Material Institute Music Education Lead & Chair New Orleans, LA · Full time Company website

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Material Institute expands perspectives and potential. We create a living practice that transforms ourselves and, in turn, society. We grow new ideas; build radical connections; cultivate a new generation of contemporary artists and thinkers; and shift culture.

WHO WE ARE

Material Institute is where art and ecology are practiced as one. We are a nonprofit cultural institution and learning community in New Orleans making and experimenting with sound, soil, and textiles to recognize the interconnection of art and the natural world. We understand ourselves as material, including our voices, bodies, and movement.

Within our programs, students, staff, teachers, and collaborators learn and create side by side. Material Institute is multicultural, centering emerging Black artists from New Orleans, welcoming people across experience and backgrounds, and inviting global artists and thinkers to widen our context.

OUR PROGRAMS

Our mission lives through our programs: Material Studio, Material Camps, guest artist workshops, screenings, concerts, and events.

Material Studio is our core program: a cost-free, two-year curriculum for emerging fashion designers and musicians from New Orleans ages 18+. Through sustained study and practice with peers and mentors, artists expand their perspectives and work; gain technical and creative skills; develop professional portfolios; and foster collaborative relationships.

At Material Institute, fashion designers and musicians participate in daily life alongside staff and visiting artists as a part of practice — growing food, cooking meals, and caring for shared spaces. We believe this consistent rhythm transforms ourselves, each other, and the world. With trust in process and clear purpose, artists are empowered to take the next steps in their vocation and, in time, influence their fields; contribute to their communities; and evolve culture. 

From the DNA of Material Studio, we design Material Camps, where kids learn and experiment with materials to explore their creative voice.

We serve as a cultural institution to the wider New Orleans community through global guest artist workshops, screenings, and concerts with visiting artists.

OUR CAMPUS

Environment shapes consciousness: We build spaces that encourage connection to each other and the natural world. Our unique campus spans two blocks at the border of the 8th and 9th wards. Our campus comprises a community garden; organic food production garden; outdoor kitchen; outdoor classroom; fashion atélier; knit lab; dye lab; recording studio; music production room; and a residence that doubles as staff offices and visiting guest artist accommodation. Over the next five years, we will develop our campus to include larger indoor and outdoor assembly spaces for classes and events, a dance studio, indoor kitchen, food production site, and more. 

MATERIAL MUSIC

Material Music began as a cost-free recording studio in 2015. In 2017, we added a year-long Recording Artist Residency for emerging musicians to record professional quality projects cost-free. We focused much of our resources on developing a quality, unique recording studio and, over time, added vocal lessons; performance and music business workshops; and other creative and professional opportunities. Between 2017-2025, we developed 63 Recording Artist residents and over 100 community recording projects. We paused our programs in 2025 to define a unified mission across Material Institute and align programs. 2026-27 will pilot Material Studio’s new, first year curriculum focused on foundational skills and material experimentation.

WHO YOU ARE

You are an educational program lead, educator, and musician with a passion for music history and musical forms, from foundational traditions to contemporary sounds. You bring deep knowledge of Black American music — its history, forms, and cultural force. Your practice responds to the present, drawing from many musical forms to engage with what's happening now.

You are a broad-minded songwriter who uses music theory as a tool to help others reach their fullest artistic potential. You are as comfortable with an artist working in R&B or hip hop as one working in jazz or experimental sound.

You believe teaching is a transformative act. You learn as much as you teach. You are curious about what happens when people make things together.

You design rigorous and inventive experiences where emerging artists discover through doing — experimenting, failing, and finding their unique creative voice in the process. You champion learning that is experiential, hands-on, and alive; where the process of making is as important as what’s made.

You are a reliable and empathetic teammate with a collaborative spirit. You expect excellence from yourself and those around you. 

You are connected to the wider world of contemporary music practice and excited to bring that world into Material Institute through visiting artists and thinkers. You consider music's relationship to ecology, community, culture, and contemporary realities.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

EDUCATION LEAD

MATERIAL STUDIO CURRICULUM DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT 

• Design, develop, and execute an experiential two-year music curriculum aligned with MI's Mission in collaboration with Music Team, Head of Programs, and Programs Team.
• Contribute interdisciplinary ideas and connections to the Material Studio curriculum and practice.
• Lead the Material Studio music curriculum across its 2026–27 pilot year, and the subsequent launch of Material Studio in 2027–29
• Research contemporary and historical music and progressive music education to guide curriculum design
• Collaborate in weekly team meetings with Material Studio Programs Team to advance and refine all two-year curricula for interdisciplinarity and shared practice.
• Develop lesson plans, educational materials, and assessment tools.

TEACHING

• Build genuine mentoring relationships with emerging artists: be present, responsive, and invested in their development.
• Teach in some of the areas of the curriculum (depending on your speciality) — music theory, songwriting, digital audio production, voice, performance.
• Be present, on-campus, and available as a resource for emerging artists
• Occasionally teach in Material Institute’s Open Programs (depending on your speciality and availability).

CHAIR

MUSIC TEAM LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

• Lead and manage Music staff — set collective goals, plan and facilitate team meetings, evaluate performance, provide feedback, and ensure everyone is growing in their practice and profession.
• Recruit and hire local music instructors who bring expertise outside your own.
• Support and develop instructors through feedback on lesson planning and instruction through the lens of collaboration and shared investment in emerging artists
• Represent Music in organizational leadership conversations.

RELATIONSHIP CULTIVATION

• Serve as public ambassador for Material Institute Music
• Identify aligned contemporary artists and thinkers in Music to collaborate with Material Institute.
• Develop and manage music-focused partnerships.
• Maintain positive relationships with alumni and collaborating artists. 
• Communicate on behalf of the Music department to the alumni network.

RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP

• Steward the Music department’s budget, equipment, and spaces ensuring they serve the growth of emerging artists and curriculum.
• Lead the Music library’s book and LP curation to expand perspectives and serve emerging artist development.
• Advise on equipment purchases and space needs to improve curriculum delivery and advance the institute.

COLLECTIVE PRACTICE

• Wholeheartedly participate to bring our philosophy alive through collective practice alongside staff and emerging artists — growing and harvesting produce, contributing to shared meals, and caring for shared spaces on campus. 

INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATION & CONSULTATION

• Participate in recruiting and selecting emerging artists for Material Studio
• Consult with the Open Programs Team on educational design and instructors for Open Programs.
• Provide input in organizational development processes.

QUALIFICATIONS

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet every qualification listed below. If you are excited about this role and believe you could contribute to our mission, we encourage you to apply.

REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in Music, Music Education, Arts Administration, or a related field; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of professional experience as a musician, producer, composer, educator, or teaching artist.
• Minimum of 3 years of curriculum design and educational program development experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership, supervisory, or staff management experience.
• Experience managing music education programs, artist development initiatives, or recording studios.
• Demonstrated experience teaching and mentoring emerging artists, young adults, or adult learners.
• Strong knowledge of Black American Music traditions, history, theory, and contemporary creative practice.
• Experience developing and facilitating experiential, project-based learning
• Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Proven organizational, project management, and strategic planning abilities.
• Proficiency with platforms such as Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and educational technology.

STRONGLY PREFFERED

• Master's degree in Music, Music Education, Arts Administration, or a related field.
• Experience working within nonprofit arts organizations, cultural institutions, artist residencies, or higher education settings.
• Deep familiarity with the New Orleans music ecosystem and creative community.
• Experience building partnerships with artists, cultural organizations, and educational institutions.
• Experience in a recording studio and with recording project management and workflow
• Experience integrating music with other creative disciplines such as visual art, fashion, performance, movement, or ecology.
• Knowledge of program evaluation, grant-funded programming, and impact measurement.
• Knowledge in cultural competencies and successfully working with diverse groups of people.

WORK & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• In-person, on-site
• Flexibility for some remote work during non-program hours. 
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for workshops, community events, rehearsals, and special programs.
• Ability to lift and transport materials, equipment, and supplies weighing up to 25 lbs. 
• Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout event and program spaces for extended periods.
• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors depending on program activities.
• Reliable transportation to and from the worksite and program locations.
• Successful completion of a background check.

Accessibility note: Material Institute’s Music facility is located on a second floor, accessible by stairs only.

POSITION DETAILS

Status: Full-Time Exempt

Location: Material Institute (2120 Port Street New Orleans, LA 70117) 

Reports to: Head of Programs

Hours: 40 hours per week, On-Site

Schedule: 9am–5pm, Monday–Friday

Start Date: August 10, 2026  

Salary: $78,000–83,000 

Material Institute has a transparent organization-wide salary scale to ensure equity and remove as much bias as possible from compensation decisions. Placement on the range above is based on years of same-level experience. The salary range is not negotiable. 

Benefits: 

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance 
• Basic Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• 401k Retirement Fund with 4% employer match
• Paid Time Off
• 26 Organizational Holidays
• 17 Paid Time Off Days
• Professional Development stipend 
• Unlimited short term wellness for illness or doctor’s appointments 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

We value a diverse workplace and encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA individuals, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, older members of society, and others from minority groups and diverse backgrounds to apply.  We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

Please submit a résumé and cover letter.

Your cover should respond directly to these questions: 

• What excites you about this particular opportunity? 
• How does Material Institute’s mission align with your personal values and experiences?
• How would you describe your experience and practice as a musician and educator?  
• Where are you drawing inspiration in your creative process right now, and why?
• What is your relationship to New Orleans?

Applicants that advance to the final round will be required to lead the Material Institute staff in a sample lesson. Applications submitted by Friday, July 3, 2026 will receive priority consideration. Applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

All applicants will be notified no later than July 31, 2026 of the status of their application.

Please direct any questions to [email protected]

Link To Role Description