Position Function:
The Department of Music, in partnership with the Starkville-Oktibbeha School District, seeks an energetic, collaborative, and artistic candidate to build a thriving, dynamic applied secondary violin studio at Mississippi State University, while serving as a teacher-educator in the Starkville-Oktibbeha School District String Program.
The successful candidate will assume this role at an exciting time in the department with new facilities, strong enrollment, a strong relationship with the University administration, and planned growth in curriculum and community relations. The new non-tenure-track Instructor of Music is expected to serve the Starkville-Oktibbeha School District String Program in multiple K-12 settings and bring an innovative and energetic perspective to teaching secondary violin, a collaborative approach to chamber music coaching and performance, and a collegial spirit to department and university service. It is also desired that the candidate has proven success conducting and administering a university orchestral program. The successful candidate will have a research and/or creative agenda, and will bring that dedication to our students at the undergraduate and graduate level. We seek a colleague that values inclusion, diversity, respect, and equity, and will infuse those values into all aspects of their departmental and community interactions.
The position is considered a 9-month non-tenure-track line with required 6-week summer stipend for school district-only responsibilities (July 15-August 15 and May 15-May 31).
Salary Grade: UC
For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.
Department Profile:
Mississippi State University is a comprehensive land grant institution ranked by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a Very high Research Activity University. The university is a member of the Southeastern Conference. The Department of Music is a part of the College of Education and is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.
In the fall of 2022 the department moved into a $21 million state-of-the-art facility. The 37,000-square-foot facility at 124 Hardy Road includes classrooms, a choral rehearsal hall, faculty offices, sound-proof practice rooms, recording studio, lecture/recital hall, student lounge and administrative suite.
See https://www.music.msstate.edu/ for more information about the department. Located partly in and adjacent to Starkville, a city of about 25,000 residents, MSU is served by the nearby Golden Triangle Regional Airport, which has daily connections to Atlanta.
Area of Specialization:
Music - Violin
Anticipated Appointment Date:
August 16, 2024
Tenure Track Status:
Non-Tenure Track
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
•Ranked, non-tenure-track music faculty teach an ideal 4.4 courseload
•This position expects a 2.2 course release (or more) to teach class strings in the Starkville-Oktibbeha School District (target 5th-6th grades in the first year), led by Dr. Serena Scibelli, Assistant Professor of Music – Violin at MSU. 12-20 hours per week
•Teach studio secondary violin and string-related courses
•This position may provide a 2.2 course release (optional) to administer and lead the university orchestra program
•Research/Creative Achievements including but not limited to publications, presentations, professional performances; potential for external funding and other activities consistent with Mississippi State University Promotion and Tenure guidelines [AOP 13.07]
•Attend/contribute to string studio classes and coach student chamber ensembles
•Participate in university, college, and departmental committees and service
•Perform with faculty chamber ensembles as Violin II
•Exemplify an ideal personality to recruit rapidly for both programs.
Minimum Qualifications:
•Appropriate performance experience
•Successful experience in teaching studio violin
•Understanding pedagogy for teaching in a youth string program
Preferred Qualifications:
•Ability to work collaboratively in a variety of academic and community settings
•Experience actively recruiting and maintaining a thriving violin studio
•Experience actively recruiting and maintaining a thriving community-based class string program (violin, viola, cello, and string bass students)
•Understanding of standard solo-violin repertoire, with a respect to teach students at a variety of levels
•Professional orchestral performance experience
•University teaching experience
•Experience administering and conducting a university orchestra program
•Understanding of standard orchestral repertoire, with a respect to teach students at a variety of levels
•Experience advising and mentoring students within an academic setting
•Academic and professional characteristics consistent with the missions of the University, College, and the Department of Music
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
No unusual physical requirements. Requires no heavy lifting, and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility.
Instructions for Applying:
•Only complete application files will be considered
•Applicants must complete the personal data information form on jobs.msstate.edu and apply for this position in the portal
A complete application will include:
•Letter of application
•Curriculum vitae with names, telephone numbers and email addresses of five current references
•Copies of all academic transcripts (official transcripts will be required at the time of hire) *Any social security numbers should be redacted prior to submission online*
•Recent audio and/or video links representative of violin performances (required)
•Recent audio and/or video links of representative teaching sample (optional)
•Open until filled
•For more information about the application process please contact Dr. Richard Human, search committee chair at rh150@colled.msstate.edu
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.