Diego County schools.

Outreach Music Specialists (OMS) teach between fifteen to thirty children ranging from preschool to third grade. Classes occur once weekly for a duration of thirty to forty-five minutes. At the end of a semester, it is at the Outreach Music Teacher’s discretion to offer a class Informance. During the school day, each class per grade level is taught. After school requirements differ depending on the school population, students are typically grouped into choir classes by age ranges or grades levels are combined (i.e., K-2, 3-5, or 2-5).

OMS educate and inspire children, teaching songs that instill the joy of singing while incorporating the elements of music, solfa, rhythmic development, head voice, and concert etiquette. Classes are designed to be a social and cultural experience. OMS will select repertoire (in collaboration with the Program Director) and communicate with parents and schools when needed in planning and organizing performances. A piano accompanist might be provided for a few rehearsals each season and for the end-of-semester performance.

Depending on availability, Outreach Music Specialists may work with one to four schools weekly. Repertoire may be the same at multiple sites. Choirs rehearse during and after school, but schedules and days of the week are flexible and to be determined. During the school day, a Multi- Subject California Credentialed Classroom Teacher is required to be present and will support behavior management.

Interested applicants must have a Bachelor of Music Education, or equivalent, and experience teaching General Music and/or Choral Music to Elementary School students, or comparable experience. Additional music education endorsements such as training in Kodály, Orff-Schulwerk, GIML, Feieraband, or Dalcroze are preferred. Spanish-speaking ability is a plus.

Note: the California Single-Subject Music Teacher Credential is NOT a requirement for this position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  1. Bachelor degree in music education

  2. Experience teaching music to elementary-aged children in a general music or choir setting

  3. Comfort using solfege and Curwen/Glover hand-signs as rehearsal tools

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

  1. Send an email with the subject “Outreach Music Specialist” including a cover letter and CV/resume with three references to operations manager Michele Tondreau West, mtondreau@sdcchoir.org.

  2. Submit a video following submission guidelines here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YJOK4hBiAOVq2QYKsZXgnSdfVMgQiYgD

EARLY YEARS MUSIC SPECIALIST

Status: Non-exempt, part-time, hourly and project-based position

Reports to: Program Director, Introductory & Outreach Programs

Compensation: $30/hr

SDCC’s Early Years Program is an introductory, non-performing choral-based music education experience for children ages 4-6 (Pre-K, TK and  Kindergarten).

The Early Years (EY) Music Specialist is responsible for teaching up to 12-15 children per class. Classes occur once weekly for a duration of thirty to forty-five minutes. Sessions follow the SDCC calendar and typically last eight weeks.

Early Years (EY) Music Specialists are professional teachers who demonstrate compassionate, creative, and confident approaches to working with children. This position requires the ability to teach developmentally appropriate music and movement skills. EY Music Specialists educate and inspire students to become confident singers of high quality and age appropriate repertoire. Movement based activities and dances should be at the forefront of developing internal beat and rhythmic awareness.

Depending on availability, EY Music Specialists may work at one to four sites weekly.

Interested applicants must have a Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, or equivalent degrees. Early childhood music education and experience strongly preferred. Strong organizational, verbal and written communication skills a must.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor degree in music or music education, or equivalent degree(s)

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Send an email with the subject “Early Years Music Specialist” including a cover letter and CV/resume with three references to operations manager Michele Tondreau West, mtondreau@sdcchoir.org.