Double Bass Faculty

Senior Manager of School Partnerships
Part-time, Seasonal (coinciding with the K-12 schoolyear)
Non-exempt

Job Purpose

Orchestra of St. Luke’s is seeking a part-time double bass (i.e. acoustic upright bass) instructor who will teach students, design curricula, work collaboratively across our five sites, and enact our mission of providing access for instrumental instruction in Hell’s Kitchen, a community that has few locally based instrumental youth ensembles. Through music instruction, we aim to cultivate a youth-centered ensemble as a vehicle to respond to the community’s artistic needs and interests.

Youth Orchestra of St. Luke’s (YOSL) is an after-school orchestral instrument instruction program that serves 150 elementary and middle school-aged children and their families in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York. YOSL collaborates with five schools and community organizations to offer an inclusive program focused on youth development through lessons and performances intended to ground students in the language of music, new forms of self-expression, and lifelong problem-solving skills. Programming runs from September 2026 through June 2027.

Primary Position Responsibilities:

  • Teach group bass classes at one of our partner sites, one afternoon a week between Monday and Thursday (class will happen between 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM, exact time TBC)
    • Teaching will focus on beginning and intermediate bass students, ranging from age 10–15. (Levels are subject to change, and may vary from year to )
  • Develop weekly lesson plans that explore not only bass technique but also creative work and composition
  • Attend weekly team meetings discussing curricula, student assessment, and repertoire
  • Participate in monthly professional development workshops, and provide feedback for the selection of ongoing professional development
  • Develop and/or assist in producing community-oriented events and workshops
  • Participate in long-term strategic planning and implementation of practices which build YOSL’s relationship to other aspects of the Orchestra of Luke’s Education initiatives
  • Represent YOSL at professional and community-related events
  • Depending on New York City and State Health and safety requirements, faculty may be asked to lead virtual classes on Zoom or by pre-recorded video

Who You Are

Essential

  • Professional proficiency in double bass
  • Minimum 2 years of teaching experience in group or class settings
  • A love for working with youth ages 7 through 14
  • Ability to lead group classes of beginner and intermediate music students
  • Willingness to travel within the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood during hours of instruction
  • Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate and communicate with others
  • Ability to work independently on lesson plans
  • Ability to act with discretion
  • Commitment to innovative approaches to music education and performance, exploring beyond traditional practices
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Strong communication skills

Strongly Preferred

  • Interest or expertise in incorporating composition and improvisation-based projects within an applied instrument lesson
  • Commitment to personal growth, self-exploration, and cultivating a reflective practice
  • Interest in sharing new practices with the field
  • Passion for learning and sharing concepts that are distinctive to YOSL
  • A sense of humor

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

  • Rehearsals and group lessons in classroom settings in public school and after-school program campuses between West 37th Street and West 53rd Street
  • Some planning must be completed prior to teaching
  • Occasional weekend hours required
  • A cell phone and remote access to e-mail and office files are required, as many tasks take place offsite.
  • Ability to lift and move chairs, stands, instruments and other production equipment

Compensation

In general, the total rate per class is $72.50.

  • The base hourly teaching rate for this position is $60.00.
  • Faculty Members receive an hourly planning rate of $25.00. Faculty Members are compensated .5 hours (30-minutes) of planning per class in addition to their hourly teaching
  • Faculty members may have additional opportunities throughout the season to work at YOSL events such as family workshops and school

To apply

Please download the application form here and submit all materials to Senior Manager of School Partnerships, at [email protected]. Please contact by email only. Subject line should read: Double Bass Teaching Faculty YOSL

No phone calls, please.