Music Teacher

**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