Music Program Instructor - Learn & Earn Program

afterschoolmatters; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 2,975,616 - 4,017,081; Part time

Job summary

After School Matters in Chicago is seeking a part-time Music Program Instructor to teach teens foundational and advanced skills in music recording, songwriting, production, chorus, and artist development. The position runs for six weeks, about 18 hours per week, with a schedule from June 22 to July 31, 2026.

You will guide teens through the creative process, plan a six-week curriculum, coordinate field trips and guest speakers, and help prepare a culminating showcase while maintaining a 10:1

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; high school diploma or GED required.
• Experience in music industry or related creative field is highly preferred.
• Experience teaching or mentoring teens is highly preferred.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and youth development is required.

Responsibilities

• Plan and facilitate a 6-week curriculum, including field trips and guest speakers to enhance training.
• Create structure and support for teens, including agenda setting and group norms.
• Teach fundamentals of songwriting, music production, vocal performance, and collaborative music-making.
• Lead teens in planning and executing a final showcase performance.
• Conduct teen interviews and complete data entry (interview outcomes, attendance, reports).
• Prepare and manage program budgets in accordance with ASM guidelines.
• Guide teens through hands-on creative projects, including recording sessions and production labs.
• Supervise teens at an average 10:1 teen-to-instructor ratio.
• Expose participants to music careers including performing, producing, engineering, songwriting, and artist management.
• Maintain a complete program curriculum plan following ASM’s Program Planner.

Skills

Music performance

Music production

Songwriting

Group management

Communication with teens

Google Suite

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

High school diploma or GED required

Tools

Google Suite

Basic music software

Job description

Summary of Position

This is a part‑time position scheduled for approximately 18 hours per week for 6 weeks. The program runs from June 22, 2026 through July 31, 2026.

The Music Program Instructor will be responsible for teaching teens foundational and advanced skills in music recording, songwriting, production, chorus performance, and music artist development. The instructor will guide teens through the creative process, support their artistic growth, and prepare them for a culminating showcase performance at the end of the session.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan and facilitate a 6‑week curriculum, including field trips (e.g., recording studios, music venues) and recruiting guest speakers from various music disciplines to enhance training.
• Create structure and support for teens, including agenda setting, group norms, and adherence to ASM’s supportive behavior management plan and incident reporting procedures.
• Teach participants the fundamentals of songwriting, music production, vocal performance, and collaborative music‑making.
• Lead teens in planning and executing a final showcase performance, demonstrating their learning and original creative work.
• Conduct teen interviews, select participants by roster deadlines, and complete all required data entry (interview outcomes, attendance, checklists, program reports, surveys).
• Prepare and manage program budgets in accordance with ASM guidelines.
• Guide teens through hands‑on creative projects, including recording sessions, songwriting workshops, chorus rehearsals, and production labs.
• Supervise teens at an average 10:1 teen‑to‑instructor ratio.
• Intentionally expose participants to a wide range of music careers, including performing, producing, engineering, songwriting, and artist management.
• Maintain a complete program curriculum plan following ASM’s Program Planner expectations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated practical knowledge of music performance, production, or songwriting.
• Classroom or group management experience preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively with teens, parents, ASM staff, guest artists, and community partners.
• Intermediate computer skills, including familiarity with Google Suite and basic music software.
• Cultural competence and the ability to support teens from diverse backgrounds.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field preferred; high school diploma or GED required.
• Experience working in the music industry or a related creative field is highly preferred.
• Experience teaching or mentoring teens is highly preferred.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and youth development is required.

Program Schedule

Summer programs run June 22, 2026 – July 31, 2026, Monday through Thursday. Additional hours are allotted for planning, professional development, and meetings. Program hours: 10:00 am – 2:15 pm.

Compensation

$20–27 per hour, depending on experience and education.

About Us

After School Matters is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that annually offers after-school and summer programs to nearly 19,000 Chicago high school teens to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills that will set them up for success in college and beyond. Thirty-five years later, now known as After School Matters, our program has engaged more than 450,000 Chicago teens and is the nation’s largest and most successful provider of after-school and summer programs for high school teens. No other organization offers programs to high school students at the scale and quality that we do.

We offer paid apprenticeships led by professionals in the fields of arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Our nationally respected youth development model has been replicated in cities across the country and earned us the City Livability Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Programs take place at community locations throughout the city, including four ASM buildings: downtown at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts and Orleans, the Michael and Karyn Lutz Center in Belmont Cragin, and the Pullman community at Gately Park. Currently, After School Matters' annual operating budget is approximately $48M and employs approximately 500 staff across the organization. For more information, visit www.afterschoolmatters.org.

EEO

After School Matters is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, military discharge status, age, marital status, parental status, or source of income.