Title: Instrumental Music Teacher
Assignment: School year; Full-time, 1.0 FTE
Location: Winnetka and Northfield Campuses
Reports to: Music & Theatre Department Chair
Overview:
The New Trier instrumental programs consist of hundreds of students who participate in the school’s curricular orchestras and wind ensembles. In addition to these courses, the school also supports curricular jazz ensembles, choirs, and various general music courses. New Trier's instrumental ensembles have been featured performers in Orchestra Hall in Chicago, the Sydney Opera House, and Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York.
Qualifications:
- Illinois State Board of Education Professional Educator’s License with appropriate endorsement.
- Experience in producing successful high school instrumental ensembles that perform grades 3 through 6 music repertoire. (Note: If requested, a candidate must be prepared to submit audio and video recordings of ensembles under the candidate’s direction and examples of concert programs.)
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
- The ability to work in a collegial environment in a large Music & Theatre Department with other highly motivated instrumental, choral, general music, and theatre teachers.
- String and Winds/Percussion specialist who can perform on and teach both strings and winds/percussion instruments.
Responsibilities:
- Work with the school’s Director of Bands and Director of Orchestras to co-teach instrumental ensembles.
- Deliver instruction for instrumental ensembles and general music courses assigned to the position.
- General responsibilities include preparation of repertoire for each concert and some conducting duties in collaboration with each director.
- Teach General Music courses as assigned. Currently this role designs and teaches the Music Theory curriculum in a stacked course consisting of Intro and AP Music Theory students.
- Work on a daily basis with student instruments, helping students change strings, tune their instrument and/or trouble-shoot problems.
- Duplicate and distribute music as needed.
- Work in collaboration with directors to create co-teaching processes that allow for effective sectionals and full ensemble rehearsals.
- Assist with the maintenance and distribution of the school’s instrument inventory (including artist-level instruments), the upkeep of the orchestra and wind ensemble libraries, and the planning and execution of instrumental performances throughout the school year.
- Participates in repertoire selection for ensembles alongside directors.
- Attends and consults on all related ensemble dress rehearsals and performances.
- Assists with seating, placement auditions, and playing assessments for the orchestras and wind ensembles.
- Participates in the creation of chamber groups and selection of repertoire.
- Assist with the coordination of multiple field trips for various dress rehearsals and off-campus festivals.
- Attends all class field trips, and accompanies students to off-campus festivals and events.
- Develop and maintain a good relationship with sender schools.
Current Course Assignment, subject to change:
Freshman Orchestra - Co-Teacher
Concert Orchestra - Co-Teacher
Varsity Wind Ensemble - Co-Teacher
Concert Wind Ensemble - Co-Teacher
Music Theory - Teacher
Why New Trier?
- New Trier welcomes any qualified candidate seeking a collaborative team environment. Over the past several years, New Trier has reaffirmed and deepened our “Culture of Belonging” through our New Trier 2030 Strategic Plan and is actively seeking applicants from all backgrounds to join our team.
- New Trier High School is ranked #1 in "Best places to teach in Illinois" and 88% of teachers have earned a master’s degree or higher.
- New teachers are supported through a comprehensive four-year mentoring program that provides an introduction to the New Trier culture, encourages experimentation with new instructional strategies, promotes critical thinking and civil discourse as well as best practices in grading and evaluation.
- The school has a reputation for academic excellence, a commitment to serving the needs of every student, and an extraordinary extracurricular program. With an enrollment of 3,683 students, the average class size is 21 students and there is a 14:1 overall student/teacher ratio. Approximately 97% of New Trier’s Class of 2025 enrolled in college and 324 of 929 seniors were named Illinois State Scholars.
- New Trier offers numerous opportunities for learning and involvement outside of the classroom in activities, athletics, fine and performing arts, and social service. Service learning is an important part of the New Trier experience, and students are asked to participate in service projects throughout their four years at the school.
- More than 150 clubs and other extracurricular, including an extensive social service component.
- 40 interscholastic sports (winning more athletic state championships than any high school in Illinois interscholastic history) as well as an extensive intramural program; and
- Fine and performing arts programs, including a Grammy-award winning music department.
Competitive compensation and benefits.
- Starting full-time salaries for the 2026-2027 school year are:
- First year, BA: $70,851
- First year, MA: $80,148
- Three years, MA: $86,272
Pay: $70,851.00 - $80,148.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
Work Location: In person
