Teaching Assistant Professor in Bluegrass and Musicianship
- Employer
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
View more categoriesView less categories
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
Music - 310300
Posting Open Date:09/28/2026
Application Deadline:11/18/2026
Open Until Filled:No
Position Type:Permanent Faculty
Working Title:Teaching Assistant Professor in Bluegrass and Musicianship
Appointment Type:Fixed Term Faculty
Vacancy ID:FAC0006126
Full-time/Part-time:Full Time
Hours per week:40
FTE:1
Position Location:North Carolina, US
Hiring Range:Dependent on Experience and/or Qualifications
Proposed Start Date:07/01/2027
Be a Tar Heel!:The Department of Music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks candidates for a Teaching Assistant Professor position with expertise in bluegrass and musicianship. We wish to hire a pedagogically innovative colleague to serve a wide range of students studying bluegrass and old-time music within a broad liberal arts education (https://ideasinaction.unc.edu/), as well as music majors and minors developing their musicianship skills across the full range of art music, jazz, musical theater, and popular music. We especially seek candidates who can engage creatively with a broad population of students and build connections between different modes of music-making. Our department’s bluegrass program began in 2016 and has grown to include two bands, individual applied lessons, and courses on bluegrass history and culture, along with related courses on songwriting, audio production, and country music. Our musicianship courses focus on aural skills, improvisation, and embodied practice. The successful candidate will teach a combination of those courses, including lessons and ensembles, that align with the candidate’s expertise and our departmental mission as outlined on our website (https://music.unc.edu/about/).
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:The Department of Music at UNC-Chapel Hill offers a BMus and BA in Music for undergraduate students and an MA and Ph.D. in Musicology for graduate students. Our educational mission is to teach music majors and non-majors, to connect the study of music to a broader understanding of the world, and to guide graduate students as researchers and teachers. We serve the public by presenting performances and academic lectures by students, faculty, and guest artists and scholars. We offer over one hundred concerts and recitals each year, and our facilities include a state-of-the-art auditorium with recording capabilities (audio and video) as well as lighting and sound systems. Our 60 full-time and part-time faculty teach approximately 2500 students during the academic year and another 200 during summer school. Through our teaching, research, and creative activities, we share music’s multiplicity of forms and meanings, connecting the study of music to a broader understanding of societies and affirming music’s importance as an expression of humanity.
Position Summary:This is a full-time, teaching-track (non-tenure-track) position with an initial 3-year appointment, eligible for renewal and promotion. Teaching load will be three courses (3 credit-hours each) per semester or the equivalent and may include a combination of individual lessons, ensemble direction, and classroom teaching of both music majors and non-majors. Responsibilities begin on July 1, 2027.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:The successful candidate will have a master’s degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:Preference will be given to candidates who have at least three years of experience teaching both individual lessons and courses at the university level, and nationally recognized accomplishments as a performer and/or band leader in bluegrass, old-time, or string-band music.
Campus Security Authority Responsibilities:Not Applicable.
Special Instructions:Please submit links to professional work samples (audio and/or video) and the names and contact information for four references at the time of application. The committee may solicit additional materials including letters of recommendation, sample teaching materials and/or evaluations, a sample syllabus, and a teaching statement that addresses pedagogical strategies candidates might use in a public university setting where students reflect the varied socioeconomic, racial, religious, and other demographics of the state.
Organization
The nation’s first public university is at the heart of what’s next, preparing a diverse student body to become creators, explorers, innovators and leaders in North Carolina and throughout the world. Carolina’s nationally recognized, innovative teaching, campus-wide spirit of inquiry and dedication to public service continue the legacy that began in 1795 when the University first opened its doors to students.
Here, in one of America's most beautiful college settings, we offer exceptional careers in richly diverse fields. Come explore what UNC-Chapel Hill has to offer you.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,117
Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,894
Total Student Enrollment: 30,011
Founded: 1789, as the first state university in the United States
Type of Institution: Public, four-year
Undergraduate Admission: 15,961
Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,039
Total Student Enrollment: 26,000
Faculty: 3,000
Percentage of faculty who hold Ph.D.s or the highest degrees in their field: 94 percent
Faculty/student ratio: 1/14
Location: UNC is located in the heart of Chapel Hill, the best college town in America! It's a friendly town of about 40,000 in the geographical center of North Carolina. Chapel Hill is at the western point of the Research Triangle, an area of about one million people, comprised of Chapel Hill, the cities of Durham and Raleigh, and the Research Triangle Park, home of many corporate offices and scientific research centers. Carolina is about 30 miles from the state capital, Raleigh, and 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Chapel Hill's main street, Franklin Street, borders the campus and offers shops, coffee houses, cafés, movie theaters and houses of worship. The town has a historic district, museum, library, parks, malls, and many recreational facilities.
Origins of Carolina's students: 82 percent of UNC's freshmen are from North Carolina and 18 percent are from out-of-state. Our students come from 42 different states and our international students represent 37 countries.
Size of freshman class: Approximately 3,400
Class size: Barely five percent of undergraduate classes contain more than 100 students; two-thirds of undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students. Forty-one percent have fewer than 20 students, including First Year Seminars, in which first-year students work closely with professors.
Sports and athletic programs: UNC is an NCAA Division I school with 28 varsity teams. Carolina is the proud home of the Dean Smith Center, Kenan Stadium, Carmichael Auditorium, Koury Natatorium, and many other fine athletic facilities. Students join more than 60 intramural and club sports, which include baseball, bowling, crew, golf, lacrosse, rock climbing, rugby, tae kwon do, and ultimate frisbee. The Student Recreation Center offers weight training, aerobics, stair machines, and all the equipment you would expect to find at a great health club! Carolina offers a newly renovated outdoor pool and indoor pools, a golf course, tennis courts, and the longest zipline in America!
Number of residence halls: Incoming undergraduates will live in one of Carolina's 29 residence halls, which are wired for Internet access and cable television. housing.unc.edu
Scholarships and financial aid: About 40 percent of UNC-Chapel Hill students receive scholarships and/or some form of financial aid. studentaid.unc.edu
Special research institutes: Institute for Research in Social Science, Institute of Outdoor Drama, Morehead Planetarium, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, Institute of Government, Institute of African American Research.
Career services: On-campus counseling, job fairs, résumé writing service, internships, placement services. www.unc.edu/depts/career
Technological facilities: Students find multiple uses for Carolina's state-of-the-art technological resources. They can access Carolina's computer services through Academic Technology and Networks, which manages academic computing, e-mail, microcomputing labs, interactive media presentation, video and classroom support, and a help desk. The MetaLab oversees the development of SunSITE, one of the world's busiest digital library and electronic publishing projects.
Students may open e-mail accounts, and many use campus computer resources to construct personal Web pages. Students in residence halls have hardwired network connections to the Internet and cable television in their rooms. At the ATN Training center, students may take classes on software packages and utilities. Computer labs are available for student use all over campus.
Carolina Computing Initiative: Beginning with the freshman class of 2000, undergraduates must purchase laptop computers. The University has arranged for IBM to offer computers at excellent prices. Students, faculty, and staff will enjoy cost savings, higher quality compatible equipment, and better technical support through CCI. www.unc.edu/cci
The Study Abroad program allows students to live and learn in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Africa, and the Americas. www.unc.edu/depts/abroad
The Honors Program offers special seminars, research programs, and the chance to design your own independent studies. www.unc.edu/depts/honors
Carolina students spend time in public service through student organizations, the Campus Y, the Carolina Center for Public Service, and courses that incorporate community service.
UNC's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a national collegiate honor society, is the oldest in North Carolina, dating from 1904. There are many other honorary societies at Carolina.
UNC offers ROTC programs in all branches of national military service.
Through the First Year Seminars program, first year students will understand what it means to study at a premier research university. They will learn from faculty members and share in their research in seminars of no more than 20 students.
Life outside the classroom: More than 370 clubs, teams, and student organizations offer something for everyone! You can choose from among musical and dramatic performing groups, publications, ethnic and religious clubs, the Campus Y and other service organizations, fraternities and sororities, and pre- professional organizations. Whatever your interests, you will find others at Carolina who share them! www.unc.edu/depts/union/student/listintr.htm
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