Ume Ume Music + Arts is a family-founded music and arts program for young children in Brooklyn, with studios in Park Slope and Bay Ridge. We bring music, movement, and hands-on art to children from infancy through the preschool years — including our Jump Start program, a play-based, arts-integrated preschool alternative for ages 2–4. Our classes pair real school-readiness fundamentals with joyful early experiences on instruments like piano, violin, and guitar. We're a small, warm, mission-driven team who believe the arts belong at the heart of early childhood.
Ume Ume Music + Arts is looking for a warm, creative preschool teacher to lead our Jump Start morning class - a play-based, arts-integrated preschool alternative for children ages 2-4. Jump Start blends real school-readiness fundamentals with music, movement, and hands-on art, giving little ones their first joyful experiences with instruments like piano, violin, and guitar.
This is a part-time morning role (about 9 hours per week) at our Bay Ridge studio, with an immediate start - ideal for a graduate student in education or music, a recent grad building classroom experience, or an experienced teacher who isn't looking for full-time hours. If you love working with young children and light up around music and the arts, we'd love to meet you.
Job Responsibilities
- Lead our Jump Start class for 2-4 year olds on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, following Ume Ume's original arts-integrated curriculum.
- Plan and prepare developmentally appropriate music, movement, and art activities, weaving in early exposure to instruments.
- Nurture separation readiness and gentle routines that help children transition confidently toward preschool and beyond.
- Create a warm, safe, and engaging classroom - observing, encouraging, and supporting each child's growth.
- Communicate kindly and clearly with parents and caregivers about their child's day and progress.
- Set up before class and reset the space afterward, keeping materials organized and the classroom tidy.
Required qualifications
- Experience working with preschool-age children (roughly 2–4) in a preschool or early-childhood setting.
- A music and art background, with genuine comfort leading creative activities — the ability to play an instrument (piano, guitar, violin, or ukulele) is a big plus.
- Warm, patient, and nurturing, with a real love of working with young children.
- Detail-oriented and dependable, with reliable availability for the Mon/Wed/Fri morning schedule and an immediate start.
- Currently enrolled in, or a graduate of, a program in early childhood education, music, music education, or a related field — or comparable hands-on classroom experience. (Current master's students and recent grads are encouraged to apply.)
- Able to pass the background checks required for working with children in New York City, including fingerprinting.
Preferred qualifications
- Early-childhood music training (Orff, Kodály, Dalcroze, Music Together, Suzuki, or similar).
- New York State teaching certification (Birth–Grade 2), or progress toward it.
- Pediatric CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to complete it during onboarding).
- Minimum Education Level: Highschool Graduate or GED
- Preferred Education Level: Bachelor's Degree
To apply, please email your résumé and a short note about your experience with young children and your musical or artistic background to info@umeumearts.com. If you play an instrument (piano, guitar, violin, ukulele, etc.), let us know which one(s). We review applications on a rolling basis and will reach out to schedule a conversation - we can't wait to hear from you!
Schedule & compensation:
- Schedule: Mon, Wed & Fri - arrive 8:30am, class 9:00-11:00am, wrap by 11:30am (about 9 hours per week).
- Pay: $25-$40 per hour, commensurate with experience and education.
- Start: Immediate, with paid intro and training in the days before your first class.
- Type: Part-time, 1099 position, with potential to grow into additional enrichment classes, seasonal camps, or our Park Slope location for the right person.
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