Part-Time Teacher of Bass Guitar

Job title: Teacher of Music (Bass Guitar)
Reporting to: Head of Music

JOB PURPOSE
Aiglon College is an international boarding school based in the Swiss Alps with a worldwide reputation for providing a challenging holistic education in an inspiring setting within a safe, caring and supportive framework. The School is CIS accredited, and caters for 480 students aged 7-18 representing 70 nations. Students prepare for IGCSEs and the IB Diploma Programme. Music is taught as a compulsory subject from Year 5 to Year 9. In the Junior School music provision takes place in a 50-minute weekly lesson for all students from Years 5 to 8. In Year 9 all students are also taught in a mixed ability weekly lesson of 50 minutes. Beyond Year 9, all pupils have the option to continue their music studies in Years 10 and 11, leading to the AQA GCSE examination.

All GCSE students have individual instrumental lessons in order to satisfy the performance requirements of this syllabus. Each year a signifi cant number of students choose music as one of their GCSE subjects and these numbers have increased steadily in recent years. Many of our IB music students, once leaving Aiglon, choose to further their musical education at university, most recently at Berklee College of Music, Tisch, NYU, Royal Holloway and Edinburgh. The individual instrumental teaching programme is an important part of the life of a large proportion of the Aiglon students. Currently 171 pupils take almost 300 weekly lessons. Instrumental lessons are normally half an hour’s duration each, although those pupils who reach a certain standard are invited by their teachers to have lessons of an hour’s duration, subject to availability.

There are currently 10 peripatetic music teachers visiting Aiglon off ering a variety of instrumental lessons each week. Weekly lessons taught include traditional orchestral instruments, piano, keyboard, guitar, drums, voice and bagpipes. Recent developments in the department include weekly instrumental lessons in audio recording, studio production, and DJ-ing. The music department is also now the proud owner of 4 Swiss alphorns and these feature in our teaching and learning programmes.

We place great emphasis on extra-curricular provision that the department off ers. At any one time rehearsing in the Department can be heard the Aiglon Senior Choir, a chamber choir, a staff choir, touring choirs, as well as various tutored rock bands, orchestral and wind chamber ensembles and a percussion ensemble. We also have the fl exibility to create ensembles on a termly basis to meet the requirements of the students (particularly for GCSE or IB performance recitals). An important weekly feature of the work of the music department is a live student music performance every Tuesday morning in Aiglon Assembly. This can range from a solo pianist, to a chamber string group, a small rock/jazz ensemble, a vocal ensemble or even live alphorns. Every Thursday morning the Aiglon music team teaches singing to the entire Junior School, rehearsing for performances at Aiglon concerts and services. In addition, the music department has recently undertaken international performance tours, visiting Prague, Malta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Collaborative links with the Drama Department are also strong and recent productions have included Cabaret and Guys and Dolls. Underpinning all of these activities is a series of regular whole-school musical events including termly Junior School Concerts, a Junior School Music Competition, an annual Carol Service, Senior School music concerts, the Aiglon House Shout, and Aiglon Rocks. We also regularly visit Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux to experience live performances in a wide range of musical styles.

The purpose-designed Music School is currently housed in the John Corlette Building (JCB). It includes: ○ a recital room/classroom (the Oudang Room) with one new Yamaha grand piano, one electric piano, drum kit, PA system, well-stocked with traditional classroom instruments, a break-out keyboard playing area and theatre-style lighting; ○ a second classroom with a Yamaha electric piano, Steinway grand piano and 15 iMAC computers running Sibelius, Garage Band and Logic Pro; ○ 5 instrumental teaching/practice rooms (in addition to 9 practice spaces elsewhere on the campus), all with acoustic pianos; ○ a digital recording studio complete with iMAC computer (running Logic Pro 10 and Protools), mixing desk and other studio equipment (also connected to the Oudang Room for recording purposes);
○ percussion studio;
○ department offi ce.

The ideal candidate for this position will be an experienced and well-qualifi ed teacher, with a proven track record of achieving excellent results with students aged 8 to 18, from beginners to advanced level. Ideally s/he should have competent keyboard skills, able to accompany students in lessons and for students taking ABRSM performance examinations. An ability to motivate and teach students across multiple genres is desirable. The appointment is likely to suit a person with fl air and enthusiasm for all things musical, who is dedicated to seeing young people fi nd their own passion for the subject. In addition to teaching individual lessons the opportunity can also exist for additional music department work - practice support and supervision, rehearsing, conducting and leading Aiglon ensembles.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Professional Standards and Expectations
● Carry out teaching duties and exercise responsibilities in line with the Guiding Principles of Aiglon
● Treat all members of the community, colleagues and students, with respect and consideration. Treat all students fairly, consistently and without prejudice
● Set a good example to students in terms of appropriate dress, standards of punctuality and attendance
● Read and adhere to the various policies of the school as expressed in the Aiglon Guide and other agreed documentation, and support the ethos of the school by upholding the behaviour code, uniform regulations and other expectations
● Be available to work on campus in good time to complete all necessary preparations and meetings before the start of term
● Take personal responsibility for professional development (both pastoral and academic) and participate in staff training when provided, in line with the continued professional development programme of Aiglon
● Refl ect on personal and school practices in pursuit of continuous improvement. Participate in Professional Review and Development (PRD) activities where appropriate
● Undertake pastoral and other duties as prescribed within school policies
● Ensure that all deadlines are met as published in the school calendar and as directed by the Deputy School Director
Teaching and Tutoring
● Teach a predetermined number of lessons per week
● Work in collaboration with Aiglon’s programme of support for students with specifi c learning diffi culties, as directed by the Head of Learning Support or the Deputy School Director
● Set work for students absent from class for health, disciplinary or co-curricular reasons
● Where appropriate, prepare students thoroughly for music examinations
● Engage with google classroom as a tool to set work for students and communicate with them
● Set high expectations for students' behaviour by establishing a purposeful working atmosphere in lessons and in the boarding environment
● Set appropriate and demanding expectations for students' learning, motivation and presentation of work, in line with agreed school policies
Assessment, Recording and Reporting
● Maintain notes and plans of lessons undertaken and records of students’ work using google classroom
● Provide mark reading information and write detailed reports on students at the end of each term as required
● Attend parents’ meetings as designated in the school calendar
Co-Curricular Duties
● Contribute to the Activities and CAS programme on a weekly basis in consultation with the Activities and CAS Coordinator
Communication and Meetings
● Attend meetings when required
● Ensure that communication is timely, relevant, respectful and pertinent
● Assist where necessary with the school’s promotional initiatives
● Preserve and promote the good name of Aiglon in all dealings with the wider public
An Aiglon teacher is expected to:
● Demonstrate responsibility, by motivating and enthusing staff and students, giving direction and showing initiative and drive while demonstrating good judgement
● Work eff ectively with other people, by treating people respectfully, empathetically and equally in order to develop good working relationships
● Get the job done, by delivering what is required within deadlines and to a high standard
● Manage resources eff ectively, in particular demonstrating strong time management skills, but also eff ective management of equipment, ICT facilities, and information
● Communicate clearly, by getting across the message eff ectively, listening carefully and responding