PGE Foundation helps Ethos make music!

June 30, 2011

Ethos is excited to announce a $5,000 grant from PGE Foundation to support programming at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center! The wonderful staff and Trustees of PGE Foundation have been longtime supporters of Ethos. Thanks PGE Foundation!

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Ethos’ AmeriCorps Program- Hiring for Rural Communities!

June 20, 2011

“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy

Ethos Music Center is a national leader in bringing music education opportunities to underserved communities with the help of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps*VISTA Members. Ethos is gearing up for a big expansion next year, and we are looking for a few good musicians to serve as AmeriCorps Members in rural parts of Oregon. This is a big commitment — many will apply, but only a few will be chosen. If selected, you will be part of Ethos’ 12 year record of using national service to fill a critical need — music education for youth in underserved communities.

If you are up for the challenge, please click on the links below to download full descriptions of all of Ethos’ AmeriCorps positions available. These job descriptions are included in text below as well for your convenience.

Rural Outreach Project Member – ’11-’12

Rural Outreach Project Member – Roving ’11-’12

Rural Outreach Project Member – Tribal ’11-’12

If you are interested in applying, please send a cover letter, resume, and three references to work@ethos.org. Please indicate which position you are interested in (rural, roving or tribal). If you have any questions after reviewing Ethos’ web site (www.ethos.org), please feel free to contact Ethos’ Rural Coordinator, Megan Moran at megan@ethos.org with any questions.

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Rural Outreach Project Member Job Description

POSITIONS OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Organization: Ethos Music Center

Organization Mission: Ethos is dedicated to the promotion of music and music-based education for youth in underserved communities.

Location: Central & Eastern Oregon and Douglas County. Specifically, the towns of Fossil, Condon, Monument, Long Creek, Elkton, Metolius, and Madras, Oregon. Some service also carried out in Portland, Oregon.

Summary of Position: Seven positions total that report to the Rural Outreach Director. Two Rural Outreach Project (ROP) members will live in Fossil, two in Long Creek, two in Madras, and one in Elkton. ROP members will primarily be responsible for teaching music to students during and after school four to five days per week. In addition, ROP members will assist in training volunteer teaching assistants that will help them in the classroom. Thirty six weeks will be spent in rural sites with the remainder spent in Portland for training and evaluation.

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Teach general music classes to kindergarten through sixth grade students.
2. Teach at least two elective music courses at the middle and high school level.
3. Organize and teach after-school music classes in 2-4 instruments.
4. Recruit and train community members to be volunteer teaching assistants.
5. Meet with parents/guardians and encourage their involvement in their child’s music education.
6. Encourage and track youth, volunteer, and parent involvement in all activities.
7. Attend Ethos instructor trainings and AmeriCorps sponsored orientation, trainings, and meetings.
8. Complete and submit in a timely manner all Ethos and AmeriCorps required reports and time sheets.
9. Complete 1700 hours of service over 11 months (Sept. 2011-July 2012).

Marginal Responsibilities:

1.Organize student performances and community music events in each town.
2. Provide community music classes.
3. Consult with staff on recruitment and long-term programming plans.
4. Complete one 5-10 hour project focused on environmental impact.

Preferred Qualifications: Background in music performance or education, however other fields are also welcome provided applicant can be a proficient teacher. Experience with youth a must. Familiarity with at least 2 instruments preferred. Must be organized, creative, resourceful and self-motivated. Must have own transportation. Applicant must pass strict FBI background check.

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Roving Rural Outreach Project Member Job Description

POSITIONS OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Organization: Ethos Music Center

Organization Mission: Ethos is dedicated to the promotion of music and music-based education for youth in underserved communities.

Location: Rural communities across Oregon. Traveling and living in Ethos’ Music Mobile RV a third to half of the year. Half of service also carried out in Portland, Oregon.

Summary of Position: Two roving Rural Outreach Project (ROP) members will be based in Portland, Oregon with half of their service also occurring in rural communities across Oregon. They will report to the Rural Outreach Director. The ROP members will primarily be responsible for teaching intensive workshops and trainings to students and community members 1-3 weeks at a time, helping develop a framework for future programming in rural towns. They will also help coordinate volunteers, ROP trainings, school music events, instrument distribution, and substitute teach for other ROP members.

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Teach residencies, immersions, or workshops to students, grades K-12.
2. Recruit and train community members to be teachers, or teaching assistants.
3. Substitute teach for stationary ROP members when necessary.
4. Coordinate volunteers for Ethos’ statewide efforts.
5. Encourage and track youth, volunteer, and parent involvement in all activities.
6. Attend Ethos instructor trainings and AmeriCorps sponsored orientation, trainings, and meetings.
7. Assist the Rural Outreach Director with ROP reporting, tracking, supervising, and training.
8. Complete and submit in a timely manner all Ethos and AmeriCorps required reports and time sheets.
9. Complete 1700 hours of service over 11 months (Sept. 2011-July 2012).

Marginal Responsibilities:

1. Organize student performances and community music events.
2. Consult with staff on recruitment and long-term programming plans.
3. Complete one 5-10 hour project focused on environmental impact.

Preferred Qualifications: Background in music performance or education, however other fields are also welcome provided applicant can be a proficient teacher. Experience with youth a must. Skilled in multiple instruments. Entrepreneurial and outgoing personality. Experience with school administration and supervising. Familiarity with standard computer programs for reporting and creating materials. Good driving record. Must be organized, creative, resourceful and self-motivated. Applicant must pass strict FBI background check.

Pay/Benefits: Stipend of $12,100 (taxable) and medical insurance provided. Upon completion of service, $5,550 in educational award (to pay tuition or student loans). Members are also eligible for loan forbearance and child care assistance. Ethos will provide an RV and mileage reimbursement for all travel related to rural outreach, but transportation will not be provided in Portland. Applicant must pass a strict FBI background check.

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Tribal Rural Outreach Project Member Job Description

POSITION OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Organization: Ethos Music Center

Organization Mission: Ethos is dedicated to the promotion of music and music-based education for youth in underserved communities.

Location: Warm Springs, Oregon. Some service also carried out in Portland, Oregon.

Summary of Position: The Tribal Rural Outreach Project (ROP) member will live in Warm Springs, Oregon and report to the Rural Outreach Director. The ROP member will primarily be responsible for teaching Native American music to students during and after school four to five days per week. In addition, the ROP member will assist in training volunteer teaching assistants that will help them in the classroom. Thirty six weeks will be spent in Warm Springs with the remainder of the service term spent in Portland for training and evaluation.

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Teach general music classes to kindergarten through fifth grade students.
2. Teach outreach workshops or classes in other sites.
3. Organize and teach after-school music classes in 1-2 instruments.
4. Recruit and train community members to be volunteer teaching assistants.
5. Meet with parents/guardians and encourage their involvement in their child’s music education.
6. Encourage and track youth, volunteer, and parent involvement in all activities.
7. Attend Ethos instructor trainings and AmeriCorps sponsored orientation, trainings, and meetings.
8. Complete and submit in a timely manner all Ethos and AmeriCorps required reports and time sheets.
9. Complete 1700 hours of service over 11 months (Sept. 2011- July 2012).

Marginal Responsibilities:

1.Organize student performances and community music events in Warm Springs.
2. Provide community music classes.
3. Consult with staff on recruitment and long-term programming plans.
4. Complete one 5-10 hour project focused on environmental impact.

Preferred Qualifications: Good communication and experience with the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute tribes on the Warm Springs reservation. Background in Native American music performance or education preferred, however other fields are also welcome provided applicant can be a proficient teacher. Experience with youth a must. Familiarity with Native American drumming, flute, and/or singing is imperative. Must be organized, creative, resourceful and self-motivated. Must have own transportation. Applicant must be able to pass strict FBI background check.

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Ethos/IFCC hosts Mel Blanc Lecture Series

June 13, 2011

This coming Wednesday, Ethos/IFCC is hosting the second lecture in the

Mel Blanc Lecture Series

presented by the Oregon Cartoon Institute:

“I’m in the Market for You”

Portland Pop Stars Inspire Mel Blanc

WEDNESDAY June 15, 2011

Ethos at IFCC: 5340 N. Interstate Ave

This will be a combination of a LECTURE and a CONCERT.

Guest speakers:

Independent film archivist Dennis Nyback has a longstanding interest in the history of American popular song. He served as story consultant for Yours For A Song: The Women Of Tin Pan Alley, a PBS documentary which was based on a Seattle cabaret show he wrote and produced. More recently he presented a paper on Oregon-born jazz singer Lee Morse at the 2010 Pacific Northwest History Conference.

Rick Meyers is a musician, music historian, and educator who likes to approach history via music. He plays many instruments, but his banjo and his ukulele are two from America’s Jazz Age. He shares Dennis Nyback’s fascination with popular music from the 1920′s.

What is the evening about?

We will be asking the questions: What music did Mel Blanc hear growing up in Portland? What role models for success did he have, as a musician himself?

Mel Blanc was first and foremost a musician. That is what we learned from reading about his early Portland life. He spent eight years studying violin, then sousaphone. He dropped out of school to play with three different Portland dance bands. At age 22, he was the youngest bandleader in the country. When he was discovered by the Hoot Owls, it was because he was singing and playing the ukulele in front of a jazz band. The first thing the Hoot Owls asked him to do on the air was sing. Music was at the heart of his skill set. When he was hired at Warner Brothers, it was a fellow musician, Treg Brown, who gave him the nod.

For tickets,visit www.melblancproject.wordpress.com

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