Music School Technician

King's is an extremely sought-after school with outstanding academic results and a vibrant co-curriculum. It strives to appoint able, committed and compassionate colleagues to help ensure every child at the school achieves their best. Overlooking Wimbledon Common, the school is situated in one of the most attractive parts of south east England and benefits from exceptional grounds and facilities.

The Music School Technician is to liaise closely with the Director of Music and Junior School Head of Music.

The Music School Technician is primarily responsible for providing the full range of technical support for all junior and senior school Music department events, concerts, rehearsals and lessons, as well as all other events held in the Concert Hall.  In addition, the individual will, as part of the Music department, provide technical support on music technology matters.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Technical set-up and support for music events throughout the school; primarily in the Concert Hall and Music school. This will include evening and occasional weekend working and will involve the set-up and sound engineering of concerts involving amplified instruments and voices.
• Set up, engineer, and manage high quality audio and/or visual recordings of concerts (including livestreaming) and examination submissions in the Concert Hall, including managing the resulting audio files within the departmental shared area.
• Post-production editing of recordings, including a working knowledge of various software editing programs.
• To build and oversee a library of school recordings.
• To advise and support the music and music technology elements of school productions, as required. To work with the drama department technical staff to plan, set up, sound design and act as the sound technician on the flagship senior school musical productions that take place every 2 years. This includes the expertise to balance a full orchestra, as well as a full complement of performers’ mics.
• To install, maintain and manage both software and hardware equipment in the music classrooms, concert hall and recording studio, liaising closely with the IT department.
• To ensure music equipment, whether fixed or mobile, is checked regularly and any faults identified and rectified.
• Provide technical support for music and AV related problems raised by staff and pupils within the music department. This includes in class music lessons, ensemble rehearsals and events. There may also be the possibility of being involved in supporting the design of sections of the curriculum focused on Music technology.
• To provide bespoke support and training, whether formal or informal, to staff and students with regards to the use of the recording studio and other music technology.
• Assist staff in troubleshooting future minor technical issues themselves.
• To organise and run co-curricular sessions for students on the use of music equipment, particularly with regards to music technology.
• To research new music technology and suggest new solutions to help develop the use of music technology at King’s for the benefit of both pupils and staff.
• To liaise with the estates, maintenance and IT departments over projects and repairs.
• To assist with AV and music technology development in new capital projects.
• To attend necessary meetings and school events, including evenings and weekends which will be offset by time off in lieu.
• To assist in promoting the music department via social media and in collaboration with Marketing.

Person Specification

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated individual with a ‘can do’ attitude, flexible approach, good workload prioritisation and excellent communication skills to join this dynamic department.

Essential

• Music/Music Technology or other relevant Level 3/A Level qualification
• Excellent ICT skills
• A good working technical knowledge of a range of sound and recording equipment and software
• Expert knowledge of setting up music and AV equipment and supporting its operation
• Ability to work under own initiative and be self-motivated
• A good communicator able to relate well to pupils and staff in a professional capacity
• Flexibility. Some work takes place during the evenings and at weekends
• Knowledge of a Microsoft Windows environment and Mac computers
• An ability to work to tight deadlines
• Pro-active handling of AV enquiries within a Helpdesk ticketing system

Desirable

• A good working knowledge of Logic Pro X, Ableton and Sibelius
• Experience of working in an educational setting
• Experience in live mixing of sound for both live events and musicals
• Confident in organising and delivering successful school events

This is a term time only role, working either full-time (40 hours per week) or part-time (at least 28 hours per week spread over 5 days). The working hours will be agreed with Director of Music, however flexibility will be expected in terms of attendance at evening events; occasionally some weekend work for which time-off ‘in lieu’ will be granted.

In return, we offer a range of benefits including:

• 25 days’ annual holiday plus statutory English public holidays (33 days in total - pro rata) - to be taken during normal school holiday
• Contributory pension scheme
• Free lunch in the Dining Hall during term-time
• Discounted membership of the King’s Sports Club, once COVID-19 restrictions allow

For further details and to apply, please visit www.kcs.org.uk 

Closing date: 9am on Friday 21st May 2021

King’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.