About Holton-Arms

Founded in 1901, Holton-Arms School is a nationally recognized independent school for girls in grades 3–12 that encourages young women to approach the world with curiosity, courage, and a sense of responsibility to use their talents for the greater good. Rooted in a long legacy of excellence and guided by future-forward thinking, Holton offers a vibrant, purpose-driven learning environment where students, faculty, and staff bring deep engagement, spirit, and passion to their work.

The mission of the Holton-Arms School is to cultivate the unique potential of young women through the education not only of the mind, but of the soul and spirit. Students are scholars, artists, and athletes who find their voices, take risks, learn from challenges, and build lifelong friendships, embodying the school’s motto, Inveniam viam aut faciam (“I will find a way or make one”).

We seek applicants from diverse backgrounds, talents, and interests who share our passion for helping girls learn, grow, and thrive. Together, we are committed to cultivating the leaders of tomorrow who will make a positive impact on their communities and the world.

Position Summary

The Lower, Middle and Upper School Band Teacher will be a highly-skilled and collaborative instrumental music teacher with a specialty in woodwind, brass and rhythm instruments. Instrumental music at Holton-Arms is comprised of well-established and strongly supported programs in strings, woodwind, brass and rhythm in grades 3-12. Instrumental faculty members teach in all three divisions at Holton and therefore need to be effective in teaching a widely varied age group. In Lower School, each student plays in an instrumental ensemble and takes a group lesson each week. The Band teacher will prepare students for performances throughout the year. Opportunities would also exist for teaching private lessons in the Arts Adjunct Program, to be covered under separate contract.

Responsibilities

• Academic Excellence: Design and implement a progressive and challenging instrumental curriculum with division-appropriate lesson plans that align with the Lower, Middle and Upper School Instrumental Music Course of Study which balances technical proficiency, music theory, and a diverse repertoire (spanning classical, contemporary, jazz and underrepresented composers).
• Develop Student-Centered Instruction: Foster an inclusive classroom environment that promotes active learning, creativity, risk-taking, and student agency through various instructional modalities and the integration of educational technology.
• Manage the Band Rental Program: maintain inventory, distribution, repair, and budgeting allocation of woodwind, brass and rhythm instruments . Maintain records, serial numbers, repair histories, and distribute on an ongoing basis to accommodate student growth and progress.
• Ensemble Direction: Direct the Lower, Middle and Upper School Concert Bands, Jazz Ensemble, and smaller chamber groups.
• Performance Management: Coordinate and lead school concerts, assemblies, and off-campus festivals or competitions.
• Professional Growth: Demonstrate a commitment to personal renewal and lifelong learning by staying current with pedagogical trends and literary scholarship.
• Assessment and Feedback: Provide consistent, high-quality feedback on student work and maintain rigorous academic standards while offering the supportive demeanor necessary for student growth.
• Collaboration and Commitment: Participate actively in departmental meetings, division-wide faculty sessions, and school-wide professional development to ensure a cohesive educational experience.
• Community Engagement: Serve as a dedicated member of the Holton-Arms community by attending school activities and contributing to the "soul and spirit" of the school through mentorship or extracurricular leadership.

Qualifications & Experiences

• Expertise: Deep knowledge of woodwind, brass, and percussion pedagogy.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Music Education or Performance is required; a Master’s degree is highly preferred.
• Tech-Savvy: Proficiency with music notation software (e.g., Sibelius, Finale, or MuseScore)
• Energy: A high-energy conducting style and the ability to motivate students at varying skill levels simultaneously.
• Cultural Competency: A commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), specifically in selecting a repertoire that reflects a global perspective.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

Holton-Arms cherishes the uniqueness of each of our members including current and former students, faculty, and staff. We seek to create an inclusive environment that sees, values, and supports diverse identities and experiences, cultivates engaging discourse, and empowers our students to be thriving members of the global community. At Holton-Arms, each of us is responsible for fostering an equitable, respectful, and just community.

Salary & Benefits

The average salary range for this position is $70,000 - $100,000, with the exact salary to be determined based on education and experience. We use a step scale to determine teacher salary. Additional stipends are available for coaching, certain club sponsorship and significant commitments outside of the classroom. Benefits include health insurance with a generous employer contribution to medical, dental and vision; life and disability insurance; 403b retirement savings with an employer match and non-elective contribution; employee assistance program, tuition remission for eligible children; professional development opportunities; paid parental leave after one year of employment; paid sick and personal days; and lunch is provided on school days.

Application Details

To be considered for this position, candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, statement of educational philosophy, and the names of three references.