Teaching Assistant for Music - AsturizagaAt — CSUF - College of the Arts
This internship provides graduate-level training in undergraduate music history instruction within the School of Music. The intern will work closely with the faculty supervisor to support course delivery through discussion facilitation, grading, student mentorship, and instructional support. Responsibilities may include leading review sessions, assisting with assessment and feedback, holding office hours, and helping manage course materials. The position offers structured mentorship in university-level teaching, assessment practices, and professional academic communication, preparing the student for future roles in higher education.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the internship, the student will be able to:
Demonstrate effective undergraduate teaching skills by leading structured discussion sessions, facilitating listening-based analysis, and guiding students through historical and analytical concepts in music.
Apply consistent and transparent grading practices by using rubrics, providing constructive written feedback, and assessing student work in alignment with course learning objectives.
Mentor and support student learning through effective office hours, clear academic communication, and guidance on research and writing in music history.
Design and implement instructional materials such as review guides, discussion prompts, or short lesson plans that align with course goals and disciplinary standards.
Reflect critically on pedagogical practice by identifying strengths, areas for growth, and strategies for improving teaching effectiveness within a university-level music history course.
Training
To help the student achieve the proposed learning outcomes, I will:
Provide structured pedagogical mentoring. We will meet weekly to discuss lesson planning, discussion facilitation strategies, grading standards, and classroom management techniques. I will model effective teaching practices and gradually increase the TA’s instructional responsibilities.
Offer guided feedback on grading and assessment. The TA and I will norm grading criteria together at the beginning of the semester to ensure consistency. I will review a sample of graded assignments and provide detailed feedback on clarity, fairness, and quality of written comments to help the TA develop effective evaluative skills.
Engage in reflective teaching practice. The TA will submit brief teaching reflections after leading discussions or review sessions. We will use these reflections to identify strengths, areas for growth, and strategies for improvement.
Provide supervised instructional opportunities. The TA will have opportunities to lead discussion sections and/or targeted review sessions, with advance preparation meetings and follow-up debrief conversations to support professional development.
Support professional development in academic communication. I will mentor the TA in responding to student emails, holding office hours, and guiding student research and writing, helping them cultivate clear, supportive, and professional communication skills.
Tasks/Duties
The intern will demonstrate the learning outcomes by:
Leading discussion sections and/or review sessions that facilitate historical understanding, critical listening, and analytical engagement with assigned repertoire.
Developing instructional materials such as discussion prompts, listening guides, review sheets, or short lesson plans aligned with course objectives.
Grading student assignments and exams using established rubrics and providing substantive, constructive written feedback that supports student learning.
Holding regular office hours and responding to student inquiries in a professional, timely, and supportive manner.
Participating in weekly supervisory meetings to review teaching strategies, reflect on instructional experiences, and implement feedback for continued improvement.
Submitting brief teaching reflections after leading instructional activities, identifying strengths, challenges, and areas for pedagogical growth.