Middle School Band Teacher

Description

New Canaan Country School, a Pre-K through Grade 9 co-ed, independent day school, serves approximately 570 students from diverse backgrounds living in 18 different towns/cities across Fairfield and Westchester counties. Our mission is to create an active, joyful learning environment where children are challenged to think deeply, question confidently, and act generously so that they may lead lives of impact and purpose.

We believe that childhood is in itself an integral part of life to be lived fully and happily. A talented and devoted faculty engages our students in developmentally appropriate ways, delivering a challenging curriculum that builds intellectual skills and fosters creative and critical thinking.

The Arts program at NCCS consists of Performing Arts and Visual Arts curricula, providing students with child-centered, age-appropriate arts experiences through all of the Country School years. Visual Arts experiences include painting, drawing, printmaking, digital design, pottery, and more. Performing Arts experiences include general music, choral and band ensembles, drama and dance. NCCS seeks a Lower School Music & Movement teacher to teach Grades 1-4, produce several community-wide performances each year, and to run the bi-weekly Lower School assembly.

• Teach Beginning Band to Grades 4-9
• Teach Middle School General Music and offer Upper School Electives as needed
• Evaluate students’ growth, keep appropriate records, and prepare narrative reports
• Produce several performances each year
• Perform additional divisional responsibilities (lunch duty, recess supervision, etc.) as assigned by the Director of the Arts
• Attend departmental, divisional, and all-school meetings as scheduled
• Report to the Director of the Arts

• A love of teaching music and instruments
• Experience with, or knowledge of, band method book series such as “Elements of Music”, “Standards of Excellence”, or “Habits of A Successful Beginner Band Student”
• Ability to play a concert Bb scale on flute, clarinet, alto sax, trumpet, and trombone
• Facility with solfege syllables
• Bachelor’s Degree in music or education (additional experience/education preferred)

• Shares a joy of music with students
• Actively participates in the Middle School community
• Demonstrates cultural competency
• Possesses strong communication skills
• Cultivates a joyful, vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming classroom community supported by strong classroom management skills
• Is flexible and works well with teams and individuals, all while possessing a positive attitude
• Has Responsive Classroom training
• Enjoys leading group activities
• Has a willingness to partner with grade-level teams and incorporate homeroom themes into music class when appropriate