The Institute of Music for Children is a A 501(c)(3) organization guided by its vision of HARMONY – Helping Achieve Responsible, Motivated, Optimistic Neighborhood Youth – the Institute of Music for Children is building a community of high-achieving citizens who are arts lovers and arts makers through professional instruction, mentorship, and family engagement.

Our Summer Institute is available for students in 1st – 12th grade and offers them the opportunity to participate in a variety of different art classes taught by quality teaching artists. What also sets us apart is our amazing Youth Leadership program. Our Youth Leaders are older students, many of which have been with us for several years, and who provide mentorship to younger students during the summer camp day.

Grades 1st – 3rd – July 5 to August 4

Our program for little ones runs on an A/B schedule from 8am-12:30pm Monday – Friday. Students take a total of 9 classes: 3 on Monday & Wednesday, another 3 classes on Tuesdays & Thursdays, and an additional 3 classes every Friday. These include a wide variety of art forms. Their summer culminates with a Sharing Showcase on  Thursday, August 3rd at 5:00 pm.

Grades 4th to 12th

Our students in grades 4th-12th sign up for either our Recreation program or our Production program. All students select 8 classes total on an A/B schedule in the mornings, so 4 classes on Mondays & Wednesdays, and another 4 on Tuesdays & Thursdays. The difference between the two programs is for the 1pm-3pm time slot Mondays – Thursdays and the length of camp.

Students in the recreation program attend camp from July 5th to August 4th. During recreation, 1pm-3pm Monday – Thursday and 8am-12pm on Fridays, they participate in outdoor activities, organized games, and field trips.

Students in the production program attend camp from July 4th to August 11th. During the production time, they prepare for the final production in one of the production teams: Play Production (Acting), Musical Theatre (Singing), Set Design, Dance, Band, and Music Production. From July 4th to August 4th production teams are in session Monday – Thursday 1pm-3pm and Fridays from 8am-12pm. The final week of camp from August 7th – August 11th is Production week where only these students will be at camp and will be participating in their production teams from 8am-3pm. The Performance will be on the last Thursday, August 10th, and Friday, August 11th at Kean University.

The Institute of Music for Children is seeking Teaching Artists who can create an engaging learning experience to ensure their students are challenged and inspired for our Summer Institute and Community Arts Institute. We are particularly interested in teaching artists who work with younger age ranges (1st – 3rd grade), or who are knowledgeable in visual arts (particularly set design), acting, singing, instruments, and yoga. Teachers in our Community Arts Institute have flexible schedules which usually includes 1-hour long classes in their art form at different organizations throughout the greater Newark/Elizabeth area. Teaching Artists in our Summer Institute can teach on a Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, or Friday morning schedule from 8am-12pm, during which they will teach 4 classes. Many teaching artists Our Teaching Artists for the Summer Production program also teach 1pm-3pm Monday – Thursday and 8am-12pm on Fridays. 

The ideal candidate will have teaching experience and knowledge-acumen in the art form they desire to teach. Institute Teaching Artists are energetic and creative – able to make learning fun and engaging while providing students with the necessary training to develop as artists. Collaborative work-style, strong classroom and time management skills, and a love for working with children are musts. Close proximity to the Elizabeth, Newark area and/or ability to travel. 

Work Activities Include: 

• planning individual lessons and overall plans of work for your students!
• developing knowledge of materials and repertoire for students at different stages of their artistic development; 
• For Summer Institute: teaching approximately 4 35-minute group lessons per day, if a production teacher – additionally teaching 1 2-hour class in your production area.
• For Community Institute: teaching 1-hour group lessons
• Preparing pupils for a final performance
• Communicating with the administrators about students’ lessons & progress

To Apply, please email Cat Plazas, Director of Program Development, with a cover letter and resume.

Within the cover letter, please be sure to include:

• Your interest in Summer Institute (including Production or not), Community Institute, or both
• Your availability for the summer
• The ideal grades you would like to teach
• The ideal classes you would like to teach (for many artists, this can be a variety, and we appreciate that!)