In many cases, ETM-CO is creating music teaching positions by partnering with schools that are without music programming. ETM-CO teachers get to make a difference in students’ music education by envisioning and implementing a new music program, and they are supported with numerous professional development opportunities and ongoing coaching from their Instructional Supervisor. The ETM music teacher is treated as an integral part of the school community, and the ultimate goal is for the teacher to be hired to school faculty.

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Our long-term goal is to build sustainability in each of our partnerships and work towards getting ETM-CO teachers hired directly by the principals of the schools they are placed in.

ETM-CO follows the state’s standards and benchmarks. We acknowledge that there might be holes in students’ knowledge and skills if they haven’t had access to music education. The teacher will design assessment, curriculum, and instruction to ensure students’ ongoing musical growth.

While this varies depending on background and training, it is not atypical, especially for beginning teachers, to spend an hour or more preparing each lesson plan, with a plan being required for each grade level. Thorough planning is critical to success in the classroom. Quizzes, projects and other assignments also take time to assess and record. The teacher will receive regular plan time comparable to their art and PE school-based colleagues.

Each ETM-CO Music Teacher receives a combination of informal and formal observations, which are based on a rubric in the areas of classroom environment, instruction, and professionalism. Observations are used to guide the teacher’s learning and coaching cycle.

ETM-CO Music Teachers report directly to the Instructional Supervisor and indirectly to the Program Manager and Executive Director.

ETM-CO provides the teacher at each partner school with a budget to use for purchasing an assortment of general music classroom instruments such as hand percussion, ukuleles, keyboards, etc. This budget can also be used to purchase resources such as curriculum materials.

Yes. ETM-CO provides ongoing training and professional development to ETM-CO Music Teachers and to school-employed music teachers.

Throughout the school year, we provide day-long and evening workshops in both small and large group settings to reinforce training and introduce other topics. We also provide ongoing mentoring and coaching throughout the year.

Most of our teaching positions are full time. There may be part-time positions available and these will be noted in job listings.

In addition to teaching a rigorous and standards-based music curriculum to students, the music teacher directs two performance opportunities for every student. Music teachers are also expected to participate in school-based roles such as meetings, trainings, events, and supervision duties. Music teachers will attend all professional development provided by ETM-CO. Our music teachers are expected to assess students; these assessments guide instruction and are reported to stakeholders (parents, students, ETM-CO, donors). Since ETM-CO is a nonprofit organizations, music teachers can expect to host donor visits and to prepare their students for benefit concerts.

ETM-CO Music Teachers who maintain a regular teaching schedule of four or more days per week are eligible to enroll in an employee-contributed health insurance plan. Each Music Teacher also receives a number of paid sick days pro-rated based on their regular teaching schedule.

ETM-CO Music Teachers are employees of ETM-CO, not consultants. Taxes, social security, etc., are withheld as directed by law.

Over time, we work with our partner school principals to help them find room in their budgets to hire music teachers to school staff, so our long-term goal is for our teachers to get hired directly by our partner schools.

If you are hired by one of our partner schools we will continue to provide you with support and training, at the discretion of the principal.

Founded in New York City in 1991, Education Through Music (ETM) is one of the country’s leading music education nonprofit organizations. ETM provides music as a core subject for all children and have been able to provide quality music education into the core curriculum for thousands of K-8 students and help school systems to maintain those programs independently. Thanks to continuous growth and proven academic success for their students over nearly three decades, ETM has been able to launch affiliates in Colorado and Los Angeles.

Our music teachers are assigned to a partner school based on compatibility, where they teach in their own classrooms. During the interview, we can offer more information about the school.

Yes! We believe in providing access to music teaching for promising candidates who are interested in a career of music education and who demonstrate musical proficiency and transferable skills. ETM-CO expects non-licensed teachers to pursue alternative licensure in their second year of employment, and we support our teachers in that process.