Join one of San Francisco's most welcoming and inspiring music communities.
Are you a piano teacher who loves people as much as music?
We're looking for someone special — a musician with a teacher's heart who wants to become part of something bigger than a lesson schedule.
Founded in 2008 by producer, songwriter, and educator Ciara McAllister, McAllister Music Studio has grown from one teacher and one room into one of San Francisco's most beloved independent music communities. Located in the heart of the Mission District, our cozy studio is home to passionate students, inspiring teachers, live performances, and a genuine sense of belonging.
We're growing, and we'd love the right person to grow with us.
THE ROLE
We're currently looking for a strong piano teacher to join our team and inherit an established studio of motivated students ranging from young beginners to passionate adult musicians.
Current teaching needs:
- Mondays–Thursdays: 3:00–9:30 pm
- Minimum 2 teaching days per week (approximately 6.5 hours/day with a 30-minute break)
Additional responsibilities include:
- Teaching students ages 6 through adult
- Occasional Zoom lessons
- Participating in four recitals, five open mics/jam sessions, and bi-weekly team meetings throughout the year
- Initial contract: August 2026 – May 2027, with opportunity to continue long-term
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Music (or equivalent professional experience)
- Previous private lesson teaching experience (in-person and online)
- Strong piano teaching skills
Bonus skills (not required)
- Voice
- Songwriting
- Music Production
- Additional instruments
WHO WE ARE
At MMS, our mission is simple:
Play The Music You Love.
We're more than a music school—we're a community built on the belief that every student deserves a real person in their corner. Someone who listens, who gets them, and who helps them feel safe enough to be creative, take risks, and find their own musical voice.
Our students include children discovering music for the first time, adult beginners finally making time for themselves, singer-songwriters, jazz musicians, classical pianists, producers, improvisers, and artists of every style.
What connects them all isn't a genre.
It's teachers who genuinely care.
We teach strong musical fundamentals while encouraging creativity, songwriting, improvisation, and live performance. Throughout the year we host recitals, workshops, open mics, master classes, and performances both in our studio and at beloved San Francisco venues like Bottom of the Hill.
Watching students step onto a stage with confidence—supported by teachers who believe in them—is the heartbeat of MMS.
WHO YOU ARE
You're an excellent pianist who loves teaching.
Whether you're helping a six-year-old play their very first song or coaching an adult through a Chopin nocturne, you know that great teaching isn't just about technique.
It's about helping people feel seen.
You understand that every student has a different reason for making music, and you know how to meet them where they are—whether that's classical repertoire, pop songs, songwriting, improvisation, or simply playing for joy.
You show up prepared.
You communicate clearly.
You genuinely enjoy connecting with people.
Most importantly, you believe exceptional teaching comes from exceptional human connection.
Teaching isn't a placeholder for you.
It's work you're proud to do.
You also want to be part of a collaborative team. At MMS, teachers support one another, continue learning together, and genuinely enjoy working alongside each other because we believe connected teachers create connected students.
If this sounds like you, we'd love for you to read our Who We Are page before applying:
https://www.mcallistermusicstudiosf.com/who-we-are-teachers
WHAT WE OFFER
- Starting pay: $50/hour (W-2 employee) based on experience
- Paid training with our senior teachers
- Consistent paychecks—we handle scheduling, billing, and collections. When students cancel, you still get paid.
- An established roster of wonderful students
- Health insurance coverage or stipend (based on hours worked after your first full year)
- Paid vacation and sick time
- Annual creative grants for equipment or professional development
- Studio access for practice and performances
- Three beautiful upright pianos (Kawai, Yamaha, and Everett)
- A supportive, collaborative teaching team
For teachers who enjoy leadership, curriculum development, or helping build community programming, there are exciting opportunities to grow within MMS over time.
Learn more about us:
Studio Documentary:https://youtu.be/EUoY-opBLww?si=Zl0M0DzIA0GzuEU6
Meet Our Teachers: https://www.mcallistermusicstudiosf.com/teachers
Google Reviews: https://share.google/UKG3SUZKdSjS0tuJx
READY TO JOIN US?
We aren't simply looking for someone to teach lessons.
We're looking for someone who wants to become an important part of our musical community for years to come.
If you believe that real human connection is at the heart of great music education—and that students thrive when they feel safe, encouraged, and free to play the music they love—we'd love to hear from you.
Please send your resume along with a cover letter telling us who you are and why MMS feels like the right fit. (to [email protected])
Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
We can't wait to meet you.
— Ciara McAllister & the MMS Team
Pay: From $50.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Paid training
Education:
Experience:
- music teaching: 1 year (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- San Francisco, CA 94117 (Required)
Work Location: In person
