Audio Software Developer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Location: On-site at partner schools; varies by assignment

Teaching Mode: In Person

Grade Levels: Elementary, Middle, and High School; varies by assignment

Schedule: Typically 1–4 instructional service hours per week after school

Program Length: Commonly approximately 10 weeks per assignment

Start Dates: Opportunities become available throughout the school year

Compensation: Typical compensation of $50+ per completed instructional service hour, depending on assignment scope, experience, location, schedule, and agreed compensation

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Concorde Education is seeking independent instructional contractors to provide digital music production enrichment services for K–12 students.

This is a potential independent contractor assignment, not an employee position. Contractors may choose whether to apply for, accept, decline, or ignore available opportunities.

Assignments vary by school, grade level, schedule, available technology, software platforms, curriculum, student experience levels, and program objectives.

Concorde may provide curriculum guidance, lesson-plan suggestions, instructional resources, project ideas, or program objectives. Contractors may use their professional judgment to adapt instruction within the assignment scope and applicable site requirements.

ASSIGNMENT SCOPE

Depending on the accepted assignment, contractors may:

• Plan and facilitate engaging, age-appropriate digital music production sessions;

• Introduce students to beat-making, digital recording, music composition, and audio production through project-based learning;

• Adapt instruction based on student experience levels, available technology, software platforms, site requirements, and assignment objectives;

• Guide students in creating original beats, songs, podcasts, soundtracks, remixes, or other digital audio projects, where applicable;

• Introduce students to digital audio workstations (DAWs) such as BandLab, Soundtrap, GarageBand, or similar platforms;

• Support students in recording, editing, arranging, mixing, and exporting audio projects appropriate to the assignment;

• Maintain a safe, respectful, inclusive, and age-appropriate learning environment;

• Exercise professional judgment when adapting instruction based on available equipment, student ability, technology limitations, school policies, copyright considerations, and assignment requirements;

• Communicate assignment-related needs or significant concerns with Concorde and school staff, as appropriate;

• Complete a brief session completion form after each scheduled session; and

• Follow applicable site safety, visitor, technology, internet-use, emergency, and student-protection procedures.

EXAMPLE PROGRAM TOPICS

Assignments may include topics such as:

• Beat-making and rhythm fundamentals;

• Looping, sampling, and layering sounds using approved resources;

• Melody, harmony, chord progressions, and song structure;

• Recording vocals or instruments where equipment and assignment scope permit;

• Audio editing, arranging, and sequencing;

• Basic mixing concepts, including levels, balance, panning, and effects;

• Exporting, sharing, and presenting completed music projects; and

• Creativity, collaboration, digital citizenship, and responsible use of music technology.

Specific software platforms, recording equipment, curriculum, and project requirements vary by assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Preferred qualifications include:

• At least 60 college credits, where required by the applicable assignment or site;

• Experience using BandLab, Soundtrap, GarageBand, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, or similar digital audio software;

• Experience teaching, tutoring, coaching, mentoring, or leading activities with school-age students;

• Strong communication, organization, classroom facilitation, and technology troubleshooting skills;

• Availability to provide services for the accepted assignment schedule and communicate schedule issues as soon as reasonably practicable; and

• Familiarity with Chromebooks, laptops, web-based applications, audio equipment, headphones, microphones, MIDI controllers, or related music-production technology.

Preferred backgrounds may include musicians, producers, audio engineers, DJs, composers, teaching artists, music technology students, recording professionals, music educators, and others with relevant instructional or creative experience.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

Assignments may utilize school-provided computers, Chromebooks, headphones, microphones, MIDI devices, digital audio workstations, curriculum resources, lesson plans, project guidelines, and other instructional technology where available.

Contractors may use their own instructional methods and materials when appropriate, safe, age-appropriate, lawful, properly licensed, and consistent with the assignment scope and site requirements.

Contractors are responsible for ensuring that any music, samples, loops, software, or instructional materials they introduce are appropriately licensed or otherwise authorized for educational use and comply with applicable copyright laws, platform terms of use, and school policies.

Purchases requiring reimbursement must be approved in writing by Concorde before they are incurred.

COMPENSATION

Compensation varies by assignment and agreed contractor terms. Many opportunities pay $50+ per completed instructional service hour with students.

Contractors may propose their desired compensation rate when applying. When proposing a rate, contractors should consider the overall assignment scope, including anticipated preparation, planning, commute, materials, schedule, and other business considerations.

Concorde may accept the proposed rate, decline the application, or provide a counteroffer based on the budget for the specific assignment.

Unless otherwise approved in writing, compensation is based on completed instructional service hours with students.

Payment for completed services is generally made by direct deposit on the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which services were completed, unless otherwise stated in the accepted assignment terms or required by applicable law.

APPLICATION AND ONBOARDING

Applicants selected to move forward may be invited to create a contractor profile and complete any required onboarding steps.

Applying, interviewing, receiving an invitation to create a profile, creating a profile, or completing onboarding does not guarantee selection, placement, or future assignment opportunities.

Potential assignments are subject to assignment fit, agreed compensation, completion of required onboarding, applicable background-check review, Fair Chance or pre-adverse action procedures where required, site-specific clearance requirements, and final written confirmation from Concorde Education.

Some assignments may require background-check authorization, fingerprinting, agency clearance, site-specific documentation, identification badges, or other compliance steps before services may begin.

Applicants should not provide criminal-history information unless and until requested through the appropriate legally compliant process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Concorde Education considers contractor applicants without regard to any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law and is committed to respectful, inclusive, and student-centered programming.