What are the responsibilities and job description for the Studio Music Instructor - Percussion position at Whitman College?
Description
Located in the vibrant community of Walla Walla, WA, Whitman College is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving roughly 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top undergraduate, liberal arts colleges in the country.
The Department of Music at Whitman College is seeking candidates for a Studio Music Instructor for Percussion, beginning September 2026. An advanced degree in Music performance or equivalent professional experience is required. Studio Music Instructor appointments are made on a semester-by-semester basis.
Within a personalized and inclusive environment, the Whitman Department of Music connects student passion for music with diverse approaches to new ways of understanding. Our supportive environment meets students where they are but also challenges them to surpass their own expectations as they perform, create, critically examine, and advocate for the music that matters to them. With dedicated faculty and exceptional facilities, including three performance halls, a music technology studio, and extensive practice and teaching spaces, students are empowered to grow and achieve their musical goals.
The successful candidate will teach one-on-one Applied Music lessons in Percussion in a liberal arts environment with students at Whitman College. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in drum set, orchestral percussion, and pitched percussion.
Studio Music Instructors will:
Duties of a Studio Music Instructor include:
As faculty, Studio Music Instructors report directly to the Provost and Dean of Faculty.
Whitman College is committed to fostering an inclusive learning community that values diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives. In the cover letter, candidates should describe their interest in teaching undergraduates, majors as well as non-majors, at all levels of instruction. In doing so, candidates should address how their lived experiences and classroom and scholarly practices will advance equity and inclusion in the learning environment.
To apply, go to https://apply.interfolio.com/190865. The online application will prompt you to upload all of the required materials: a letter of application; curriculum vitae; statement of teaching philosophy and evidence of demonstrated or potential excellence in undergraduate instruction as well as a sample of your professional work and/or website. The committee will solicit three letters of recommendation from applicants who reach the interview stage.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Salary Range: Studio Music Instructors are paid a fixed amount of $398 for each 1-credit, half-hour weekly course.
Whitman College offers a competitive benefits package designed to attract and retain talented employees. For studio music instructors, full-time equivalency (FTE) and associated benefits eligibility are determined by the number of lesson credits taught. A full-time teaching load is defined as forty 1-credit, half-hour lessons per week. FTE is calculated on a semester-by-semester basis and audited course load on the 10th day of each semester. Instructors teaching a minimum of thirty lessons are eligible for prorated fringe benefits.
For a summary of available benefits and the associated eligibility requirements, please see the HR website.
Located in the vibrant community of Walla Walla, WA, Whitman College is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving roughly 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top undergraduate, liberal arts colleges in the country.
The Department of Music at Whitman College is seeking candidates for a Studio Music Instructor for Percussion, beginning September 2026. An advanced degree in Music performance or equivalent professional experience is required. Studio Music Instructor appointments are made on a semester-by-semester basis.
Within a personalized and inclusive environment, the Whitman Department of Music connects student passion for music with diverse approaches to new ways of understanding. Our supportive environment meets students where they are but also challenges them to surpass their own expectations as they perform, create, critically examine, and advocate for the music that matters to them. With dedicated faculty and exceptional facilities, including three performance halls, a music technology studio, and extensive practice and teaching spaces, students are empowered to grow and achieve their musical goals.
The successful candidate will teach one-on-one Applied Music lessons in Percussion in a liberal arts environment with students at Whitman College. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in drum set, orchestral percussion, and pitched percussion.
Studio Music Instructors will:
- Provide student-centered instruction with an eye toward the growth of the student
- Guide students to connect their own interests and backgrounds with ways of creating music, working across style, genre, cultural tradition, and multiple modes of inquiry;
- Contribute to our music faculty's collective and ongoing efforts to diversify our curriculum.
Duties of a Studio Music Instructor include:
- Teaching students in individual lessons. Lessons consist of a weekly 30-minute meeting, totaling 12 lessons over the semester per 1 credit of student enrollment.
- Teaching during the regular Academic Calendar, with regular lessons occurring on weekdays (Monday through Friday). Lessons are not held during college holidays, the Power and Privilege Symposium, and the Whitman Undergraduate Conference
- Providing students with a syllabus that outlines expectations, requirements, grading guidelines, and jury/final examination information.
- Attending juries (final examinations), pro-rated to semester credit load
- Abiding by all relevant Whitman College policies (such as the Whitman College Faculty Code, Faculty Handbook, and College Catalog), including checking Whitman College email regularly
As faculty, Studio Music Instructors report directly to the Provost and Dean of Faculty.
Whitman College is committed to fostering an inclusive learning community that values diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives. In the cover letter, candidates should describe their interest in teaching undergraduates, majors as well as non-majors, at all levels of instruction. In doing so, candidates should address how their lived experiences and classroom and scholarly practices will advance equity and inclusion in the learning environment.
To apply, go to https://apply.interfolio.com/190865. The online application will prompt you to upload all of the required materials: a letter of application; curriculum vitae; statement of teaching philosophy and evidence of demonstrated or potential excellence in undergraduate instruction as well as a sample of your professional work and/or website. The committee will solicit three letters of recommendation from applicants who reach the interview stage.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Salary Range: Studio Music Instructors are paid a fixed amount of $398 for each 1-credit, half-hour weekly course.
Whitman College offers a competitive benefits package designed to attract and retain talented employees. For studio music instructors, full-time equivalency (FTE) and associated benefits eligibility are determined by the number of lesson credits taught. A full-time teaching load is defined as forty 1-credit, half-hour lessons per week. FTE is calculated on a semester-by-semester basis and audited course load on the 10th day of each semester. Instructors teaching a minimum of thirty lessons are eligible for prorated fringe benefits.
For a summary of available benefits and the associated eligibility requirements, please see the HR website.