Assistant Professor of Music Education, Instrumental Focus
Shenandoah Conservatory is accepting applications for an Assistant Professor of Music Education, Instrumental Focus. This is a full-time benefited position located on our main campus in Winchester, Virginia.
As a school uniquely committed to rigor, care, and innovation, Shenandoah Conservatory is home to exceptional artists and scholars who are strongly oriented towards collaboration, mentorship, and innovative approaches to the career preparation of students. The Conservatory’s ShenCoLAB (formerly titled Student Performance Week) is but one example of the Conservatory’s nation-leading embrace of innovation and collaboration; a (first-in-the-country) week-long stoppage of all classes and rehearsals across all programs with the school turned over to students for student-led (and faculty mentored) collaborative projects. Shenandoah Conservatory has an extraordinary legacy of shaping music and the performing arts in Virginia and beyond, Located at the head of the historic Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, Virginia, 70 miles west of Washington, D.C., the Conservatory is now home to over 700 students from across the nation and globe enrolled in baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral curricula in the areas of music, theater, and dance, and includes a distinguished faculty of over 125, half of whom are full-time. In the area of music, Shenandoah Conservatory is fortunate to attract performance-oriented students not only through its music performance degrees, but also through offered degrees in Music Education, Music Therapy, and Music Production and Recording Technology. The Conservatory is one of the Mid-Atlantic’s leading centers of new music performance, with premier master artists (ranging from composers to ensembles) distributed throughout each performance season.
Responsibilities:
The Music Education faculty seeks a dynamic and collaborative instrumental musician, teacher, and scholar; someone excited by the work of training future music teachers positioned to succeed in diverse 21st century classrooms. The chosen candidate will further strengthen Shenandoah Conservatory’s profile and reputation as Virginia’s premiere, inclusive, and innovative place of study where musicians for diverse backgrounds develop into dynamic and inspiring music teachers. Teaching responsibilities will include:
Other possible teaching assignments such as conducting and/or an ensemble are dependent on department or Conservatory needs and candidate qualifications. Contributions to prog am recruitment as well as Conservatory-wide collaboration are expected.
Beyond having experience with traditional instrumental literature, the chosen candidate will have experience in strings, jazz, and/or popular styles and be a champion for collaboration and artistic excellence across instrumental genres and styles, understanding that excellence in music making transcends stylistic boundaries. Required qualification, beyond those listed above, include
An earned doctorate in Music Education, or related terminal degree preferred (ABD considered).
ABOUT THE MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM:
From its origins in 1875 as a school to support the training of music teachers, Shenandoah Conservatory has long served as a leader in music education and is proud to advance its role as Virginia’s premiere and progressive center of music education training. The Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Master of Music Education degrees are recognized as innovative and forward-oriented and are continually updated to meet the needs of music classrooms of the future. Undergraduates begin music education coursework in their first semester and have opportunities for hands-on teaching experiences throughout the program. Students -- who enroll from across the region and country – may select an instrumental (classical or jazz) or a choral/general music track for the program and subsequent Virginia licensure. Students have the opportunity to teach for two additional semesters in the on-campus home school music program. The Master of Music Education degree is designed for the practicing music educator. Students attend classes in three summers focusing on the intersection of pedagogy, musicianship, and scholarship. The degree is uniquely designed to increase students’ skills as reflective musician teachers. A research teaching project provides a practical capstone document.
How to Apply:
The complete application will include a Cover letter addressing the listed qualifications, Curriculum Vitae with contact information for three references. Additional materials such as links to teaching videos, conducting videos, or course materials may be requested after initial review by the committee. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a qualified candidate is selected.
Shenandoah University is committed to enriching its educational experience and culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff. All candidates are strongly encouraged to include a statement in their cover letters addressing ways in which they may be able to contribute to that commitment.
**Note: A pre-employment background check will be required and a satisfactory driving record may be required as a condition of hire.
Shenandoah University values the unique and diverse perspectives of individuals and communities locally and globally and seeks to foster mutual understanding in an inviting community where individuals are welcome and respected. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical, or mental disability, genetic information, veteran’s status, or on any other basis protected under applicable law.
Required Skills
Required Experience