University of Southern California

Flora L. Thornton School of Music

Music Technology Department

Music Performance Technology

Assistant Professor of Practice

The University of Southern California Thornton School of Music invites applicants for a full-time faculty position in Music Technology. The appointment is anticipated at the rank of Assistant Professor of Practice.  This is a non-tenure track full-time position with appointment for an initial period of three years.  The appointment is eligible for renewal beyond the initial appointment period.  The appointment begins in August 2020.

Combining the benefits of a world-class conservatory and a leading research university, the USC Thornton School of Music offers students the opportunity to pursue a rigorous music education in a real-world context. We offer students a full range of musical disciplines across a demanding innovative curriculum, and the opportunity to work with a faculty of national and international renown.

The student body at USC is extraordinarily diverse.  It is racially and ethnically a majority/minority population with a full range of expressions of gender, ability and sexual identities which are embraced as a source of institutional strength and community pride. The University’s commitment to building an academic environment hospitable to this wide range of diversity is full and complete. To that end, we are seeking to create as diverse a pool of candidates as possible, one which reflects the broad diversity of identities and experiences that comprise the country as well as the field of Music Technology.

The Music Technology department offers a Bachelors of Music in Music Production, as well as undergraduate and graduate minor fields in audio recording and music production. The department also offers a wide range of recording, desktop music and studio production courses to Thornton majors and non-majors. The department promotes artistic, technical and leadership growth, as well as development through mentoring and challenging students in their study, performance and production of music in a wide variety of contemporary musical styles.

Duties

Principal duties will include:

• developing and teaching one or more courses in performance technology as related to modern concert performance including needs analysis and system/show design, software and hardware setups, instrument and device controllers, and lighting and video integration;
• teaching courses in advanced synthesis and Max;
• teaching courses in MIDI sequencing and music production; and
• teaching private instruction and mentoring final projects.

In addition to teaching, all full-time faculty are expected to serve the department, school and university through participation in faculty meetings and committees. 

Qualifications

Required qualifications: Successful candidates must have a record of professional success with systems design and integrating music technology in live performance; have developed an exceptional level of skill with music software (Ableton Live and Max), MIDI controllers and related software and hardware; and have experience as a performer, songwriter and/or producer of music in a popular musical style.

Preferred qualifications:   Preference will be given to candidates with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related music field, and a minimum of three years teaching experience at the college or university level in the area of music technology, music production and/or popular music.

Applying

Review of applications will begin on November 15, 2019, and the position will remain open until filled.

Interested candidates must apply through the USC online system (www.usc.edu/jobs).  Candidates are asked to provide a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names and email addresses for three references. Do not send other supporting materials unless requested. Materials will not be returned.

USC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from female and under-represented minority candidates.