Visiting Music Teacher - Bagpipes

Introduction

Our Pipe Band and piping and drumming students play an important part in the life of the School, performing at key events, supporting community engagement, and contributing to the rich co-curricular programme across both Schools.

Our Pipe Major is supported by a permanent Drumming Instructor and a team of Visiting Music Teachers (VMTs) who deliver individual lessons, lead band rehearsals, and support pupils at performances, competitions, and other band engagements. Together, they help maintain and develop the School’s strong tradition of piping and drumming while providing students with a wide range of musical opportunities.

The School believes that music plays an important role in the education of young people. The Music Departments across the Junior and Senior Schools are led by a Director of Music and supported by curricular music teachers. In addition, a Head of Strings and a Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion work across both Schools, supporting the various bands, orchestras, ensembles, choirs and other musical groups, while also teaching their respective instruments.

Both our Junior and Senior School campuses are ideally situated in the Stockbridge area, with the Junior School located adjacent to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the Senior School at Henderson Row. Visiting Music Teachers are welcomed into the School community and are provided with access to the School’s resources and facilities to support their teaching and wider musical activities.

The Edinburgh Academy is seeking to recruit a self-employed Visiting Music Teacher (VMT) to teach Bagpipes within the Pipe Band at the earliest opportunity. We anticipate the role will involve approximately 20–25 hours of individual tuition per week, together with up to three hours of Pipe Band rehearsals, making this a significant and well-established teaching opportunity within the School.

We welcome applications from well-qualified musicians with relevant teaching qualifications and/or significant teaching experience, and a proven ability to teach pupils across a wide age and ability range, from Junior School through to S6. The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic and inspiring teacher with a passion for developing young pipers and contributing to the continued success of The Edinburgh Academy Pipe Band.

The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering high-quality individual tuition to pupils at all stages of development, from beginner practice chanter instruction through to advanced bagpipe performance. They will prepare pupils for participation in Pipe Band performances and competitions; support and encourage participation in solo piping competitions and recitals; and prepare candidates for relevant bagpipe qualifications and examinations. A thorough knowledge of both the practical and theoretical aspects of piping is essential, as is the ability to teach all aspects of solo piping, including light music and piobaireachd.

Teaching may take place across both School campuses, at Arboretum Road and Henderson Row. In addition to delivering individual lessons, the successful candidate will be expected to support Pipe Band rehearsals and work closely with the Pipe Major and wider Pipe Band team to contribute to the musical development of pupils and the ongoing success of the Pipe Band programme.

As a self-employed VMT, there is a direct contractual relationship between the teacher and the parent or guardian, and the VMT is responsible for invoicing families directly for agreed tuition fees. The Academy sets a minimum charge for lessons and requires VMTs to pay a Facility Charge for the use of School resources and facilities.

There may also be opportunities to provide additional coaching and support pupils at competitions, performances, concerts and other School events throughout the year. Such additional duties would be remunerated separately at the agreed hourly rate for that academic session.

The appointment will be subject to interview and audition, satisfactory references, verification of identity and proof of qualifications.

The Edinburgh Academy is…