Creative Piano Teacher / Creative Guitar Teacher (2 Openings)

Creative Piano Teacher / Creative Guitar Teacher (2-3 Openings)
Clarendon Hills Music Academy - Clarendon Hills, IL (In-Person)

Who We Are

Clarendon Hills Music Academy is a modern, creative lesson studio built around two things: great teaching and great systems. We are building a community of like-minded instructors who care about musicianship, creativity, creativity-in-the-details, and consistent growth - for students and for teachers.

Our studios are comfortable and inspiring, designed to feel like mini creative spaces with smart lighting, studio mics, and recording interfaces. Families are supportive, students are motivated, and the environment is calm, organized, and music-first.

Quick Fit Check (Piano OR Guitar)

We are hiring two positions:

• Creative Piano Teacher
• Creative Guitar Teacher

Please apply for the role you match strongly.

Piano Teacher - Skills We Need

• Strong sight-reading (treble + bass clef)
• Comfortable teaching improvisation (real improv skills + teachable frameworks)
• Lead sheet fluency: chord symbols to voicings on the fly
• Strong theory/harmony: keys, progressions, functional harmony
• Able to improvise over common changes (jazz comfort is a plus)

Guitar Teacher - Skills We Need

• Solid technique (clean fretting, timing, tone - beyond casual player level)
• Comfortable teaching improvisation over common progressions
• Strong theory/harmony (can explain what is happening, not just shapes)
• Fluent in tablature
• Can read standard notation at a basic-to-intermediate level (rhythms + melodies)
• Preferred: strong treble clef reading

Our Teaching Style

We are not a method-book-only studio. Method books can be part of your toolbox, but we love teachers who build an original lesson experience with real structure, using tools like:

• Song-based learning + creative warmups
• Chords + progressions + lead sheets
• Ear training
• Improv frameworks
• Arranging / songwriting (when appropriate)
• Technique and reading taught in a way that connects to real music students care about

Schedule Snapshot (Immediate Openings)

• Most teaching happens between 3-9 PM on committed weekday(s).
• Priority need right now: Tuesdays and Thursdays (piano) - we have a fairly full schedule of core lesson piano students available due to a schedule transition.
• Weekend daytime blocks are also available: Saturday and/or Sunday 9 AM - 4 PM.

Why Teachers Like It Here (Benefits)

• Spacious, inspiring studios with smart lighting, studio mics, and recording interfaces
• Paid trial lessons
• You are paid for scheduled lessons even when students cancel (income stability)
• Strong admin support and clear studio systems
• Digital + physical teaching resources supported: community printer, binders, sleeves
• We handle most admin, billing, and client service so you can focus on delivering great lessons and building strong student/family relationships

Studio Tools + Communication

We use simple tools to keep lessons consistent and communication clear (attendance, scheduling workflows, and practice planners/student dashboards). You do not need to be a tech wizard - just comfortable using basic tools and following a clear process.

What You Will Do

• Teach 1-on-1 lessons (kids through adults) in your instrument specialty (piano OR guitar)
• Blend fundamentals with creativity so students feel real progress and real joy
• Deliver standout trial lessons that convert into long-term students
• Create detailed weekly practice plans with supporting materials
• Digital preferred (Notion is great), physical welcome
• We provide binders + sleeves, and we have a community printer
• Some younger students (especially ages 5-8) prefer physical materials and that is fully supported
• Communicate clearly with families and our admin team

What Success Looks Like Here

• Trial students who enroll after a great first lesson
• Students who stay long-term because lessons feel valuable and personal
• Positive feedback from students and families (we request feedback periodically)
• New students who request you by name

Pay + Position Details

• Core lessons: $37 per hour
• Premier Program sessions: $47 per hour
• 1099 contractor position
• Pay rate depends on the type of lesson/session being taught

Program Links (Learn More About What We Teach)

• Core Lessons for Kids (ages 4-12): https://clarendonhillsmusicacademy.com/music-lessons-for-ages-4-thru-12/
• Core Lessons for Older Students: https://clarendonhillsmusicacademy.com/premier-music-programs/
• Premier Programs: https://clarendonhillsmusicacademy.com/premier-music-programs/

Interested in Developing a Premier Program?

Any instructors interested in developing a premier program are encouraged to mention it in their application and share a short description of their program idea (who it’s for, the outcome, and what makes it unique).

Hiring Process

• Short Zoom interview (about 20 minutes)
• In-person studio visit + playing/social check
• Teaching audition: teach 3 students live (including parent interaction)

How to Apply

Please include:

• Which role you are applying for: Piano Teacher or Guitar Teacher
• Your availability (weekday evenings are typically 3-9 PM; weekend daytime blocks may be available)
• A short overview of your teaching background
• A few sentences on your comfort with:
• Piano: sight-reading + improv + lead sheets
• Guitar: technique + improv + tab + basic/intermediate notation reading
• A quick note on curriculum ideas you have built, or would be excited to build

Optional (but helpful)

If you are comfortable, include a short phone video (30-60 seconds). No production needed - we just want to see/hear your playing.

• Piano: a lead sheet (chords + melody) plus a brief improv pass
• Guitar: improv over a simple progression plus a quick tab or notation read

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $37.00 - $47.00 per hour

Application Question(s):

• Optional: If you have a link to a short playing clip (YouTube/Drive/Dropbox), paste it here. Phone video is totally fine.
• Please answer briefly (4–8 sentences)
• Which role are you applying for: Piano Teacher or Guitar Teacher?
• What is your comfort level with improv and teaching beyond method books?
• Are you comfortable using tech to support lessons and studio systems (digital practice plans / student dashboards)?
• Which weekday(s) can you commit to a consistent teaching block from 3–9 PM? (List the days.)
• Are you available to teach on Saturday and/or Sunday between 9 AM - 4 PM? If yes, which day(s)?

Experience:

• private music instruction: 1 year (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Clarendon Hills, IL 60514 (Required)

Work Location: In person