ETM-LA Teaching Artists
- General Teaching Artist description
- Teaching Artist FAQ
- Teaching Artist Internships are described in the Volunteers section
Education Through Music - Los Angeles (ETM-LA) is a Los Angeles non-profit organization that provides inner-city schools with quality music programs.
ETM-LA forms long-term partnerships with both public and private schools, helping them to provide comprehensive, sequential music and arts instruction to all students. We help schools integrate arts and academic curricula to enhance learning in both areas.
Teaching artist applicants should have a BA/BM or advanced degree in music or the fine arts. While previous teaching experience is not a requirement, it is a plus. Most positions meet two to four days per week from September-June. Required training is held each August and September.
Job responsibilities include acting as school music faculty, providing sequential music instruction to the students, and collaborating with academic teachers to integrate arts throughout the school's curriculum and culture. Successful candidates will receive paid training in pedagogy, lesson planning and classroom management. Teaching artists will also work with ETM-LA's administrative staff to assess the program and are required to attend mandatory paid training sessions throughout the year.
Interested individuals should email a cover letter and résumé to vlanier@etmla.org
Teaching Artist FAQ
- What exactly is ETM-LA?
- Would I be an employee of ETM-LA?
- How much do I get paid?
- How often do I get paid?
- Does ETM-LA provide any benefits for ETM-LA teaching artists?
- Will I receive any training?
- What materials does ETM-LA provide for students and ETM-LA teaching artists?
- Will I be in the classroom by myself?
- Who do I report to?
- Is there summer work available?
- How is my schedule made?
- Is my schedule flexible so I can audition and tour?
- About how much preparation is necessary to teach each week?
- How am I evaluated?
- How much should my kids know at the end of the semester?
- What can I do with an "unteachable" class?
- How do I apply to be an ETM-LA teaching artist?
A: ETM-LA, Inc. (Education Through Music - Los Angeles) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that promotes the sustainable integration of music into the curricula of elementary and middle schools in order to enhance students' academic performance and general development.
ETM-LA is based on ETM, founded in 1991 in New York. Our goal is not to make professional musicians, but to introduce children to music using a skills-based, sequential curriculum. ETM-LA uses music as a tool to increase cognitive thinking, enhance self-esteem and foster socialization.Return to Questions
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A: Teaching artists (TAs) are generally employees of ETM-LA. Taxes, social security, etc. are withheld as directed by law.
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Q: How much do I get paid?
A: New teaching artists are hired at the rate of $30 per hour for classes, preps and other approved activities, except training, which is paid at $25 per hour. Evaluations and merit raises are considered once a year, typically during the summer months.
The pay range for teaching artists in 2007-2008 is $30 - $40/hr.Return to Questions
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Q: How often do I get paid?
A: ETM-LA is on a monthly payroll. Teaching artists are paid for classes and all other activities taught during the previous month. Payday is the 15th.
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Q: Does ETM-LA provide any benefits for ETM-LA teaching artists?
A: Currently there are no benefits available for TAs beyond Worker's Compensation and Unemployment Insurance.
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Q: Will I receive any training?
A: Teaching artists are required to attend a multi-day training course before teaching in the classroom, usually during the summer and additional shorter seminars throughout the year.
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Q: What materials does ETM-LA provide for students and ETM-LA teaching artists?
A: In addition to the training that takes place for all TAs, resources like markers, lesson plans, a lesson planner, a curriculum, etc. are provided. At many of our schools we have been successful in getting keyboards and string instruments donated.
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Q: Will I be in the classroom by myself?
A: This is determined by scheduling at the school. Sometimes the ETM-LA TA is scheduled during the classroom teachers' prep period (this is free time for the classroom teacher for planning and administrative work). At other times, teachers will be present and participate during music class. ETM-LA strongly encourages principals to schedule the classroom teacher to able present during music class. If this is not possible, the principal has agreed to allow the TA to be alone in the classroom with students.
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Q: Who do I report to?
A: Teaching artists report to the Director of Programs.
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Q: Is there summer work available?
A: The regular ETM-LA program runs during the academic year, but there may be summer teaching opportunities.
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Q: How is my schedule made?
A: TAs arrange their schedules with each individual school. The TA lets the school know what days they are available and then the principal or AP creates a schedule. The TA usually has no control over what time they start teaching or when their lunch or prep period is.
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Q: Is my schedule flexible so I can audition and tour?
A: ETM-LA school teaching schedules have some flexibility. For instance it is usually possible to reschedule a day of teaching if an audition or recording session conflicts. But all classes would be made up and the students would not miss any instruction. This sort of rescheduling could happen two or three times in the year will little disruption to the school and the students. Canceling lessons due to touring or other obligations is only possible for short periods of time: about one week. Missing two or more school weeks in the year would result in poor consistency for the students and would be problematic.
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Q: About how much preparation is necessary to teach each week?
A: While this varies depending on background and training, it is not atypical, especially for beginning teachers, to spend an hour or more preparing a lesson plan. Thorough planning is critical to success in the classroom. Homework, worksheet, quizzes, projects and other assignments also take time to evaluate and record.
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Q: How am I evaluated?
A: Each TA receives informal observations from the Director of Programs or Field Supervisor on at least a monthly basis. Formal observations are conducted twice a year. The observations focus on lesson planning, pacing, classroom management, student interaction, integration, etc.
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Q: How much should my kids know at the end of the semester?
A: This depends on how much previous music instruction the students have received. ETM-LA has created expected outcomes of skills to be attained for each grade.
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Q: What can I do with an "unteachable" class?
A: The first person to speak to about an unruly, or unteachable, class is the classroom teacher. Ask for his/her advice and suggestions. If the problem still seems unmanageable speak to the Director of Programs who will help you resolve difficult classroom situations. There's nothing wrong with asking for help-we don't expect you to solve every problem. Please address the situation as soon as possible. We can't help if we don't know something's wrong. In our experience there have only been a handful of unteachable classrooms. But, if we are unable to turn the class around, another class may be substituted.
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Q: How do I apply to be an ETM-LA teaching artist?
A: If you are interested in becoming an ETM-LA Teaching Artist, please contact Aliza Kennerly, Program Assistant at akennerly@etmla.org .
A donation of $150 sponsors a child's music education for an entire year!
Upcoming Events
Thursday, March 8th
11:00 am to
2:00 pm
Music in Our Schools Month Concert
ETM-LA Parter Schools
ETM-LA Students
Quotes
- "The program has been an excellent addition to our school. It is wonderful to see the children look forward to music class each week."-Partner school classroom teacher
