Job Title: Dance in Schools & Communities (DISC) Musical Accompanist
Department: Education & Training
Reports To: Senior Manager of Education Programs
Classification: Part-time, non-exempt, non-benefited
Compensation: $68 per hour teaching rate/$31 per hour meeting rate
Application Deadline: Open until filled. Review of applications will begin on 7/15/24 and will continue until the position is filled.
Hours and Location: Minimum 3-6 hours per week, on-site at SFUSD schools during the 2024-25 school year. Hours may vary between 7:50 am and 4 pm depending on school site placement.

Job Purpose:

Under supervision of the Senior Manager of Education Programs, the purpose of this position is to provide live musical accompaniment/drumming that elevates and supports the dance curriculum for SF Ballet’s Dance in Schools and Communities (DISC) youth education programs. DISC Accompanists are professional teaching artists and musicians, with specialization in drumming and percussive music from various cultures, who have experience drumming for dance classes and working in diverse educational settings with PK-12th grade students. DISC Accompanists work collaboratively with DISC Dance Teaching Artists to deliver high-quality arts education programming, provide engaging age-appropriate accompaniment that supports the dance curriculum, and assist with classroom management and ensure for a successful DISC Residency for SFUSD students. DISC Residency classes are taught during the school day at SFUSD school sites in diverse settings including school cafeterias, auditoriums, and multi-purpose room spaces. DISC Accompanists must have reliable transportation and be willing to bring their own musical instruments (drums) with them to each residency site.

SF Ballet’s Education & Training Department is seeking qualified and versatile percussionists (drummers), with experience accompanying dance classes and working with children ages 5-18, to join the education team for the 2024-2025 school year. Teaching assignments will be in-person at SFUSD elementary school sites, as well as at after-school sites including Boys & Girls Clubs of SF. We are looking for dedicated accompanists/teaching artists specializing in various styles of drumming, including African, Indian, Afro-Caribbean, and Latin styles. To better reflect the community we serve, we strive for diversity in our teaching staff.  Interested applicants should visit the SF Ballet website to become familiar with the various DISC programs https://www.sfballet.org/celebrating-40-years-of-dance-in-schools-and-communities/.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume that demonstrates relevant experience through SF Ballet’s online application portal. Cover letter should include a statement about the candidate’s experience in the field of arts education working with students of various ages and abilities in diverse PK-12 educational settings, as well as experience providing live musical accompaniment for dance classes.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Under supervision from the Senior Manager of Education Programs, DISC Accompanists are responsible for providing musical accompaniment that enhances and supports the Dance in Schools and Communities (DISC) curriculum, class structure and overall success of the residency. This entails:

• Providing percussive musical accompaniment from a range of musical traditions to support and elevate dance class in various styles for K-12 students in diverse school-based and community-based settings.
• Bringing appropriate instruments needed to support each lesson plan. Percussionists are responsible for their own instruments, including set up, take down, transportation, and storage of all instruments.
• Working in collaboration with the DISC Dance Teaching Artists to determine appropriate music and instrument needed to accompany each class in alignment with lesson plans.
• Providing support to DISC Teaching Artist and classroom teachers to appropriately manage classroom behavior as needed.
• Presenting a professional demeanor that appropriately represents DISC and SF Ballet. Developing and maintaining positive relationships with K-12 youth participants, classroom teachers, school site administrators, and other SF Ballet staff as a productive member of the DISC team.

Perform required administrative duties as needed, including:

• Submitting bi-weekly time sheets, lesson plans, school site residency reports, assessments and evaluations.
• Checking email regularly (weekly at a minimum) and responding to communications from supervisor in a timely manner.
• Communicating regularly with SFB admin staff and/or other DISC Faculty partners regarding key information about school site issues (schedule changes, space conflicts, etc.), weekly lesson plans, etc., to ensure a successful residency.
• Attends regular (monthly) team meetings held in-person and/or on Zoom.
• Participates in week-long school year kickoff professional development activities each fall, as well as ongoing professional development activities, orientations, and/or workshops throughout the school year.
• Attends SF Ballet school-time performances/student matinees (2-3 times per year), provide day of support, and connect with school groups on site to enhance their overall experience at the Opera House.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Related Experience Required:

• Experienced musician/teaching artist in percussion (drumming) and world music.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a teaching artist or musician working in collaborative educational K-12 environments with diverse student populations, from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds, age groups, and abilities. Experience working in SFUSD schools with ELL, Special Education, Special Day Classes, and/or Bilingual classes preferred.
• Professional level skills and previous experience accompanying dance classes.
• Experience working with youth, grades K-12, in diverse educational settings including school-based and/or community-based programs. Additional experience collaborating and/or partnering with classroom teachers is a plus.
• Ability to play a wide range of styles and musical traditions with an ability to improvise and provide excellent accompaniment as requested by the dance teaching artist.
• Knowledge of musical forms from a variety of global cultures; skilled in the musical styles and instruments that supports DISC classes (West African, Traditional Indian, Latin, etc.).
• Knowledge of California VAPA Learning Standards, Common Core State Standards, and national standards.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• The ideal candidate is an experienced arts educator, who can work a varied part-time schedule approximately 3-6 hours per week (minimum) and is able to commit to the duration of the 2024-25 SFUSD school year from August 2024 through June 4, 2025.

Technical and Professional Competencies:

• Ability to share age-appropriate musical concepts through culturally responsive practices and anti-racist teaching.
• Willingness to learn and teach the required DISC curriculum and lesson plans.
• Ability to support a safe classroom environment that allows students to explore movement and learn dances.
• Demonstrates proven classroom management skills.
• Demonstrates ability to work successfully in a team environment by establishing and maintaining effective relationships with colleagues.
• Applies reflective practices that develop greater self-awareness regarding the impact of one’s teaching, providing opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Actively participates in professional development by attending trainings, educational activities, seminars, and staff meetings.
• Applies creativity, curiosity, authenticity, and innovation to work processes.
• Organizes and prioritizes tasks to meet required deadlines and promote a successful residency.
• Demonstrates effective communication and problem-solving skills to ensure a successful residency and the timely dissemination of relevant information to various stakeholders (i.e. teaching partners, classroom teachers, supervisor, school site admin, etc.)

Physical Demands:

• Plays musical instruments for extended periods in non-traditional settings (i.e., school cafeteria, multipurpose room, gymnasium, etc.).
• Must transport lesson-appropriate musical instruments to and from program sites.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 40 lbs.

Other requirements:

• Must be available to work during school hours and/or after-school hours for a time block of 2-3 hours, at least 2 days per week, on Monday-Friday between 8am-5pm.
• Must have reliable transportation to travel to assigned schools in SF.
• CPR and First Aid certification (paid for by SFB).
• LiveScan background clearance required for employment (paid for by SFB).

Educational Level:

• High School Diploma

Internal Contacts:

• SF Ballet Education & Training department staff, DISC Accompanists and Teaching Artists

External Contacts:

• San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) public school students, teachers, principals, arts coordinators, janitorial staff, and other SFUSD school administrators and/or school site liaisons.

Application Procedure

We prefer you apply online

NO CALLS, PLEASE

San Francisco Ballet Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to employing a diverse staff. Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for the position in accordance with the Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO).

Organizational Profile

As America’s oldest professional ballet company and one of the three largest ballet companies in the United States, San Francisco Ballet has enjoyed a long and rich tradition of artistic firsts since it was founded in 1933. SF Ballet performed the first American productions of Swan Lake and Nutcracker, as well as the first production of Coppelia, choreographed by an American choreographer. Guided in its early years by American dance pioneers and brothers Lew, Willam, and Harold Christensen, San Francisco Ballet currently presents more than 100 performances a year locally, nationally, and abroad. Under the direction of Tamara Rojo, the Company upholds and drives an international reputation as one of the preeminent ballet companies in the world.