Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies - Department of Music #27-15

California State University, Northridge•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$88,000 - $92,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Music at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is seeking a tenure-track faculty member in Jazz Studies at the rank of Assistant Professor. Located in Los Angeles, one of the world’s major cultural and creative centers, CSUN’s Jazz Studies program is well positioned for continued growth, visibility, and national distinction. The program serves a diverse and ambitious student body, including a thriving graduate population, and offers significant opportunities for artistic collaboration, student mentorship, creative activity, and engagement with the broader professional jazz community. CSUN jazz ensembles regularly perform and collaborate with nationally and internationally recognized jazz artists, providing students with meaningful professional-level artistic experiences. The department seeks an artist-educator whose work will contribute to the continued success, growth, and distinction of Jazz Studies at CSUN. The successful candidate will primarily teach courses in jazz musicianship, composition, arranging, harmony, improvisation, jazz ensembles, pedagogy, and applied lessons depending on qualifications and interest; and have research interests/activities in jazz performance, composition, arranging, and pedagogy/education. They will be expected to balance professional activity with engaged teaching and work collaboratively with students and faculty. In addition to teaching, the position requires weekly office hours, attending faculty meetings, participation in assessment of student learning, and service to the department, college, and university. The successful candidate may be required to teach on weekdays, evenings, weekends, and/or online and will be held to the standards and requirements of the college and department in which he/she/they is/are housed for recommending tenure and promotion. Given CSUN’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and engagement in a diverse environment, the successful candidate will help the Department achieve equitable academic outcomes for all students through teaching, student mentorship, scholarship, and service.

Requirements

A master's or a terminal degree (MFA, DMA, PHD) in jazz studies/performance from an accredited institution.
In-person and/or online college or University-level teaching experience on jazz topics to music majors.
In-person jazz ensemble directing experience.
In-person applied jazz lesson instruction experience.
Experience working in a professional jazz setting as a performer, bandleader, recording artist, and/or arranger/composer.
Must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Evidence of effective engagement OR potential to engage with a diverse student body.
Experience using culturally responsive pedagogy that leads to equitable outcomes for all students.
Experience creating a student-centered learning environment and adopting inclusive approaches to mentoring.
Performance or teaching experience that includes working with musicians from diverse backgrounds.
Actively engage, or potential/interest, in developing a distinguished national and/or international profile in jazz through performance, composition, arranging, recording, bandleading, scholarship, or other significant creative activity.
Experience in student recruitment and outreach.

Responsibilities

Teach courses in jazz musicianship, composition, arranging, harmony, improvisation, jazz ensembles, pedagogy, and applied lessons.
Conduct research in jazz performance, composition, arranging, and pedagogy/education.
Balance professional activity with engaged teaching.
Work collaboratively with students and faculty.
Hold weekly office hours.
Attend faculty meetings.
Participate in assessment of student learning.
Provide service to the department, college, and university.
Potentially teach on weekdays, evenings, weekends, and/or online.
Help the Department achieve equitable academic outcomes for all students through teaching, student mentorship, scholarship, and service.