Teaching Artist: Music Appreciation

Society for Music Theory; New York (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid safe and sick leave

Disability insurance

HSA & Dependent Care Savings Accounts

Commuter benefits

403(b) / Pension plan

Job summary

Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education in New York, NY seeks a part-time Teaching Artist in Music Appreciation to design culturally relevant syllabi and deliver engaging music lessons within an after-school CYD framework.

The role emphasizes SEL-informed instruction, expressive arts, and collaboration with a team including the Artistic Director and Education Director. On-site position with flexible scheduling and growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 3–5 years of teaching young artists in urban after-school settings.
• Experience creating culturally relevant syllabi and lesson plans.
• Expertise presenting culturally relevant visual and performing arts events in community settings.

Responsibilities

• Develop a culturally relevant syllabus for four fall classes and repeat for spring.
• Create CYD Lesson Plans aligned with SEL and collaborate with leadership.
• Maintain a structured, participatory classroom responsive to student needs.
• Promote values: Commitment, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Creative Innovation, Confidence, Celebration.
• Attend professional development and participate in rehearsals and events.

Skills

Teaching

Group Facilitation

K-5 Experience

Curriculum Development

Communication

Classroom Management

Youth Development

Latin American Music

Team Collaboration

Organization

Discretion

Spanish a Plus

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

3–5 years teaching in urban after-school environments

Cultural/arts education experience

Job description

Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education

LOCATION

New York, NY

INSTITUTION

Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education

POSITION/RANK

Teaching Artist: Music Appreciation

GENERAL INFO

About the Organization

Casita Maria is a youth, family and community serving organization in the Hunts Point/Longwood section of the South Bronx. We were established in East Harlem in 1934 by Claire and Elizabeth Sullivan and Sister Mary Imelda who observed waves of Spanish-speaking people pouring in from Puerto Rico and in desperate need of services. While settlement houses were in place to address the needs of the poor, this population was made up of predominantly European immigrants. Seeing the disparity and isolation that Latinos were confronting, Claire, Elizabeth, and Sister Mary provided essential nutrition, housing, childcare, and educational support. What they could not know at the time is that they were championing social justice for what would become one of America’s most historically marginalized groups. Casita Maria’s mission is to enrich and elevate youth, families, and communities through arts, culture, and education.

About our After-School Program

Casita Maria follows a Creative Youth Development (CYD) framework where teaching artists and staff skillfully combine arts education with academic support and principles of positive youth development. This holistic approach enables young people to master artistic skills, excel academically, and express themselves creatively, while sharpening critical thinking skills, boosting their self-esteem, and ultimately emerging as leaders.

For Casita Maria, CYD incorporates two vital components: expressive art and social emotional learning. Expressive art allows participants to use creative expression to communicate and overcome challenging emotions and experiences. Social emotional learning hones essential life skills like self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

JOB DESCRIPTION

About the Position

This is a direct service position requiring strong teaching and group facilitation skills fueled by a passion for arts, culture, and community.

Position Title: Teaching Artist: Music Appreciation

Reports To: Artistic Director

Department: Arts

Full-time or Part-time: Part time

Status (exempt/non-exempt): non-exempt

Date: September 2026

Reporting to the Artistic Director, the Teaching Artist will be responsible for creating and teaching a Music Appreciation curriculum following our Creative Youth Development framework informed by Social Emotional Learning.

SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills
• Responsible Decision-Making

This is achieved by:

• Young people asking questions
• Opening Rituals
• Closing Rituals: End of class reflections and share-outs
• Group or partner collaborative art projects
• Expressive art activities
• Culturally informed teaching

The Teaching Artist will be supported by a team of professionals including the Artistic Director, Creative Youth Development Manager, and Director of Education and Programs.

Schedule

Orientation: Sept 8-10, 2026 Start date: Sept. 14, 2026 End Date: June 11, 2026

Teach 4 classes + 1 club (up to 9 hours per week)

• Classes meet once a week.
• Class size up to 20 participants

Overall Responsibilities

• Develop a culturally relevant and tiered Syllabus for four classes in the fall. Modify and repeat the syllabus for four new classes in the Spring semester. The syllabus will build on artistic and SEL skills throughout the semester. Syllabus to include:
  • Latin American Music history taught through a contemporary context ex. unpack the historic and folkloric musical influences of a Bad Bunny song.
  • Incorporate multiple learning methods including: expressive music activities, overview of instruments, vocabulary, watching videos, listening to music, music theory basics, class reflections and foundational music skills in the discipline of your choice ex. guitar, percussion, piano, voice, violin.
  • Teach young artists about and celebrate the history, cultures and communities of the South Bronx through music while honoring Casita Maria’s 92 years of service to the community.
• Informed by the syllabus, create and implement CYD Lesson Plans combining structured activities based on age and opportunities where young artists can play and explore through an expressive arts model. Lesson Plans to be submitted no less than four weeks in advance.
• Syllabus and Lesson Plans are created in collaboration with the Artistic Director and Creative Youth Development Manager and in consultation with the Director of Education and Programs.
• Maintain a structured classroom environment focused on active participation that is conducive to learning while being flexible to respond to the needs of the young artists each session. Teaching Artists must be able to adapt to the needs of the class, tap into emotional regulation resources and move out of lessons as needed while still thinking about goals and objectives.
• Maintain clear safety protocols as per the design of the program.
• Promote the following values through your teaching: Commitment, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Creative Innovation, Confidence, Celebration
• Set up and break down assigned Studio each session
• Assign tasks to Group Facilitators and Teen Arts Apprentices as needed to assist you in class.
• Attend professional development training and required meetings as necessary plus participate in all rehearsals and culminating events as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field with a strong track record of 3-5 years of teaching young artists K-12 in an urban after-school environment.
• Experience creating culturally relevant syllabi and lesson plans.
• Expertise in presenting culturally relevant and engaging visual and performing arts events in a community-based setting.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong teaching and group facilitation skills
• Demonstrated experience working with young artists in K-5
• Expertise in developing an art curriculum for young artists
• Strong communication and classroom management skills are a must
• Highly motivated, joyful and energetic personality
• Loves working with children and has a firm understanding of creative youth development
• Passionate about Latin American music.
• Eager to work in a fast-paced arts and education environment with an energetic, positive and passionate team.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills. Ability to work collaboratively, quickly and under pressure with a sense of humor.
• Must be organized, flexible and adaptable while teaching and during events. Must be able to make decisions and problem solve in the moment while maintaining composure plus provide follow up as needed.
• Integrity and professional discretion
• Spanish language/writing skills are a plus but not mandatory.

Work Hours, Physical Requirements, and Working Conditions

• Must be able to lift a minimum 30 pounds.
• Will be required to move and set up furniture/supplies/equipment in a room or outdoor event space.
• May require the use of a ladder.
• Will require standing for long periods of time.
• Will require walking, lifting, stooping, and bending.
• Will require working during an outdoor event in May.
• Works in a school environment

SALARY

$45/hr

Benefits

• paid safe and sick leave
• short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Health and Dependent Care Savings Accounts
• Commuter benefits
• 403(b) Thrift plan and pension plan

Equal Employment Opportunity

Casita Maria is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applications will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. We encourage candidates from the local community to consider applying for this employment opportunity.

This job description is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties as assigned.

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