The Office of Career Development is the link between potential employers and the highly talented current and former students of Manhattan School of Music.

The office functions as a clearinghouse for employment opportunities outside the School and allows employers to gather a pool of interested applicants for their selection process and hiring needs.

We list paid performance opportunities — both ongoing and one-time — as well as opportunities for music direction, composition/arranging, and teaching. Our Teacher Referral service offers those seeking music lessons apart from the School’s official college and precollege divisions.

Students and alumni visit the office and browse our job books and announcements, contacting employers directly.

In general, we deal with the following types of employment for musicians, described in detail below:

Recitals / Concert Performance Opportunities
Orchestral Work
Casting Agents
Church / Synagogue / Religious Institutions
Social and Corporate Parties / Receptions
Wedding / Union Ceremonies
Background Music for Special Events
Teaching Positions (Institutional)
Private Instruction

We also assist musicians who seek work in administration and other non-performance opportunities:

Administrative / Non-performance

Recitals / Concert Performance Opportunities
Orchestral Work
Casting Agents

Announcements are placed in our performance job books for access by alumni and students. Information about ongoing concert series can be included in our Recital Try-Out Venues handout and ongoing orchestral positions may be published in our monthly JOBank Newsletter if they are appropriate (mailed to former students seeking employment opportunities). Contact Ar Adler, associate director, at 917-493-4486 or careers@msmnyc.edu for further details.

Please fax, mail, or e-mail us the following information:

• description of the opportunity including whether it is full-time, part-time or one-time employment

• dates and times and location(s) of rehearsals and performances/services

• instruments/voices needed

• compensation offered

• full contact information for the hiring party

Church / Synagogue / Religious Institutions

We list work announcements in our job books and job newsletter for religious institutions and/or music directors seeking to hire musicians. Thes opportunites can be for either on-going positions or one-time services and special programs. Please fax, mail, or e-mail us the following information:

• job description

• name of hiring organization

• location (address)

• instrument(s) and /or voice types

• responsibilities

• qualifications

• times of services and rehearsals

• type of application materials required

• method by which interested musicians should apply

• contact information

Social and Corporate Parties / Receptions
Wedding / Commitment Ceremonies
Background Music for Special Events

In order to facilitate your request for musicians, you will need to provide us with some specific information about your event — including time, place, and nature of your event — as well as other details such as budget and special requests.

Our service provides listings of opportunities for paid performance–related employment to alumni and current students who are seeking such work.

To assist you in this process, we have created a checklist that will help prepare information for a listing with our service. To download our Hire a Musician check list, click here.

Teaching Positions

Schools, colleges, and universities with full- or part-time teaching positions can have their announcements posted through our office, gaining access to qualified alumni and current students seeking work. Please provide us with a job description in writing by mail, fax, or e-mail, with the following information:

• name of the school

• location (address)

• indicate full- or part-time employment and starting date
(for part-time positions please indicate the expected number of weekly hours)

• studio or classroom instruction

• teaching discipline/instrument

• compensation

• required / desired qualifications

• application materials required

• method of application

• contact information

• deadline

Ongoing positions may be published in our monthly JOBank Newsletter if they are appropriate; this publication is mailed to former students seeking employment opportunities. Contact Ar Adler, associate director, at 917-493-4486 or careers@msmnyc.edu for further details.

Private Lessons

Our Teacher Referral service provides information about a variety of potential private instructors to clients interested in the study of music, apart from the official college and precollege programs at Manhattan School of Music. These lists contain basic information about each teacher (all of whom are either former or current students of the School), including degrees earned and areas of teaching experience. Lessons arranged through this service would be taught either in the client’s home or at the teacher’s studio/home.

Please call or email us to request a list of private teachers, providing us with the following information:

• instrument/voice category (such as “flute,” “guitar,” or “soprano”)

• discipline (such as “classical,” “jazz,” or “musical theater”)

• your full name

• mailing address

• phone and email for verification/clarification

For this service, call 917-493-4502 and follow the recorded instructions, or e-mail with the information requested above (however, please note that all lists of recommended teachers will be mailed and cannot be emailed or faxed; thank you for your cooperation).

Please note: Our Teacher Referral service is not for those seeking to become students at Manhattan School of Music or to study with our college or precollege faculty members. Any lessons arranged through our Teacher Referral program will not be taught at the School and are not part of an official academic program. Those seeking music instruction for children (non-beginners) might be interested in the School’s Precollege Division, which offers a full day of lessons, ensembles, and classes for ages 5–18, accepted by audition.

Administrative / Non-performance

Announcements for administrative and non-performance openings in arts organizations are posted in a job book in our office, where students and alumni look for work. When appropriate, the listing will also be included in our monthly JOBank Newsletter which is mailed to former students seeking employment opportunities.

Please fax, mail, or e-mail us the following information:

• job title or description

• name of organization or company

• responsibilities

• qualifications

• description of work schedule

• type of application materials required

• contact information