Middle School Music Teacher

Job Title: Middle School Music Teacher 

Department: Middle School

Reports To: Head of Middle School

FLSA Status: Exempt

Revised: March 17, 2025

About Keys School

Keys School, a K-8 of approximately 320 students and 50  faculty and 20 staff, seeks an experienced Middle Music Teacher to work full-time, beginning August 7, 2025. 

Founded more than fifty years ago, Keys offers an inquiry-based education with concern for students’ academic, social, emotional, identity and physical growth. Today Keys is known for helping students to become compassionate and empathic community members while developing the confidence to find their voice and advocate for themselves and others, with realized agency in their world. 

The school is situated on two campuses, about a mile apart. The Lower School campus houses grades K-4, approximately 176 students and 30 faculty and staff. The Middle School campus houses grades 5-8, approximately 140 students, and 20 faculty and staff.

With cross-divisional buddy and house programs, ice skating lessons, classes in self-science, and extensive outdoor education experiences beginning in kindergarten, the school offers an array of distinctive programs. These explorations, in concert with a strong academic program, prepare students to matriculate to the region’s highly selective independent secondary schools and rigorous public high schools. 

Middle School Music Teacher Position

The Middle School Music Teacher designs, delivers, evaluates, and updates the curriculum for grades 5-8 in alignment with the School’s mission and culture. Reporting to the Head of Middle School, they create a dynamic, developmentally appropriate curriculum grounded in and prioritizing social-emotional learning and culturally responsive programming.

The ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of adolescent development, music theory, instrument and vocal coaching / skill development, song arrangement, ensemble conducting, lesson planning, classroom management, authentic assessment, and technology. A nimble mind and spirit to enjoy the challenges posed by early adolescents is essential.

All faculty participate in the broader life of the school, including other duties as assigned. This opportunity requires collaboration, strong communication skills, and a sense of humor. Preferred qualifications include 3-5 years of teaching.

Qualifications

• Passion for working with adolescents, with a commitment to music education and social and emotional learning
• A commitment to equity and advocacy for an inclusive community
• A dedication to centering student thinking, communication, and agency in learning experiences
• Experience interfacing with families and the larger school community
• Strong organizational, verbal, and written communication skills
• A commitment to continuous improvement, lifelong learning, and professional development, demonstrated through initiative, self-motivation, and a willingness to take on responsibilities beyond those explicitly defined.
• An educational ideology consistent with that of the school
• Familiarity with implementing research based curricular and learning frameworks or standards (California Arts Standards for Music, National Arts Standards, Orff Method, etc.) and developmentally appropriate instructional strategies for grade levels 5-8
• A Bachelor's Degree and completion of a teacher education/associate teacher program preferred

Expectations

• Teach the equivalent of four courses to eight student groups
• Lead student opt-in ensemble and choir groups (sessions held before the regular school day)
• Organize, direct, and conduct two whole campus music concerts per year, winter and spring.
• Foster strong student connections
• Collaborate with the Middle School Curriculum Coordinator, Arts Department, and Lower School music teacher to ensure development of and coordination of the Middle School Music curriculum 
• Communicate effectively about  music goals, curriculum, and progress with families to foster partnerships
• Model positive behaviors for students and colleagues that align with the school’s core values, emphasizing social and emotional skills
• Engage in ongoing and essential work to foster a culture of anti-bias, anti-racism, respect, equity, belonging, and inclusion
• Create, utilize, and report formative and summative assessments to inform instructional decisions
• Differentiate instruction to enrich, remediate, and accommodate learning needs
• Utilize current technology to enrich the curriculum
• Participate in the school’s outdoor education program, buddy program, and other school-wide activities throughout the year (such as committees, team and staff meetings, and occasional evening or weekend school events)
• Oversee and maintain musical instruments and equipment
• Support sound and AV needs for various events throughout the school year

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific abilities required include close vision, the ability to adjust focus, sound hearing, and the ability to speak clearly and coherently. Regularly, the employee is required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, run, and/or jump.

To Apply

We look forward to the opportunity to learn more about your interest. To apply, please email the items below as attachments to jobs@keysschool.org 

1. Cover letter addressed to Larry Purcell (he/him), Head of Middle School. The letter should describe your interest, experience, and commitment.
2. Statement of educational philosophy.
3. Curriculum vitae.
4. List of three references with contact information.

Salary: $85,000 + depending upon years of teaching experience 

Health and retirement benefits, including TIAA-CREF, are part of the compensation package.

Keys School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for  employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability,  orientation or veteran status. For more information on the school, please visit keysschool.org