Adjunct Instructor- Music History

Job Description

Job Description

Part-time Starting January 2027
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Priority Screening: November 15, 2026 at 4PM EST

Position Summary:
SUNY Ulster, a two-year branch of the State University of New York located ninety miles north of New York City in the Catskill Mountains, is currently accepting applications for adjunct teaching assignments in Music History to begin in January 2027. The course will be taught face-to-face, in person on SUNY Ulster’s Stone Ridge campus. This is not an online or hybrid teaching assignment. Applicants must be available to teach on campus throughout the Spring 2027 semester.
The Spring 2027 semester begins the week of January 25, 2027 and ends May 19, 2027 . Spring break is March 15–20, 2027 .

Under the general supervision of the Program Coordinator of Media & Performing Arts, the Adjunct Instructor will provide instruction, listening activities, demonstrations, discussions, assignments, and assessments related to Music History in accordance with approved course descriptions, learning outcomes, outlines, and schedules.
The instructor will guide students in developing an understanding of major composers, musical styles, historical periods, representative works, and the fundamental musical elements necessary to listen to, discuss, and analyze music critically.

Particular emphasis should be placed on helping students recognize music history as relevant to a broad range of contemporary creative and media practices. The instructor should encourage students to make connections between historical musical developments and the ways music functions in areas such as film, television, digital media, audio storytelling, podcasting, and other forms of contemporary communication and artistic expression. The ideal candidate will make music history accessible and relevant to a diverse community college student population, including students who may have limited formal musical training or may not initially see music history as directly connected to their academic or career goals. The instructor should be able to engage these students through active listening, discussion, musical analysis, historical and cultural context, and connections between the development of music and contemporary creative practice.

The instructor will evaluate student progress, provide constructive feedback, maintain appropriate course records, and perform other instructional duties as assigned.

Course descriptions may be viewed in the SUNY Ulster catalog.

Key Responsibilities:

• Meet each scheduled class and teach or conduct learning exercises for the entire period.
• Contact the appropriate division chair or administrator in advance to make arrangements for unavoidable absences.
• Provide each student at the beginning of the course with written information about the course, to include a full description of the grading system and how the student will be evaluated.
• Accurately keep required class records on attendance, withdrawal, and grading.
• Submit when due, all necessary reports such as attendance and grade reports, roll books, and class information sheets, and certify their accuracy.
• Comply with all institutional policies, procedures, and deadlines.
• Give careful attention to all departmental and administrative communications by checking your SUNY Ulster email frequently.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Music, Music History, Musicology, Music Education, Music Performance, or a closely related field with substantial undergraduate or graduate coursework in music history; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience demonstrating preparation to teach college-level music history.
• Strong knowledge of Western music history, including major historical periods, composers, genres, styles, and representative repertoire.
• Strong knowledge of fundamental musical elements, including melody, rhythm, meter, texture, form, harmony, style, and expression.
• Ability to place music and musical developments within relevant historical, political, economic, social, and cultural contexts.
• Ability to incorporate active listening, aural recognition, score study, musical analysis, and other appropriate instructional approaches into the classroom.
• Ability to communicate musical and historical concepts clearly and effectively to students with varying levels of previous musical training and experience.
• Demonstrated ability or strong interest in making music history meaningful to students pursuing applied creative disciplines, including media, film, audio, podcasting, and related fields.
• Demonstrated commitment to engaging, student-centered teaching and active learning.
• Strong interest in teaching and mentoring community college students, with excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational, and technology skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Music History, Musicology, Music Education, Music Performance, or another closely related music field with demonstrated academic preparation in music history.
• Previous college-level teaching experience in music history, music appreciation, or a related music discipline.
• Community college teaching experience.
• Broad knowledge of musical repertoire and the ability to incorporate recorded and/or live musical examples effectively into classroom instruction.
• Experience teaching students with a wide range of musical backgrounds, including non-music majors and students with limited formal music training.
• Experience connecting music history and musical analysis to contemporary creative practices such as film, media production, audio storytelling, podcasting, popular music, or other interdisciplinary contexts.
• Familiarity with Brightspace or a comparable Learning Management System.
• Demonstrated ability to engage students through dynamic instruction that integrates historical context, critical listening, discussion, analysis, and connections between music and the broader cultural forces that shaped its development.

Salary: $1049.00 per credit

Application Process:The position is open until filled. However, to ensure consideration, application materials should be received via email by November 15, 2026 at 4:00 pm EST to be given priority consideration. Applications received after the deadline are not guaranteed to be reviewed.  SUNY Ulster reserves the right to close, continue, cancel, postpone or restart the recruitment at any time.

Applicants must submit the following materials to be considered for the position: 

• Resume or CV
• Cover letter which discusses your qualifications and interest in the position
• Contact information for three professional references

Please submit only materials requested. All documents included in your application file become the property of the College. Applicants who fail to submit all required materials will not be considered.

We invite you to be part of a dedicated community of learners in an academic department that puts students first. Please go to for additional campus community information.

SUNY Ulster is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The college encourages applications from all qualified applicants. This position is contingent upon adequate funding. Offer and assignment of employment is subject to verification of all information provided on the employment application, credentials, transcripts, fingerprint check, verification of the right to work in the United States and all other required pre-employment conditions are met.

Applicants who are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act and who, due to a disability, require accommodations for completing the application process, testing (if required for the position), or the interview, should notify the Human Resources Office 10 working days before the accommodation is required.

Neither the smoking of tobacco (nor other substances) nor the use of electronic vaporizers is permitted on the campus grounds.

SUNY Ulster does not reimburse applicants for travel, lodging or any other costs incurred by applicant to attend interviews.  All interviewing costs incurred will be the responsibility of the applicant. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview. Internal applicants are not guaranteed an interview.

Conditions of EmploymentEmployment with SUNY Ulster is not complete or official until applicants meet all pre-employment requirements, and the Board of Trustees has approved. Offer and assignment of employment is subject to verification of all information provided on the employment application, fingerprint check, verification of the right to work in the United States and all other required pre-employment conditions are met.

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