Music Teacher 11 views0 applications

Location: Sankoré International School, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya
Reports to: Head of Teaching and Learning
Start date: August 1
Position type: Full-time

About Sankoré International School

Sankoré International School is a new, mission-driven school being established by SHOFCO in Nairobi. The school opens in 2026 serving early years through primary, expanding one grade per year toward full capacity. Sankoré combines an international curriculum with a strong Kenyan identity and a commitment to access, including a significant proportion of tuition-free students.

Sankoré is designed as a deliberately diverse learning community where students build the skills and strengths of character to create a better world for themselves and all of us. Music will be central to that vision: helping students develop creativity, confidence, cultural identity, collaboration, discipline, listening, performance skills, and joy.

Role Overview

The Music Teacher will lead music instruction and help build the music culture of Sankoré International School from its founding stage. Reporting to the Head of Teaching and Learning, the teacher will design and deliver developmentally appropriate music learning for early years and elementary students, integrating singing, rhythm, movement, instruments, listening, music theory, composition, performance, and cultural exploration.

This role will also support choirs, instrumental learning, school performances, extracurricular music opportunities, vendor coordination, and production needs for assemblies, showcases, celebrations, and community events. The program should emphasize age-appropriate instruction, music theory and performance, curriculum integration, singing, instrumental activities, movement, student creativity, assessment, and participation in concerts, assemblies, and community celebrations.

The ideal candidate is a skilled musician and educator who can teach young learners, build systems, collaborate with classroom teachers, and establish traditions that make music visible and valued across the school.

Core Responsibilities

1. Music Teaching and Learning

• Plan and deliver engaging, inclusive music lessons for early years and elementary students.
• Teach age-appropriate singing, rhythm, movement, listening, composition, improvisation, instrumental exploration, and foundational music theory.
• Build students’ musical confidence, creativity, listening skills, collaboration, memory, coordination, and expressive capacity.
• Introduce students to a wide range of musical forms, traditions, instruments, artists, composers, and performance practices.
• Differentiate music instruction for learners with varied language, developmental, sensory, physical, and learning needs.
• Create a classroom culture where all students can participate, take risks, and experience joy in music.

2. Curriculum Planning and Integration

• Develop a coherent music curriculum progression for early years through elementary school.
• Align music instruction with Sankoré’s learning goals, values, and broader curriculum.
• Design and run co-curricular music offerings aligned with the Sankoré portrait of a learner.
• Collaborate with classroom teachers to connect music with units of inquiry, language, storytelling, movement, culture, STEAM, social studies, and community themes.
• Use inquiry-based and project-based approaches that help students create, perform, respond, and reflect.
• Maintain clear lesson plans, learning objectives, assessment practices, and materials lists.
• Contribute to long-term planning of the music program as Sankoré expands grade by grade.

3. Choir, Voice, and Ensemble Development

• Establish and lead age-appropriate singing opportunities, including classroom singing, choir, assemblies, and school performances.
• Teach healthy vocal habits, pitch awareness, rhythm, diction, listening, ensemble discipline, and expressive performance.
• Build student confidence in singing individually and as part of a group.
• Develop simple ensemble opportunities using classroom instruments, percussion, recorders, ukuleles, keyboards, or other age-appropriate instruments.
• Prepare students for performances in ways that are joyful, developmentally appropriate, and inclusive.

4. Instruments, Music Theory, and Creative Musicianship

• Introduce students to foundational music theory, including rhythm, melody, tempo, dynamics, notation, form, and musical vocabulary.
• Build practical musicianship through percussion, voice, movement, body percussion, tuned and untuned instruments, and accessible classroom instruments.
• Support students to compose, improvise, arrange, and respond to music creatively.
• Maintain and organize instruments, equipment, sheet music, digital resources, and classroom materials.
• Advise school leadership on instrument procurement, maintenance, storage, and long-term music program needs.

5. Kenyan, African, and Global Music

• Integrate Kenyan and African music traditions into the curriculum in respectful, age-appropriate, and meaningful ways.
• Help students explore music as a source of identity, memory, culture, community, and storytelling.
• Introduce students to global music traditions, encouraging curiosity, respect, and cultural appreciation.
• Work with families, artists, community members, or vendors where appropriate to enrich student learning.
• Avoid tokenistic cultural representation by connecting music to context, meaning, practice, and lived experience.

6. Performances, Productions, and School Events

• Plan, rehearse, and coordinate student music performances for assemblies, showcases, family events, celebrations, and school milestones.
• Support production needs such as sound checks, microphones, backing tracks, staging, cues, music selection, and rehearsal schedules.
• Collaborate with arts, PE, classroom, operations, and leadership teams on interdisciplinary performances and school events.
• Ensure performances are inclusive, well-organized, age-appropriate, and aligned with Sankoré’s values.
• Help establish musical traditions that strengthen school identity and community.

7. Extracurricular Music and Vendor Coordination

• Develop, run, and and support co-curricular music opportunities, such as choir, percussion ensemble, instrumental clubs, music production, songwriting, or performance groups.
• Coordinate external music vendors, instructors, artists, or coaches where needed.
• Help identify, vet, onboard, schedule, and monitor external providers.
• Ensure vendors follow Sankoré’s safeguarding, professionalism, quality, attendance, communication, and child protection expectations.
• Maintain records related to extracurricular participation, schedules, vendor performance, and student engagement.

8. Safeguarding, Inclusion, and Student Wellbeing

• Uphold Sankoré’s safeguarding, child protection, and student wellbeing expectations at all times.
• Maintain professional boundaries and safe supervision during lessons, rehearsals, performances, extracurriculars, and vendor-led activities.
• Build a music classroom where students feel safe, respected, included, and confident to express themselves.
• Follow school procedures for concerns related to wellbeing, safety, behavior, or child protection.
• Promote healthy performance culture, avoiding shame, comparison, exclusion, or excessive pressure.
• Protect student dignity in rehearsals, performances, recordings, photographs, and public showcases.

9. Assessment, Documentation, and Communication

• Assess student growth through participation, process, performance, listening, creativity, reflection, and skill development.
• Provide constructive feedback that helps students improve while sustaining confidence.
• Maintain simple records of student progress and communicate relevant insights to classroom teachers and school leaders.
• Contribute to family communication, student reports, exhibitions, and school showcases as needed.
• Document curriculum plans, repertoire, performance schedules, vendor arrangements, and resource needs.

Qualifications and Experience

Required

• Diploma or bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Music, Performing Arts, Education, Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, or a related field.
• Teaching qualification, music education training, or demonstrable experience teaching music to children.
• At least 3 years of experience teaching music, leading children’s choirs, facilitating ensembles, or delivering school music programming.
• Experience working with early years, primary, or elementary-aged children.
• Strong musicianship, including voice, rhythm, basic music theory, performance, and at least one instrument.
• Ability to design inclusive, age-appropriate lessons for diverse learners.
• Experience preparing students for performances, assemblies, concerts, or school events.
• Commitment to safeguarding, child protection, inclusion, and professional boundaries.
• Strong English communication skills.

Preferred

• Experience in an international school, independent school, IB PYP, inquiry-based, Montessori, Reggio-inspired, or progressive education setting.
• Experience integrating music with inquiry-based or transdisciplinary learning.
• Experience leading choirs, instrumental groups, ensembles, music clubs, or extracurricular programs.
• Knowledge of Kenyan, African, and global music traditions.
• Ability to play piano, keyboard, guitar, percussion, or other classroom-friendly instruments.
• Experience with sound equipment, microphones, backing tracks, basic recording, or event production.
• Experience coordinating external instructors, vendors, artists, or performers.
• Familiarity with inclusive music education for diverse learners.

Core Competencies

• Music instruction: Designs engaging lessons that develop singing, rhythm, listening, theory, creativity, and performance skills.
• Child-centered pedagogy: Understands how young children learn through movement, repetition, play, imitation, exploration, and practice.
• Creative musicianship: Helps students compose, improvise, perform, listen, and respond with confidence.
• Cultural grounding: Integrates Kenyan, African, and global music respectfully and meaningfully.
• Performance leadership: Plans rehearsals and performances that are organized, joyful, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate.
• Curriculum collaboration: Works with teachers to connect music to broader learning and inquiry.
• Vendor coordination: Manages external instructors or music providers with clear expectations and safeguarding standards.
• Inclusion: Ensures every student can participate meaningfully, regardless of prior exposure, ability, confidence, or learning profile.
• Safeguarding judgment: Maintains professional boundaries and protects student safety and dignity.
• Founding-school mindset: Builds systems, traditions, routines, and culture in a new school environment.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Students experience music as joyful, rigorous, inclusive, and connected to their identities and communities.
• Early years and elementary students build confidence in singing, rhythm, movement, listening, instrumental exploration, and performance.
• Sankoré has a coherent, age-appropriate music curriculum that can grow over time.
• Choir, instrumental, and extracurricular music opportunities begin to take shape.
• Kenyan, African, and global music traditions are meaningfully embedded in student learning.
• Performances, assemblies, and showcases are well-organized, inclusive, and aligned with school values.
• Instruments, music resources, schedules, and production needs are well managed.
• External music vendors, if used, are safe, professional, reliable, and aligned with Sankoré’s standards.
• Music becomes a visible and valued part of Sankoré’s founding culture.

Why Join Sankoré?

This is an opportunity to build the sound and spirit of a new school from the beginning. The Music Teacher will help students discover rhythm, voice, listening, discipline, creativity, and confidence. At Sankoré, music will be more than performance; it will be a way for children to understand themselves, connect with others, and participate in the life of the school.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit:

• CV
• Cover letter highlighting the experience in the area of the specialization

Application Deadline: 9th June 2026
Send applications to: [email protected]
Subject Line: Music Teacher
SHOFCO is an equal opportunity employer. Women, youth, and persons with disabilities are strongly
encouraged to apply.