Assistant/Associate Professor of Music (Director of Jazz and Commercial Music Studies)

Ball State University • Muncie, IN

3d • $65,000 - $67,000

About The Position

Ball State University’s School of Music seeks a dynamic and dedicated musician, educator, and leader to serve as Assistant/Associate Professor of Music and Director of Jazz and Commercial Music Studies, starting in the 2027–2028 academic year. The successful candidate will have a record of national and/or international accomplishments and a broad range of skills for mentoring students in the creation and performance of jazz and commercial music.

The position provides leadership for the Jazz and Commercial Studies programs, including program growth, student ensemble performance excellence, coordination within the School of Music, recruitment strategy, curriculum development, and coordination of teaching assignments for full-time and adjunct faculty and graduate assistants.

The faculty member will contribute as a collaborative, innovative, and adaptive member of the College of Fine Arts community. Faculty responsibilities include teaching, creative and/or scholarly work, public service, engagement with the Ball State and Muncie communities and beyond, and participation in lifelong-learning opportunities when available. Teaching responsibility in lifelong learning may also be assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in jazz or commercial music performance or a closely related field.
• Leadership experience and skills necessary to lead collegiate jazz and commercial music studies programs, including leading the premiere ensemble in Jazz.
• Two years of faculty experience teaching jazz and/or commercial music at the collegiate level.

Nice To Haves

• Doctoral degree in jazz, commercial music, or an appropriate related field.
• Distinguished record of program leadership in jazz and/or commercial music at the collegiate level.
• Active and visible performance profile at the national and/or international level.

Responsibilities

• Lead the BSU Jazz I ensemble.
• Coordinate jazz and commercial music ensembles, combos, and other related performing groups.
• Serve as area coordinator for faculty and graduate assistants in the jazz and commercial music programs.
• Teach academic courses in the discipline, which may include history, theory, arranging, improvisation, and related topics.
• Teach applied music in the discipline on a relevant instrument of expertise.
• Participate in School, College, and University governance as the representative of Jazz and Commercial Study.
• Contribute to the School’s scholarly and creative output.
• Promote engagement with the regional community, Indiana, and the Midwest.
• Lead growth of the jazz and commercial music programs and maintain a high level of performance excellence in student ensembles.
• Coordinate the jazz and commercial music programs within the broader School of Music.
• Develop and execute a recruitment strategy for the jazz and commercial programs.
• Contribute to refinement and development of jazz and commercial music curricula.
• Assist with teaching assignments of full-time and adjunct faculty and graduate assistants.
• Participate in the department’s, college’s, and university’s lifelong-learning opportunities when available; teaching responsibility in this area may be assigned.

Benefits

• 12 paid sick days per year.
• 10 holidays per year.
• Six weeks of paid parental leave.
• Affordable health and dental insurance.
• Long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Retirement benefits.
• Coverage of 90 percent of the employee’s child’s or children’s undergraduate tuition at Ball State University, beginning on the employee’s first day.
• Eligible new residents may access relocation incentives and community-building opportunities through MakeMyMove, potentially including up to $5,000 cash for relocation, co-working space, access to the Ball State University Library, a one-semester Rec Fit pass, discounted Ball State Athletics tickets, help connecting to local resources, opportunity for board participation, and a six-month YMCA membership. Eligibility and benefits vary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior