Community Music School

Part-Time Instrumental Music Teacher

private lessons in piano, violin, voice - min. 1 year experience

Community Music School (CMS) Lehigh Valley & Berks has immediate openings for experienced and passionate instrumental teachers to join our dedicated faculty in Reading, PA! If you are specialized in teaching piano, flute, violin, and/or guitar and love to inspire students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, we want to hear from you.

Position Details:

• Locations: Berks Studio at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts: 201 Washington St, Reading, PA 19601.
• Position Type: Part-time employee
• Schedule: Flexible schedule, starting at 10-15 hours per week, with the opportunity to increase depending on student demand and employee availability. Weekday afternoons/evenings, between 3:00-8:00 PM. Occasional weekends as needed for student recitals and outreach events.
• Starting Pay: $32-$35/hour, based on education and experience.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide one-on-one quality instruction in a positive and professional learning environment in your specialized instrument(s) at an advanced level. Additional opportunities for group classes, summer camps, and collaborative performances may be available.
• Develop and implement an individualized curriculum to inspire students to succeed and develop as well-rounded musicians and learners
• Work at a variety of levels teaching different musical skills to individuals or groups of all ages
• Teach instrumental techniques, scales, sight-reading, music theory, and self-expression through music
• Prepare and register students for evaluations, auditions, and recitals
• Attend regular faculty meetings and maintain clear communications with students, parents, and administration via phone, email, and online scheduling system
• Complete annual student progress evaluations
• Complete post-interview lesson evaluation forms for private students

What We’re Looking for:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in music education, music performance, or related field. Advanced degrees in music education or performance preferred.
• Teaching Experience: At least 1 year
• Language: English; Spanish is a plus
• Work Authorization: US Citizen, Permanent Resident
• Skills:
• Proficiency in pedagogy and performance
• Ability to work flexibly and independently with a diverse student base
• Basic technology skills: Google Suite (Mail, Meet, Forms), ability to access the teacher portal online or through the mobile app, ability to fill and send PDFs, scanning and printing
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Enthusiastic and positive attitude, and a passion for teaching

Perks of Teaching at CMS:

• Retirement savings plan with employer matching.
• You focus on teaching—we handle marketing, billing, and scheduling!
• Flexible schedule with room to grow your hours.
• Creative freedom to develop your own lesson plans based on the needs and goals of your students.
• Performance and collaboration opportunities.
• Online teacher portal for streamlined scheduling, assignments, and communications.
• Free parking

Work Environment:

• In Reading, teaching is conducted in one shared private music studio located on the 5th floor of the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts complex. Access is via elevator or stairs.
• Exposure to varying levels of musical noise from surrounding studios.
• Standard office sounds such as phones and in-person conversations.
• Some studios may have windows with natural light, while others rely on overhead lighting.

Physical Requirements:

• Teach for extended periods while standing or sitting, with breaks as needed.
• Demonstrate pieces and techniques on the given instrument(s).
• Communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and via email

Required Clearances:

In accordance with PA Act 153, CMS requires all employees to have or obtain child protection clearances and complete mandated reporter training. All required clearances and training must be current (within the last 5 years). Learn more about clearances at https://cmslv.org/about/employment/ and Keep Kids Safe PA at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/keep-kids-safe.

Act 153 Clearances

• Child Abuse History Certification (CY113)
• ​Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Criminal History Record Check
• ​Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal History Background Check

Mandated Reporter Training

• University of Pittsburgh’s Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania Online Training

How To Apply:

Please complete the CMS employment application found at https://cmslv.org/about/employment/. Submit the application, along with your resume, cover letter, and any current clearances to the email address provided.

CMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer: We seek to embody the community we serve through inclusive representation across our staff and faculty.

CMS is committed to providing a learning and work environment free of unlawful discrimination and harassment. CMS does not discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age for individuals over forty years of age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status of any person, level of family income, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws in its education programs and admission, employment, and financial aid policies. CMS also prohibits unlawful discrimination and/or harassment based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. Such discrimination, sexual harassment, and/or harassment is unlawful and prohibited by the School.

COVID-19 considerations: In accordance with CDC guidelines, CMS strongly recommends that all employees be annually vaccinated against the flu and Covid-19 to protect themselves and others within the School. View the CMS Health & Safety Plan at https://cmslv.org/health-safety-plan/

CMS is a nonprofit charitable organization that provides the inspiration and opportunity for anyone in our diverse community to achieve excellence in music education and appreciate the transformative power of music. Our professional teachers provide private lessons, group classes, and summer camps to students of all ages, from toddlers to seniors, in piano, strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, voice, and recording technology; both in-person and online. Thanks to support from our philanthropic community for over 44 years, CMS has provided students in the Lehigh Valley with the life-long benefits of a quality music education and free performance opportunities. Thanks to our generous donors, CMS annually funds $100,000 in financial aid to over 50% of students under age 18. Located at 1544 Hamilton Street in Allentown, CMS offers 14 lesson studios, a state-of-the-art recording studio, and a unique 150-seat recital hall. A satellite studio is located in Reading at GoggleWorks. Learn more at http://cmslv.org/.