2025-2026 Music Production Instructor

he Chicago High School for the Arts seeks a Music Production Instructor for the 2025-2026 school year.

Title: Music Production

Department: Music

Classification: Part-time instructor

General Summary: 

The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts ®) develops the next generation of artistically gifted, diverse scholar artists through intensive pre-professional training in the arts combined with a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum. The school approaches the development of students through a whole-student approach and through a continuous learning environment for all staff to continuously develop their understanding of our scholar-artists. We strive to build upon and improve our practices to make sure we are always serving all of our students to the best of our abilities.

Position Overview: 

This course introduces students to the artistic and technical aspects of creating music using digital tools and recording technology. The ideal candidate will have experience in modern music production techniques, including digital audio workstations (DAWs), beat making, recording, editing, and mixing, and will be passionate about helping students find their voice as producers, composers, and audio engineers.

This class is designed for students interested in songwriting, electronic music, hip hop, film scoring, pop, and other contemporary genres, with an emphasis on creativity, collaboration, and real-world music technology skills.

Through completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Operate a digital audio workstation (DAW) with proficiency.
• Create, record, and edit original music projects across various genres.
• Understand the basics of MIDI, mixing, and mastering.
• Demonstrate knowledge of music production vocabulary.
• Explore, prepare, and present their work in a professional format.
• Apply music theory concepts to the creation of beats, melodies, and harmonies to their compositions. 

Classroom and professional duties include, but are not limited to the following: 

• Embrace and promote the ChiArts vision, mission, educational approach, goals, and core values 
• Prepare structured lessons that encourage and foster skill development, critical thinking, applications, and ethics. 
• Instruct conservatory-level courses, serving students with various learning styles, abilities, and needs. 
• Employ outstanding classroom management skills and implement the school code of conduct. 
• Regularly assess student achievement, skill mastery, and career development skills. 
• Submit unit plans on a timely basis. 
• Manage classroom administration and record keeping, including grades, attendance records, student progress, and documentation of student work. 
• Regularly communicate with students, parents and other ChiArts staff to share artistic progress, encourage positive behavior, and resolve behavioral and artistic issues. 
• Attend and participate in faculty and administrative meetings, parent conferences, open house, other school functions, and in- service professional development sessions, as needed.
• Collaborate with the staff to develop “best practices” tailored to the unique philosophy and instructional approach of ChiArts and to the needs of its student population. 
• Collaborate with other ChiArts artistic and academic faculty and the larger arts community. 
• Perform other duties as the needs of the school and needs of the students may demand (e.g., competitions, exhibits.) 
• Work with academic staff to ensure student’s overall success at ChiArts.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities/Attributes: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Music, Music Education, or a related field.
• Preferred (7) years of professional experience in the music field.
• Preferred (4) years of previous teaching experience at a pre-professional or professional level, experience working with high school students is preferred, but not required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent classroom management skills.
• Experience in lesson planning.
• Comfort working in a high-accountability school culture.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven organizational skills.
• Proven ability to work wit