Musicians / Performers / Teaching Artists – Part Time, Nashville

Nashville runs on performers. If your nights belong to gigs, sessions, and the road, your afternoons could belong to a room full of five-year-olds who think you are the most interesting person alive.

Story Time Chess is the only company in the world that teaches children as young as 3 years old how to play chess completely through fun and silly stories. No chess experience necessary.

We currently have over 100 teachers/ tutors teaching more than 15,000 children a week in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orlando, Maryland, Tulsa, and now we’re expanding into Nashville!

Story Time Chess is in rapid growth mode, doubling every year for the past 4 years, and the demand for creative learning for kids is skyrocketing! We want to bring chess—and our other offerings—to families and schools across the globe.

Why this works if you play, act, or perform

• Your evenings stay yours. Classes run during and after school hours, Monday to Friday. Weekends are optional.
• You choose your own hours. Build a schedule around rehearsals, sessions, and tour dates rather than against them.
• The stage skills are the job. Holding a room, reading an audience, improvising when the plan falls apart, keeping the energy up for 45 straight minutes — that is the whole craft of teaching a chess story to a six-year-old.
• $25-$30/hour teaching rate for work that is genuinely fun.
• No chess background required. We train you and hand you the whole curriculum. If you can tell a story, you can teach chess.

About the Role

We’re hiring part-time teaching artists to work in schools and communities throughout the Nashville area, including East Nashville, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Brentwood, Franklin, and surrounding areas.

You’ll use our proven curriculum packed with stories, games, and puzzles, designed to make your lessons fun and engaging. We set you up for success with clear lesson plans, training, and ongoing support.

This role is ideal for working musicians, actors, dancers, comedians, music and theatre educators, graduate students, and anyone who enjoys working with children ages 3–7 in a fun and engaging environment.

In addition to teaching, we welcome candidates who show leadership potential. As Story Time Chess grows, tutors who excel may be considered for a “Super Tutor” role - part teacher, part leader helping to manage and coach a team of tutors, lead demo classes, and build relationships with schools and community partners.

Requirements

• Fun, animated, and great with children aged 3-7
• Comfortable performing in front of a group
• Passion for teaching and hospitality
• Organized, responsible, and reliable
• Great communicator - responsive to families, schools, and our team
• Comfortable with outreach (referrals, school contacts, community opportunities)
• Familiarity with chess is a plus but not required
• Background in performance, music, teaching, or early childhood education is a bonus
• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required
• Background check required at hire
• Reliable transportation required

Schedule

• After school hours primarily, but also some in-school hours
• Choose your own hours (Monday to Friday, with optional weekends)

Location

Nashville, Tennessee

Position Details

• $25-$30/hour teaching rate
• In-person
• Part-time

Story Time Chess is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.