CHMA — Pre-Zoom Interview

Clarendon Hills Music Academy — Pre-Zoom Interview

Quick pre-interview questions to confirm fit before scheduling Zoom.
Full Name

First NameLast Name
Email
example@example.com
Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Which position are you applying for?
What is your Primary Instrument?
What is your Secondary Instrument?
Can you reliably commute to Clarendon Hills, IL 60514 for in-person teaching?
Are you authorized to work in the United States?
Years of private music instruction experience
Which consistent weekly teaching blocks can you commit to for the next 6+ months?
Can you commit to the same weekly block(s) consistently (minimal changes)?
In your ideal music career balance, how would you distribute your time between teaching music lessons and performing live?
Any tours/trips planned in the next 12 months that would interrupt weekly teaching?(“If yes: rough dates + duration. If no: write ‘No’.”)
How many days are you currently seeking to teach?
Describe your typical lesson structure (bullet points ok).
Give one example of how you teach theory through a real song.
Name one improv framework you use with students.How do you encourage creativity and improvisation in your students, especially when teaching them popular or jazz music?
Skill Assessment

Rate yourself on the following skills
Self-Skill Assessment - Piano Instructor

Rate your skills from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) Please be honest — these ratings are for alignment, not perfection. A lower score is not an automatic deal-breaker and simply helps us understand where support or growth may be needed.
Sight-reading in real time (treble + bass clef)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Reading rhythms accurately while keeping steady tempo

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Lead sheets: chord symbols → usable voicings (on the fly)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Chord vocabulary: inversions + voicings for smooth progressions

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Harmony/Theory for contemporary music (keys, progressions, functional harmony)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Improvisation ability over common progressions

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Ability to TEACH improvisation using clear frameworks

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Contemporary piano playing (rhythmic comping, pop styles, patterns)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Comfort teaching ages 5–10

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Comfort teaching ages 11–17

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Comfort teaching adults

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Communicating with parents professionally and positively

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Comfortable
Creating a clear weekly practice plan (digital or paper)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Comfortable
Jazz Music Comfort

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Comfortable
Skill Self-Assessment - Guitar Instructor

Rate your skills from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) Please be honest — these ratings are for alignment, not perfection. A lower score is not an automatic deal-breaker and simply helps us understand where support or growth may be needed.
Technique (timing, tone, clean fretting)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Rhythm accuracy + steady time

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Tab fluency

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Standard notation reading (rhythms + simple melodies)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Improvisation ability over common progressions

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Ability to TEACH improvisation using clear frameworks

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Theory beyond shapes (keys, progressions, functional harmony)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Contemporary guitar styles (strumming patterns, riffs, accompaniment)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Comfort teaching ages 5–10

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Comfort teaching ages 11–17

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Comfort teaching adults

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Communicating with parents professionally and positively

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Creating a clear weekly practice plan (digital or paper)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Jazz Music Comfort

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Skill Self-Assessment - Voice Instructor

Rate your skills from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest)Please be honest — these ratings are for alignment, not perfection. A lower score is not an automatic deal-breaker and simply helps us understand where support or growth may be needed.
Pitch accuracy / intonation

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Rhythm accuracy + steady time

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Breath control + support coaching

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Healthy technique (resonance, placement, avoiding strain)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Ear training skills (matching pitch, intervals, simple harmonies)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Teaching contemporary vocal styles (pop phrasing, tone, dynamics)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Teaching harmony (keys, chords, progressions as they relate to singers)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Improvisation / vocal creativity (riffs/runs, ad libs, melodic variation)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Ability to teach creativity/improv frameworks to singers

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Needs Improvement, 5 is Proficient
Comfort teaching ages 5–10

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Comfort teaching ages 11–17

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Comfort teaching adults

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Communicating with parents professionally and positively

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Creating a clear weekly practice plan (digital or paper)

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
Jazz Music Comfort

1

2

3

4

5

1 is Not Comfortable, 5 is Very Comfortable
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Clarendon Hills Music Academy — Pre-Zoom Interview

Skill Assessment

Self-Skill Assessment - Piano Instructor

Skill Self-Assessment - Guitar Instructor

Skill Self-Assessment - Voice Instructor