Assistant Professor of Music Education, Tenure-Track, Fall 2026

Description

Position Summary

The Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music at Chapman University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor of Music Education, effective August 2026. We seek a scholar/practitioner whose teaching, research/creative work, and service demonstrate a deep commitment to music teacher preparation for today’s varied students and communities.

The successful candidate will bring expertise in one or more areas of Pre-K–12 music education, which may include band, orchestra, choir, general music, world music pedagogy, early childhood education or music technology, and will contribute to curriculum development that supports the needs of California’s public school populations. This faculty member will be expected to contribute meaningfully to Chapman’s vibrant community of artists/teachers/scholars through rigorous research, innovative teaching, music-making, and community-engaged practice.

Chapman University

Chapman University is a nationally-ranked, R2 Carnegie Classified, private institution offering traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. Chapman’s campuses are home to nearly 10,000 students representing 50 states, three territories, and 87 countries. The 11 schools and colleges of Chapman, including the College of Performing Arts, offer 65 bachelors, 53 master, and six doctoral programs, along with nearly 60 minors and 17 accelerated and bridge programs. Classes are taught by the more than 1,100 dedicated faculty members who are leaders in their fields, including Nobel Prize recipients, MacArthur Fellows, National Medal of Science honorees, former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, and Emmy, Grammy, and Academy Award winners. 

College of Peforming Arts

The College of Performing Arts brings together the Hall Musco Conservatory of Music, the Department of Dance, and the Department of Theatre. This partnership strengthens each discipline, while positioning the College of Performing Arts as the cultural and aesthetic center of Chapman University. We offer 7 degrees for about 450 majors who benefit from scholarship, creativity, free expression and intellectual curiosity both in the classroom and while performing in some of the hundreds of performances offered annually at one of several performing arts venues on campus. Our most prestigious venue, The Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts, hosts an array of world-renowned performers as well as showcases student and faculty work.  The alignment of this venue with the college advances our position at the forefront of performing arts education. 

Primary Responsibilities

• Teach 18 credit hours per year (normally nine credit hours per semester) in undergraduate and graduate music education courses; these may include undergraduate lower- and upper-division courses in literature and pedagogy, methods courses, conducting courses, and graduate-level music education courses leading to a Master of Arts in Teaching.  Additional teaching assignments will be based on expertise in one or more of the following areas: band, orchestra, choir, world music pedagogy, early childhood music, general music, and/or music technology.
• Supervise student teachers, fieldwork placements, and master’s capstone projects in collaboration with the College of Educational Studies, with a focus on music education teaching credentials and MAT students.
• Sustain a productive program of scholarly research and/or creative activity, resulting in such things as peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, clinics/workshops, presentations, performances, or compositions, to build regional, national, and international visibility in the field.
• Collaborate on curriculum development and program assessment, ensuring alignment with the California Arts Standards, state credentialing expectations, and national best practices in music education. 
• Demonstrate a sustained commitment to the academic and artistic growth of first-generation students and students from a wide range of backgrounds and musical experiences. 
• Cultivate and sustain partnerships with local schools, districts, and community organizations, supporting field experiences and outreach programming.
• Assist in mentoring undergraduate students, graduate students, and student clubs pursuing careers in music education to foster engagement and support their professional development.
• Participate in departmental, college, and university governance, including service on committees, recruitment, outreach, community partnerships, and accreditation activities.
• Engage with professional organizations (e.g., NAfME, CMEA), a