Specialist Teacher, Music (2nd - 4th Grade)

Start Date: August 31, 2026

Salary: $60,000 - $115,000

Schedule:
- 10-month position covered by the Professional Employees' Federation (PEF)
- Full-time, five days per week; 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, with one extended day per week until 5:00 PM on Wednesdays for faculty meetings
- Occasional overnight work and event support may be required during early mornings, evenings, or weekends.
- Required to be available for and work during all scheduled evening chorus performances.

About Bank Street School for Children

A leader in progressive education for more than 100 years, the Bank Street School for Children provides students, from nursery through 8th grade, an education that engages their natural curiosity, nurtures critical thinking, and helps to develop a sense of community and social responsibility. Through a teaching approach that is fundamentally hands-on and child-centered, Bank Street students develop the courage and confidence to think independently, work collaboratively, understand themselves and others more deeply, and possess the compassion to make meaning of the world around them.

About the Position

The Bank Street School for Children is seeking a passionate, knowledgeable, and team-oriented Music Teacher to teach general music and direct choral programming for students in 2nd through 4th grade (ages 7-10). The Music Teacher delivers a culturally sustaining music curriculum responsive to children's identity development, directs grade-level choruses, and plans to meet the needs of the entire group as well as individual children. A commitment to the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development of children, a progressive approach to teaching and learning, and an interest in professional growth are expected. The ideal candidate embraces singing, rhythm, and the exploration of instruments as community-building experiences and is excited to work collaboratively using an interdisciplinary approach.

Key Responsibilities

Music Instruction
- Teach group singing, music games, and pitched and unpitched percussion (xylophone and choir chimes experience preferred), with an emphasis on music literacy, to 2nd through 4th grade students, usually in half groups
- Deliver a culturally sustaining music curriculum that is responsive to children's identity development
- Develop hands-on, developmentally appropriate music curricula within a developmental framework
- Reflect classroom curricular themes such as social justice, community, family, friendships, and seasons in the music curriculum developed for children
- Differentiate instruction to support group and individual student learning

Choral Direction
- Direct three choruses, one for each grade level (2nd, 3rd, and 4th)
- Organize dress rehearsals and concerts in the spring

Work with Environment and Materials
- Design, organize, share, and maintain the music room and the auditorium in collaboration with the music department

Work with Colleagues
- Collaborate with classroom teachers and other specialists using an interdisciplinary approach to support student growth
- Attend regular division, department, and supervisory meetings
- Demonstrate an interest in ongoing professional growth

Partnering with Families
- Communicate progress and concerns with families through email as needed and a written report in the spring
- Collaborate with the music department to write end-of-year reports

School Community Responsibilities
- Support the division head with planning and running monthly assemblies, including the 4th-grade moving-up assembly
- Fulfill community duties such as arrival and dismissal as assigned
- Perform other duties as assigned by a supervisor

Qualifications

Required
- Bachelor's degree in music education or a related field
- Proficiency in reading music and keyboard skills, including transposing and sight-reading
- At least three years of experience teaching elementary general music and choral directing/conducting
- Knowledge of child development, progressive education, and constructivist teaching
- Skill in designing instruction that is data-driven, differentiated, and actively engaging
- Experience developing hands-on, developmentally appropriate music curricula
- Desire to work collaboratively using an interdisciplinary approach to education
- Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to diversity, social justice, and equity
- Strong written and oral communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills

Preferred
- Master's degree in music education, music, or a related field
- Experience with xylophone and choir chimes
- Familiarity with Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze, and choral pedagogy
- Familiarity with Bank Street's progressive, child-centered approach to education

About Bank Street College of Education

The mission of Bank Street College is to improve the education of children and their teachers by applying to the educational process all available knowledge about learning and growth, and by connecting teaching and learning meaningfully to the outside world. In so doing, we seek to strengthen not only individuals, but the community as well, including family, school, and the larger society in which adults and children, in all their diversity, interact and learn. We see in education the opportunity to build a better society.

Connections working at Bank Street College of Education