Artist-Teacher of Jazz and Contemporary Music; JCM) Voice

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Cambridge, MA, US

2 days ago Requisition

Status :
Part-time, in-person

Reports to :
Dean, Chair of Jazz and Contemporary Music

Description

Longy School of Music of Bard College prepares graduate students to make a difference in the world through their artistry. Our student-centered curriculum empowers musicians to pursue bold projects, challenge conventions, and build multifaceted careers through meaningful, real-world experiences.

Longy seeks dynamic and innovative artist-teachers to join our Jazz and Contemporary Music (JCM) Department, mentoring graduate vocalists as performers, improvisers, and creative leaders. Ideal candidates bring diverse professional experiences across jazz, jazz-adjacent, and contemporary popular music traditions, along with a passion for helping students discover their artistic identities, expand their musical versatility, and prepare for entrepreneurial careers.

Teaching opportunities include private studio instruction and classroom courses, particularly JCM Vocal Jazz Workshop , emphasizing repertoire and stylistic development, and Leading the Band , focusing on arranging, band leading, and collaborative performance. We welcome versatile educators and specialists with strengths in vocal performance, improvisation, repertoire development, and/or band leading. Multiple appointments may be made, with responsibilities reflecting individual expertise and departmental needs.

• Provide innovative, weekly, hour-long private voice lessons to graduate-level musicians, emphasizing vocal artistry, stylistic versatility, improvisation, and individualized artistic development.
• Design and deliver engaging classroom instruction, workshops, and performance-based learning experiences in vocal jazz, contemporary styles, repertoire development, arranging, and band leading.
• Mentor students in developing their artistic identities, building personal repertoires, strengthening improvisational and collaborative skills, and preparing diverse professional opportunities.
• Utilize a holistic, student-centered pedagogical approach, emphasizing student competence and agency.
• Guide and evaluate student performances, including first-year recitals, graduate recitals, and end-of-semester course performances, offering constructive and individualized feedback throughout the creative process.
• Participate in student admission auditions, recital preparation, dress rehearsals, and other departmental activities as appropriate to the appointment.
• Actively support the recruitment of talented graduate voice students and contribute to raising the visibility of Longy and its JCM Department.
• Incorporate Longy's mission of preparing musicians to make a difference in the world into teaching, mentorship, and artistic practice.
• Propose and teach additional courses, workshops, or creative projects aligned with individual expertise and departmental priorities as opportunities arise.

Qualified candidates will demonstrate an outstanding record as a performer and educator, along with a multifaceted artistic career that reflects engagement with a variety of musical styles, creative projects, and professional settings. We are particularly interested in candidates who demonstrate :

• Expertise in jazz, jazz-adjacent, and/or contemporary popular vocal traditions, with a strong understanding of relevant performance practices and stylistic approaches.
• Experience teaching or mentoring advanced vocalists, with an ability to meet students where they are and support individualized artistic and professional growth.
• Skills in vocal improvisation, repertoire development, arranging, band leading, and/or collaborative music-making.
• A creative, student-centered approach to teaching that fosters curiosity, artistic independence, and experimentation.
• A commitment to preparing musicians for varied, evolving careers and to contributing meaningfully to an inclusive and collaborative educational community.
• Candidates need not demonstrate equal expertise across all areas of instruction. Teaching assignments will reflect individual strengths and departmental needs.
• A degree in music or demonstrated equivalent professional experience is required.

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