Beginner String Ensemble Teaching Artist

Play On, Philly!; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 69,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hourly rate $45

Admin rate $20

Job summary

Play On Philly (POP) is seeking a String Ensemble Teaching Artist for the upcoming school year at St. Francis de Sales School.

You will guide a beginner string ensemble of about 20 students with 0–2 years of experience, focusing on technique, literacy, and repertoire. You will collaborate with POP staff, participate in professional development, and teach in a supportive, community-centered setting on-site during September 2026 to December 2026, with potential continuation.

Qualifications

• Specialize in string instruments and pedagogy.
• Minimum one year of formal music teaching experience with groups of young people.
• Availability for occasional nights and weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Teach and support beginner string ensemble of ~20 players (violin, viola, cello, bass).
• Help students develop music literacy, repertoire, and ensemble skills.
• Maintain a safe, welcoming, and rigorous classroom environment; enforce POP rules.

Skills

String pedagogy

Teaching groups

Education

One year teaching experience with youth

Job description

Description

We are seeking a passionate, committed String Ensemble Teaching Artist (TA) for the upcoming school year at our Music Center located at St. Francis de Sales School. This TA will work with the Beginner String Ensemble of approximately 20 violin, viola, cello, and bass students who have 0-2 years of playing experience.

About POP

Play On Philly (POP) is a non-profit organization that provides daily, after-school music instruction to over 300 K-12 students. We work in communities that historically have had little or no access to formal music education. POP offers a transformative music education experience that develops and inspires the behaviors and personal skills needed for a successful life.

Job Description

Teaching Artists (TA) work collaboratively and independently to ensure students are making steady progress on their instruments, music literacy skills, and repertoire and can manage their class to create a safe, welcoming, and rigorous environment in their classrooms and at their Music Centers, at-large. All POP TAs are responsible for encouraging students to adhere to the POP rules and guidelines for student citizenship.

This role is supervised by our Program Coordinators and works in partnership with the Director of Education, Music Director, and other POP TAs. As POP team members, TAs actively participate in professional development and continued education to cultivate and hone their teaching skills. We are looking for lifelong learners, and collaboratively natured individuals who enjoy and have experience working with school-aged children (1st – 8th grades), are creative, and can problem-solve and multi-task.

A Successful Candidate

• You are passionate about music education.
• You are calm under pressure.
• You have experience with teaching groups of five or more students at once.
• You are excited to serve a community through music.

Requirements

• You specialize in string instruments and pedagogy.
• At least one year of formal music teaching experience with groups of young people.
• You can work occasional nights and weekends as required.

Compensation

Hourly Teaching Rate: $45 Hourly Admin Rate: $20

On-Site Work Commitment

September 2026 – December 2026, with the potential for a second agreement for the January 2027 – May 2027 session.

• St. Francis de Sales School (SFDS): Mondays and Tuesdays, 3:45pm - 5:15pm

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

POP is committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace and is actively trying to attract a wide pool of candidates. Discrimination against race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability or genetic information is both illegal and against our organization’s values. POP is working to understand who is applying to our open positions. Your responses will help us to evaluate and improve our current practices. If you feel comfortable volunteering your demographic details strictly for informational purposes, you will be invited to respond to the optional section in the job application.

Our Community

POP is rooted in the community of Philadelphia. We welcome all applicants and invite our local community members to apply. We want to hear from you!

In lieu of a cover letter, please be prepared to answer the following questions: [250 word maximum per response]

• Why are you interested in POP?
• What do you like about working with children or young adults?
• Tell us about a teacher or role model who really influenced you.
• Instrument specialty