Otsfm logo

Employment Opportunities

Some listings are only available to apply for online at our Career Center. Please read the individual job posting for more details on how to apply.

Please, no phone calls.

Fiddle/Violin Instructors (PT)

Fiddle/Violin Instructors (PT)

The Old Town School of Folk Music seeks a part-time fiddle/violin teacher to teach private lessons at its Lincoln Park and/or Lincoln Square locations.

Skills/Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Music Education or Performance preferred
  • Minimum two years of teaching experience preferred
  • Experience teaching private fiddle/violin lessons and/or group classes preferred
  • High level of musicianship and personal responsibility
  • Ability to teach beginning through advanced levels required
  • Afternoon, evening, and weekend availability is required
  • Ability to teach young children through adults
  • A knowledge of diverse fiddle/violin repertoire preferred

    Private lesson rate: $33/hour

    Discounts at the School and some voluntary benefits are available for part-time employees.

    To be considered for this role, please apply through our Career Center.

  • Mountain Dulcimer Instructor (PT)

    Mountain Dulcimer Instructor (PT)

    The Old Town School of Folk Music seeks a part-time mountain dulcimer teacher to teach group classes at its Lincoln Square and/or Lincoln Park locations.


    Skills/Qualifications:

  • Minimum two years of teaching experience preferred
  • Experience teaching private mountain and hammered dulcimer lessons and/or classes preferred
  • Bachelor's Degree in Music Education or Performance preferred
  • High level of musicianship and personal responsibility
  • Ability to teach beginning through advanced levels required
  • Evening and/or weekend availability is required
  • A knowledge of diverse mountain dulcimer repertoire preferred

    Group class rate: $37/hour

    Discounts at the School and some voluntary benefits are available for part-time employees.

    To be considered for this role, please apply through our Career Center.

  • Wiggleworms® Instructor (PT)

    The Old Town School of Folk Music seeks a part-time teacher available on weekend and weekday mornings for its acclaimed early childhood music program, Wiggleworms®! Classes are for children newborn to 5 years old accompanied by an adult and are taught by a teacher who accompanies themselves on guitar.

    Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance or Music Education preferred
  • Minimum of two years of teaching experience with young children in a classroom setting preferred
  • Must play guitar and be a strong singer.
  • Must be creative, passionate about music, and be able to enthusiastically lead grownups with their babies, toddlers, and preschoolers in musical learning.
  • Experience working with infants, babies, and toddlers preferred.
  • Proficiency on another instrument preferred.
  • Fluency in Spanish a plus.
  • Ability to teach online (OTS will provide a Zoom account) and in person

    Group class rate: $37/hour

    Discounts at the School and some voluntary benefits are available for part-time employees.

    Qualified candidates will be invited to audition. To be considered for this role, please apply through our Career Center.

  • Wiggleworms-in-Residence Teaching Artist (PT)

    Wiggleworms-in-Residence Teaching Artist (PT)

    The Old Town School of Folk Music is seeking an experienced bilingual early childhood music teacher to be a Wiggleworms-in-Residence Teaching Artist at its partner locations in North Lawndale.

    Key Details:

  • Approximately 6 teaching hours per week (two mornings from 9:00am to 12:00pm) with 1.5 hours administrative time
  • Approximately 1.5 hours administrative time used for: creating class plans, building relationships with teachers and administrators, working with partners on logistics, set up/tear down, special events.
  • Additional administrative time will be available for creating core songs booklet
  • Travel to onsite location will be required
  • Anticipated start date: September 4, 2023

    This is a year round program but hours may vary due to breaks, holidays, etc.

    Duties:

  • Designs and implements a sequenced and developmentally appropriate curriculum to meet the goals and desired outcomes of the program in coordination with the other wiggleworms-in-residence instructors.
  • Creates weekly music lesson plans for 12-14 classrooms for infant, toddler, and 3-5 year olds (Classes are approximately 8-15 students, with 2 classroom assistants - parents are not present).
  • Builds relationships with students, classroom teachers, partner site administrators, and families
  • Communicates regularly with the other Wiggleworms residency teaching artist(s), the School Partnerships Program Manager, and the onsite Wiggleworms team
  • Serves as a musical resource for the CRCL, including delivery of song suggestions, lyrics, record songs on sound cloud, and equipment/supplies to classroom teachers
  • In collaboration with the classroom teachers, documents and assesses the children's development through two assessments. Adapts curriculum to meet the individual and evolving needs of the children, teachers, and classroom.
  • Works with the School Partnerships Program Manager to communicate the vision and impact of the program for funding purposes
  • Maintains a collaborative relationship with CRCL's administrative staff and curriculum coordinators
  • Plans and implements music activities for CRCL's family programs, including family/community concerts, morning coffees, and CRCL-directed events
  • Plans and implements trainings for CRCL's classroom teachers
  • Other duties as assigned

    Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent work experience
  • Background in Early Childhood Music Education
  • Successful candidates must be motivated, collaborative, responsive and committed to young children's development
  • Must have at least one year of early childhood music instruction in a classroom setting without parents/guardians present
  • Ability to sing and teach using guitar or a comparable portable instrument at a minimum of an intermediate level
  • Fluency in Spanish highly desired (many classrooms are bilingual)
  • Experience with administrative/organizational tasks including scheduling, tracking activities and reporting is helpful.
  • Proficient in Google suite

    Instructor Hourly Pay Rates: $60/hour teaching rate and $20/hour administrative rate

    To be considered for this role, please apply through our Career Center.

  • Site Manager (PT)

    Site Manager (PT)

    The Old Town School of Folk Music is seeking a part-time Site Manager to oversee activities and ensure safe operations in OTS buildings. They serve as an ambassador and advocate for the School.

    Locations: Lincoln Square & Lincoln Park

    Key Duties:

  • Manage program operations for the assigned shift. Ensure compliance with all OTS safety and operational protocols. Address concerns directly as they arise. Report issues to Operations and Education team managers.
  • Serve as a resource for teachers
  • Ensure set up and break down of assigned location(s) as needed in accordance with OTS protocols, including signage as needed
  • Manage the check-in process and direct participants to their locations
  • Track attendance and monitor the number of participants and caregivers where appropriate
  • Coordinate with operations management, program management, customer service, and maintenance staff as needed
  • Oversee volunteer staff where appropriate
  • Ensure rooms have all the necessary equipment and teaching implements
  • Secure property and open/close building as needed
  • Ensure building and rooms are in good order at the end of the shift and that equipment is returned to its appropriate place. Set alarm as needed.
  • Assist with administrative tasks as assigned, such as room reservations, data entry, etc.

    Qualifications:

  • Experience managing events
  • Experience with customer service and setting boundaries with participants
  • Experience working with children preferred
  • Familiarity with Google Suite
  • An understanding of COVID-19 safety protocols
  • Strong detail orientation and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to think on one's feet and adapt to changing situations
  • Ability to carry out emergency protocol in event of fire, inclement weather or other crises
  • Access to a personal smartphone during shift
  • Available to work evenings and weekends

    Physical requirements:
    The position requires the ability to see, hear, sit, stand, walk, reach, push and pull. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds regularly and 30 pounds occasionally.

    Discounts at the School and some voluntary benefits are available for part-time employees.

    To be considered for this role, please apply through our Career Center.

  • Maintenance Worker/Custodian

    The Old Town School of Folk Music seeks reliable part-time and full-time maintenance workers/custodians to maintain our buildings and facilities.

    Key Duties:

  • Cleaning and sanitizing classrooms, common areas, restrooms and other areas in accordance with OTS protocols.
  • Mopping, dusting and sweeping.
  • Emptying trash and moving to outside dumpsters.
  • Returning equipment, supplies, and furniture to appropriate locations prior to the start of the business day.
  • Adhering to all cleaning, sanitizing and safety protocols.
  • Providing assistance and customer service to community members where appropriate.
  • May provide maintenance support for concerts or special events.
  • May work on outside maintenance, shoveling snow, spreading salt, etc.
  • May perform minor repairs to facilities and equipment.
  • May need to work at multiple locations on the north side of Chicago.
  • Other duties as assigned.

    Qualifications: Must be capable of basic physical labor such as mopping, sweeping, and hauling trash. Ability to work unsupervised and complete set tasks in the time allowed. One year of experience in a similar role preferred. Understanding of basic cleaning, sanitizing and safety protocols required. Ability to work in multiple locations and on weekends required. Basic mechanical and repair skills preferred.

    Physical Requirements: Reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling, lifting objects up to 50 pounds, standing, walking, climbing, grasping, feeling, and visual acuity. This work may include exposure to strong smells such as paint and thinners and exposure to hot and cold temperatures.

    Shifts:
    FT position - Wednesday to Sunday from 5 AM to 1 PM, schedule is liable to change.
    PT position - Wednesday to Sunday from 6 PM to 11 PM, schedule is liable to change.

    Discounts at the School and some voluntary benefits are available for part-time employees. Regular benefits and paid time off are available for full-time employees.

    If interested and qualified, please apply through our Career Center.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity

    Old Town School is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. Old Town School strives to be an inclusive and equitable organization that is reflective of the diversity of the city of Chicago. We seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. This is critical to our success as a community focused organization.