2026-2027: Choir Teacher

Washington Heights & Inwood (WHIN) Music Community Charter School; New York (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

WHIN Music Community Charter School in New York seeks a high-performing Choir Teacher to grow a music-infused campus. You will foster ensemble singing, model musicianship and lead engaging, objective-driven lesson plans that meet diverse learners.

You will collaborate with music and classroom teachers, participate in weekly meetings, and help coordinate bi-monthly concerts and performances, while maintaining safe, joyful rehearsals and strong relationships with WHIN families.

Qualifications

• BA/BM in music education or music performance is required; MA/MM preferred.
• Experience teaching elementary music in urban schools is required.
• Ability to accompany children on piano, guitar, and/or percussion.
• Demonstrated success raising achievement levels.
• Willingness to commit regular hours for a full academic year.
• Sense of humor and collaborative spirit.

Responsibilities

• Foster a love of making music in an ensemble setting.
• Model high-quality musicianship and citizenship within the WHIN community.
• Create, submit, and implement objective-driven lesson plans.
• Use varied instructional strategies to meet diverse learners.

Skills

Piano accompaniment

Guitar

Percussion

Ensemble leadership

Education

BA/BM in music education or music performance

MA/MM preferred

Job description

Why WHIN?

WHIN Music Community Charter School is the first school of its kind! Built on the principles of El Sistema, WHIN is a place where children learn, grow, and make music together. At WHIN, we are building a nucleo, a community where staff, families, and students work together to make a powerful shift in public education that puts learners’ needs first.

Our Mission:

To provide our diverse student population with rigorous academic instruction, intensive music education and a positive learning environment so that every student can thrive academically and personally.

We believe…

• that all children deserve a high-quality education, with access to academic rigor, music creation, and a holistic approach to developing character
• that a collaboration with families ensures the greatest success for our learners
• that restorative justice, inquiry-based hands on learning, and authentic learning experiences provide the most effective environments for growth, success, and joy

We are looking for teachers who are…

• looking to grow and prosper in a collaborative work environment
• excited about teaching in a school and neighborhood where diversity is central

We support teachers by…

• coaching and professional growth to deepen instructional practices that is facilitated by our Director of Music, Principal, and Director of Special Programs
• creating Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to address challenges and drive inquiry where teachers act as thought partners for one another

In action, our mission looks like caring deeply about all aspects of our young learners’ potential. We make academics a priority while also ensuring students’ character and personal growth. With music at our core, students experience working together to create something bigger than their individual skills every single day, and this approach extends to our classrooms where project-based, hands on learning cultivates curious, creative, and hardworking learners.

WHIN is currently seeking a high performing Choir Teacher who is ready to help grow a unique school community where compassion, kindness, and curiosity drive each and every day.

Specifically, the Choir Teacher at WHIN is responsible for:

• Fostering a love of making music in an ensemble setting
• Modeling high-quality musicianship and citizenship within the WHIN community
• Creating, submitting, and implementing objective-driven lesson plans
• Employing a variety of instructional strategies to meet the diverse needs of all learners
• Holding all students to high musical, academic, and behavioral standards
• Developing consistent and safe routines and procedures to ensure all students have access to safe, orderly, and fun rehearsals
• Administering regular music assessments and using data to drive instruction
• Maintaining inventory of instruments; performing small instrument repairs as necessary
• Keeping an organized and tidy classroom conducive to music‑making
• Assisting with all aspects of bi‑monthly concerts and weekly “informances”
• Fully participating in weekly music departmental meetings, full‑faculty professional development, and committee work
• Collaborating with other music teachers and classroom teachers to foster a music‑infused curriculum across the school
• Attending all WHIN concerts, community performances, and departmental programming
• Participating in school‑wide tasks and responsibilities as needed
• Developing and maintaining strong and professional relationships with WHIN families

Qualifications for the Teaching Artist positions are:

• Minimum education level: BA/BM in music education or music performance (MA/MM preferred)
• Experience teaching elementary music in an urban school setting
• The ability to accompany children on piano, guitar, and/or percussion
• Demonstrated success raising achievement levels of all students
• An unwavering belief that all students can achieve at a high level
• The ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic, and exciting environment
• The ability to commit regular hours to WHIN for a full academic year
• A sense of humor

Advanced proficiency or experience in one or more of the following areas is strongly preferred:

…

• Bilingual (Spanish)
• Experience in El Sistema‑based music instruction
• Active gigging musician
• Dalcroze, Suzuki, Orff Schulwerk, Kodály, Gordon’s Music Learning Theory, and/or Praxialism
• Responsive Classroom, Love and Logic Student Management, and/or Restorative Justice

Compensation and Benefits:

WHIN offers a competitive salary, determined through an equity‑focused approach that considers an individual’s skills, education, and relevant experience. Our teacher pay scale is available for viewing here.

EEO Policy:

WHIN Music Community Charter School is an equal rights and opportunity agency and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, ancestry, marital status, or any other legally protected classification in its activities, educational programs, or employment practices as required by Title VI, IX, and Section 504.