Job description

Location: Orange Campus

Department: Music

Position Type: Full-Time Faculty

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Earned Doctorate in Music Education or closely related field by the time of appointment (ABD considered with evidence of timely completion).
• Pre-K-12 teaching experience in one or more of the following: band, orchestra, choir, mariachi, general music, or music technology.
• Evidence of effective college-level teaching in music education.
• An emerging record of scholarly/creative productivity
• Demonstrated commitment to culturally responsive teaching practices.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing music education curriculum and differentiating instruction for all students from various backgrounds and experiences.
• Expertise in music education, global music pedagogies, or community-based music programs.
• Evidence of successful teaching experience in a higher education setting.
• Active engagement in professional associations in music education, (e.g., NAfME, CMEA).

Compensation and Benefits

Chapman University offers a competitive benefits package and research support. Chapman University offers a relocation expense reimbursement package as well as a first-time Orange County homebuyer assistance program.

Successful completion of a background check is required for the final candidate. The salary range for this position is $80,000-$90,000. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. This position is contingent on final budget approval.

Application Timeline

Inquiries can be directed to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Tammy Yi, at [email protected] and use Music Education Position as the email subject line.

Application reviews will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled; prospective candidates are encouraged to submit their materials by November 1st.

Description:

Position Summary

The Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music at Chapman University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor of Music Education, effective August 2026. We seek a scholar/practitioner whose teaching, research/creative work, and service demonstrate a deep commitment to music teacher preparation for today’s varied students and communities.

The successful candidate will bring expertise in one or more areas of Pre-K-12 music education, which may include band, orchestra, choir, general music, world music pedagogy, early childhood education or music technology, and will contribute to curriculum development that supports the needs of California’s public school populations. This faculty member will be expected to contribute meaningfully to Chapman’s vibrant community of artists/teachers/scholars through rigorous research, innovative teaching, music-making, and community-engaged practice.

Chapman University

Chapman University is a nationally-ranked, R2 Carnegie Classified, private institution offering traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. Chapman’s campuses are home to nearly 10,000 students representing 50 states, three territories, and 87 countries. The 11 schools and colleges of Chapman, including the College of Performing Arts, offer 65 bachelors, 53 master, and six doctoral programs, along with nearly 60 minors and 17 accelerated and bridge programs. Classes are taught by the more than 1,100 dedicated faculty members who are leaders in their fields, including Nobel Prize recipients, MacArthur Fellows, National Medal of Science honorees, former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, and Emmy, Grammy, and Academy Award winners.

College of Peforming Arts

The College of Performing Arts brings together the Hall Musco Conservatory of Music, the Department of Dance, and the Department of Theatre. This partnership strengthens each discipline, while positioning the College of Performing Arts as the cultural and aesthetic center of Chapman University. We offer 7 degrees for about 450 majors who benefit from scholarship, creativity, free expression and intellectual curiosity both in the classroom and while performing in some of the hundreds of performances offered annually at one of several performing arts venues on campus. Our most prestigious venue, The Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts, hosts an array of world-renowned performers as well as showcases student and faculty work. The alignment of this venue with the college advances our position at the forefront of performing arts education.

Primary Responsibilities

• Teach 18 credit hours per year (normally nine credit hours per semester) in undergraduate and graduate music education courses; these may include undergraduate lower- and upper-division courses in literature and pedagogy, methods courses, conducting courses, and graduate-level music education courses leading to a Master of Arts in Teaching. Additional teaching assignments will be based on expertise in one or more of the following areas: band, orchestra, choir, world music pedagogy, early childhood music, general music, and/or music technology.
• Supervise student teachers, fieldwork placements, and master’s capstone projects in collaboration with the College of Educational Studies, with a focus on music education teaching credentials and MAT students.
• Sustain a productive program of scholarly research and/or creative activity, resulting in such things as peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, clinics/workshops, presentations, performances, or compositions, to build regional, national, and international visibility in the field.
• Collaborate on curriculum development and program assessment, ensuring alignment with the California Arts Standards, state credentialing expectations, and national best practices in music education.
• Demonstrate a sustained commitment to the academic and artistic growth of first-generation students and students from a wide range of backgrounds and musical experiences.
• Cultivate and sustain partnerships with local schools, districts, and community organizations, supporting field experiences and outreach programming.
• Assist in mentoring undergraduate students, graduate students, and student clubs pursuing careers in music education to foster engagement and support their professional development.
• Participate in departmental, college, and university governance, including service on committees, recruitment, outreach, community partnerships, and accreditation activities.
• Engage with professional organizations (e.g., NAfME, CMEA), and contributing to the broader field of music education through active membership and/or service.
• Tenure-track faculty are expected to develop and maintain an active research agenda for future tenure consideration and are evaluated on their research/scholarly activity, teaching and service.

EEO Statement:

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

How to apply

Applicants should submit:

• One-page cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• A statement of research interests and scholarly/creative goals.
• A philosophy of teaching in music education, addressing both pedagogical practice and broader professional commitments.
• Names and contact information for three professional references.
• Links to representative scholarly and/or creative work.
• Unofficial transcripts (official transcripts will be required at the time of hire).