MS Band Director in Austin, Texas at Austin Waldorf School Inc

Band Director – Middle School (Grades 6-8)

Job Title: Band Director – Middle School (Grades 6-8) (“Band Director” or “Director”)

Department: Middle School

Reports to: Grades Director

Classification: Part-time Faculty, Benefit-ineligible, Exempt,

Supervisory responsibility: No Faculty or Staff supervisory responsibilities

Salary: Depends on qualifications and experience

Position Purpose: The Band Director guides students in grades 6–8 in developing instrumental skill, musical understanding, ensemble awareness, and confidence through participation in a middle school band program. Teaching is grounded in a developmental and experiential approach that emphasizes listening, coordination, rhythm, collaboration, and joyful music-making.

Working with a mixed-ability ensemble, the Director creates a supportive and engaging environment where students develop both musical capacity and social responsibility. Band serves not only as a musical experience, but also as an important space for cultivating perseverance, cooperation, discipline, confidence, and a sense of belonging within a group.

How to Apply

If you are qualified and interested in joining a warm, hospitable, and growing community such as ours, please email your updated resume and letter of interest along with three professional references, to awsrecruitment@austinwaldorf.org.

Place the job title and your full name in the subject line of your email message and send as shown below. If you are applying for multiple jobs, please send a separate message for each job.

Grades Director

Austin Waldorf School, Inc.

8700 South View Road

Austin, TX 78737

awsrecruitment@austinwaldorf.org

Essential Job Duties

The Director must perform the following essential duties with or without reasonable accommodations.

• Teach middle school band for grades 6–8 in a mixed-level ensemble setting
• Lead rehearsals twice per week
• Work with students possessing a wide range of prior experience and technical skill
• Design and lead rehearsals that integrate:
  • Instrumental technique
  • Rhythm and timing
  • Ensemble listening and coordination
  • Tone production and musical expression
  • Musical confidence and performance skills
• Support students across a variety of band instruments, including woodwinds, brass, and percussion
• Select repertoire that is engaging, accessible, developmentally appropriate, and supportive of ensemble growth
• Foster musical literacy and increasing independence appropriate to middle school students
• Teach out of an anthroposophical understanding of human development and the role of music in education
• Prepare students for concerts, assemblies, festivals, and other school performances throughout the year
• Communicate rehearsal schedules, concert expectations, and instrument needs clearly with students and families
• Provide student progress reports and feedback as required by the school
• Support organization, inventory, and care of instruments and music materials
• Help guide students and families in instrument selection and private lesson support, as appropriate
• Collaborate with other music faculty to support a coherent and developmentally appropriate music program
• Maintain a consistent and reliable rehearsal and performance schedule
• Communicate promptly and professionally with students, families, and colleagues
• Demonstrate proficiency with Google Workspace and familiarity with learning management systems, as appropriate to the role
• Maintain organized rehearsal spaces and support proper care of instruments and materials
• Support a classroom environment characterized by order, respect, beauty, and care
• Report health and safety concerns promptly
• Act professionally at all times and contribute positively to a collaborative faculty culture

Professional Requirements

The Director must meet the following requirements with or without reasonable accommodations.

• Bachelor’s degree in Music, Music Education, or a related field
• Be legally authorized to work in the United States and provide documentation establishing identity and employment eligibility upon hire. The school does not sponsor employment visas.
• Experience teaching or directing middle school instrumental ensembles
• Strong conducting and rehearsal leadership skills
• Working knowledge of woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments
• Ability to work effectively with mixed-ability ensembles
• Strong classroom management and organizational skills
• Interest in or openness toward Waldorf education and developmental pedagogy
• Onsite, in-person attendance is a requirement of the job

Physical and Mental Requirements

The Director must meet the following mental and physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodations.

• The ability to learn, understand, remember, and communicate effectively information about the job.
• The ability to understand the meaning of and use and speak words understandably and effectively in the English language.
• Good hearing and listening abilities, that is, the Director must be able to hear and discern musical notes, and spoken words from students, parents, co-workers, and others.
• Good motor coordination skills, that is, the ability to coordinate his or her eyes, hands and fingers rapidly and accurately in order to handle precise movements such as when playing a musical instrument or typing, and the ability to stand and/or walk for extended periods.
• Make and use repetitive hand motions over an extended period, as when playing a musical instrument or typing.
• Work effectively under pressure and deadlines.
• Sit, stand, move around, bend, reach, grasp, stretch, push and pull, and remain sitting or upright for extended periods of time in one room.