Head of Strings

Package Description

The school prides itself on its warm and welcoming community, inclusive of all staff. Our teaching staff work alongside the operational teams to ensure the smooth running of the school. We value the contribution of all team members. 

Through involvement in the co-curricular programme all those who work with us can bring their passions to work. Developing our talent is important to us. Access to training and professional development is available and encouraged.

Our reward package includes:

• Generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme
• Access to onsite gym
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee Benefits Programme, including discounted access to health insurance, financial well-being products, cycle to work and electric car schemes as well as discounts to a number of major retailers
• Fee discount
• A three course lunch is provided during term time

The Role

An exceptional opportunity exists for a talented, energetic and enthusiastic Teacher of Violin and Viola to take an active and visible role in leading String performance and teaching within our thriving Music Department. Based in both our Senior and Junior School, the post would be suitable for an experienced musician, who will have a good qualification from a recognised institution, and experience of working with children or young people. In addition to leadership of school, string-based music groups, we seek a proven ability to work as a member of a team and the successful candidate would also be expected to contribute to the wider life of the School and community.

The role is available from August 2024.

Music Department Details

The Music Department works across both Senior and Junior Schools and strives to provide an outstanding experience of music-making for as many of the pupils of Edinburgh Academy as possible. Great emphasis is placed on singing for all, with all of P5/6, Geits (P7) and 2nds (S1) pupils having weekly singing practice and termly concerts. There are 5 voluntary or auditioned choirs in the Senior School, and the Chamber Choir toured to Rome in February 2024. There is a musical production in P6 and in the Senior School each year, involving large numbers of pupils in the cast, band and backstage.

Curricular music lessons for all pupils develop understanding of notation, and performing skills on keyboard, guitar, ukulele and percussion. Composition skills are developed through group improvisation, and on digital platforms such as garageband, Logic and Sibelius. Some pupils follow SQA courses in Music in 4ths-7ths.

The full-time music team consists of a Director of Music and class music teacher in Senior School, a Head of Music and class music teacher in Junior School, a Head of Pipe Band, two pipes and drums instructors, a Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion, a Head of Strings and a department administrator.

The team of 25 part-time visiting music teachers provide lessons on all orchestral instruments, pipes and drums, voice, guitar and piano, in both the Junior and the Senior School, on a self-employed basis. Around 500 instrumental lessons take place a week, on an individual basis and are 30 minutes in Junior School and 40 minutes in Senior School. The school has a long tradition of Suzuki instruction on strings. Management of instrumental teaching is shared by the Director of Music and Head of Music and delegated to the Heads of instrumental teaching as appropriate. ABRSM and TCL exams are held every term in school.

The Senior School has two pipe bands, a symphony orchestra, two string orchestras, two concert bands, a big band, and numerous smaller ensembles, including string chamber ensembles. In the Junior School there is a wind ensemble, a string ensemble, guitar and recorder ensembles and other groups. Termly concerts take place regularly in school and at Stockbridge Parish Church, and annually at venues such as St Mary’s Cathedral, Greyfriars Kirk, the Queen’s Hall and the Usher Hall. Internal competitions such as the Division Music Competition, and Soloists Competition are held, and many soloists and ensembles are entered into the Edinburgh Competition Music Festival in February. School ensembles perform regularly at external events such as the Highland Show, national choral, pipe band and concert band competitions, and on tour, recently to Rome.

Accommodation and resources

There is a purpose-built Music School at the Senior School, with a recital room and a second large rehearsal room, a computer suite, a general classroom and nine good-sized instrumental teaching rooms (each of which contains a piano). There is a pipe organ in the Main Hall, three grand pianos, a harpsichord. Instruments of all kinds are available for pupils to hire in their early stages of learning. The Junior School has a new Yamaha grand piano situated in the main hall, 9 instrumental teaching rooms and two class rooms.

Main Responsibilities

We welcome applications from well-qualified graduates with relevant teaching qualifications and experience. The successful candidate should be able to teach violin and viola from nursery to S6 as well as run and develop the Strings Department. The successful applicant will be expected to:

• Teach violin and viola to pupils from Nursery to S6
• Timetable weekly lessons using SOCS.
• Direct string ensembles for all ages.
• Provide suitable repertoires for all pupils and ensembles
• Manage the team of string teachers, ensuring high standards of teaching, and ensuring contribution to school ensembles,
• Recruit new string pupils and allocate them to teachers.
• Attend weekly department meetings
• Contribute generally to the development of the music programme across Junior and Senior School
• Participate in major school concerts and events as directed by the Director of Music and Heads of Music
• Develop performing opportunities for string players in and out of school.
• Report on pupil progress to parents and colleagues through reports and other communication.
• Carry out all associated administration tasks.

Duties and responsibilities associated with all teachers at the Edinburgh Academy are:

• To plan, prepare and teach lessons to pupils according to their educational needs.
• To assess, record and report on the progress of the pupils within the guidelines written in the Staff Handbook.
• To engage with the wider School Curriculum in a manner which is consistent with the ethos of the School.
• To carry out such administrative and other routine tasks as are outlined in the Staff Handbook.
• To demonstrate a commitment to both individual professional development and to the developing curriculum in the School.
• To carry out any other duties and to assume any other responsibilities as the Rector shall from time-to-time reasonably request.
• To be conscious at all times of the importance of the external image of the School and to act in a professional and constructive manner with pupils, parents and external agencies.
• To play a full part in the co-curricular life of the School.

Reporting

The Head of Strings will report to the Director of Music in Senior School and Head of Music in Junior School on all aspects of management, timetabling, teaching and learning, reporting and pupil discipline. The Head of Strings will report to the Rector on matters of whole school commitments, professional development and personal absence.

The Ideal Candidate

Qualifications/Experience (E=Essential D= Desirable)

Essential

• Outstanding performer on violin/ viola, with appropriate qualifications.
• Outstanding record of teaching children and young people in a school context.
• Outstanding record of directing string ensembles and orchestras for young people.
• Excellent knowledge of string repertoire at all levels.
• Training and experience in different teaching methods including an awareness of Suzuki.
• Outstanding skills in communication, collaboration and organisation
• An understanding of the professional values of working in a school context.

Desirable

• Teaching Suzuki method
• Managing a team of instrumental teachers
• Proven experience of development and improvement of instrumental teaching at school level.
• Experience of conducting and leading ensembles at professional level.
• Experience in arranging music.
• Excellent ICT skills, including Microsoft Office, Teams, SOCS, Sibelius.

About the school/organisation

The Edinburgh Academy is a fully co-educational school. The School consists of a Senior School, Junior School and a Nursery Department. The School is a member of HMC. The Edinburgh Academy moved to full co-education across the whole school in 2008. The Junior and Senior Schools are on separate sites, both of which have spacious grounds and sports facilities including extensive playing fields, an all-weather sports area, and a large Sports Hall and Centre.