Description

BSO OrchKids was founded in 2008 by conductor Marin Alsop. Since then, it has been offering music education and programming during and after school across many schools in Baltimore City. Through Peabody and the BSO’s OrchKids programs, Peabody students teach private and group instrumental lessons to OrchKids students. Teaching takes place during and after school throughout the school year. Positions are posted throughout Handshake, but all hiring is completed by the OrchKids staff. Positions are only open to Federal Work Study students, and pays $35/hour.

Teaching artists are young educators dedicated to supporting students and their musical progress through private lessons. The OrchKids educational philosophy focuses on student-centered learning, holistic and evidence-based teaching practices relevant to our students’ lives, creation and improvisation, inclusion, student voice and agency, and ensemble music-making. Embracing OrchKids educational philosophy, Teaching artists help guide the musical development of the program’s students through private lessons and assisting with classes. This methodology aims to promote synchronicity and community as well as simultaneously cultivating high artistic instrumental skills (i.e. technique, learning challenging repertoire) and fostering creativity (e.g. improvisation and composition).

Responsibilities

• Teaching: Provide weekly private lessons for OrchKids students
  • Follow curriculum standards set by the OrchKids program and direct the musical progress of students, incorporating suggestions and repertoire assigned by students’ group class OrchKids teachers
  • Embrace OrchKids’ educational philosophy and incorporate these principles into your lessons
• Commit to learning about and becoming a dedicated member of the Baltimore community
• Serve as a consistent and compassionate mentor to OrchKids students
• Meetings: Participate in monthly professional development/support sessions for OrchKids Academy Fellows at Peabody and provide feedback/program evaluation as requested
  • Whenever possible, attend professional development workshops and meetings offered by OrchKids and Peabody that cover a variety of educational community engagement and social justice topics
• Transportation: Participants are responsible for their own transportation

 Eligibility and Requirements

• The program is open to students working toward or having completed a Bachelor degree that are approved as Federal Work Study employee by the university
• Applicants should have a passion for working with youth and a desire to serve as a role model to students, with some experience working with students one-on-one or in small groups
• To succeed as an OrchKids Teaching Artist, it is important to have a willingness to jump in and embrace OrchKids’ practices of music-making through creative composition, improvisation, and playing a variety of musical genres
• Applicants should display flexibility and the ability to work collaboratively, as well as punctuality, professionalism, and excellent interpersonal skills
• OrchKids Teaching Artists should have a knowledge of instrument-specific pedagogy and repertoire

Application Instructions and Timeline

• To begin the application process, please follow this link and log in with your Hopkins account information.
• Applications are due by September 18th, 2023.
• Applications will be reviewed and follow-up meetings, if necessary, will be scheduled.
• Acceptance notifications will be made starting in the beginning of September.

Application Requirements

• Following September 18th, the deadline of the submission of the Handshake application, applicants will be contacted and interviewed based on openings and qualifications.

For further information, please contact Khandeya Sheppard, Manager of Community Partnerships at [email protected].