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Music Instruction 
Award-winning music lessons, ensembles, and group classes for aspiring musicians of all ages and skill levels — children, teens, and adults.
Early Childhood 
Morning & Full-Day Preschool programs with a full, child-centered curriculum of creative specials like music, science, drama, social and emotional learning, and more!
Music Therapy 
Established in 1966, our pioneering Center for Music Therapy (CMT) uses guided music experiences to help individuals meet life's challenges.
BOP STOP 
BOP STOP at The Music Settlement is Cleveland's premier listening room: an intimate, acoustically pristine performance venue with sweeping views of Lake Erie.
1. J@MS Program
Ages: 12 - 18
Session Length: 30 Weeks
Skill Level: Intermediate and Up
Our J@MS Program is a weekly half-day offering focusing on skills, knowledge, and experience to achieve musical goals.
Our J@MS Program is a component of J@MS (Jazz at The Music Settlement). There are three different ways students can participate in J@MS:
- J@MS Program (9:00 am - 2:00 pm)
- J@MS Ensemble (9:00 am - 12:10 pm)
- Junior J@MS (10:00 am - 12:00 pm, for younger students)
The J@MS Program is a weekly half-day program that immerses students in the energy and excitement of Jazz music. Musicians enrolled in the J@MS Program take part in African American music history, theory and composition, small combo, and Big Band. Musicians will explore a range of inspiring and challenging material under the direction of our professional faculty. Students gain valuable performance experience throughout the year at concerts and special events.
Prerequisite: All new students must complete an audition. Click below to submit an audition request form.
Students who have previously participated in this ensemble do not need to complete an audition and are welcome to register at this time. Click the "Enroll" button below to proceed.
If this is your first enrollment of the school year in the Center for Music (September – June), a non-refundable registration fee is due at the time of enrollment ($35 for a single registrant, with a cap of $50 per family).
Register
| Session | Day | Time | Campus | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 28, 2024 - May 17, 2025 Sep 28, 2024 - May 17, 2025 | Saturday | 9:00am - 2:00pm | University Circle | $945 | Enroll |
Faculty
Darren Frate
Instructor, Electric Bass Guitar; Ensemble, J@MS
Darren Frate has been playing bass for more than 35 years, including 15 as a teacher. He specializes in electric bass, music theory, and ensembles. He has toured and played with a variety of national acts, including Herman's Hermits ("I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am"), Dickey Betts from the Allman Brothe... Expand
Darren Frate has been playing bass for more than 35 years, including 15 as a teacher. He specializes in electric bass, music theory, and ensembles. He has toured and played with a variety of national acts, including Herman's Hermits ("I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am"), Dickey Betts from the Allman Brothers ("Ramblin' Man"), Gary Lewis and the Playboys ("This Diamond Ring"), Mitch Ryder ("Devil With a Blue Dress On"), Ian Hunter ("Cleveland Rocks"), Gerald Levert ("Casanova"), and the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Darren has also recorded several CDs with his own folk and jazz groups. The latest release by his current group, Velvet Voyage, features legendary jazz guitarist Mike Stern, known for his work with Miles Davis.
Education
Film Scoring, Berklee College of Music Close
Glenn Holmes
Instructor, Electric Bass Guitar, Upright Bass; Ensemble, J@MS
Glenn Holmes, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, has performed as a guest soloist both in the classical and jazz idioms. He is a former member of the Wichita Symphony and a published composer. He is also a past member of the Jazz faculty of Wichita State, Friends University and Cleveland State University.... Expand
Glenn Holmes, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, has performed as a guest soloist both in the classical and jazz idioms. He is a former member of the Wichita Symphony and a published composer. He is also a past member of the Jazz faculty of Wichita State, Friends University and Cleveland State University.
Performances have been with Benny Golson, Sean Jones, Doc Cheatum, Earl Warren, Jerry Hahn, Richie Cole, Charlie Rouse, Andy Narell, Keith Copeland, Eddie Daniels, Steve Houghton, Don Braden, Joe Williams, Jimmy Heath, Bobby Watson, Frank Mantooth, Dennis Wilson, Benny Bailey, Ignacio Beroa, Uhron Israel, Robin Eubanks, Vanessa Rubin, Antonio Hart, James Newton, Clark Terry, Nancy Wilson, Javon Jackson, Charlie Haden, Russell Malone, Cindy Blackman-Santana, the Jazz Heritage Orchestra and others.
Currently, Glenn has his own quartet and works as a freelance bassist. He is currently on the faculty of The Music School Settlement (Cleveland, OH).
Education
MM, Theory/Composition, Wichita State UniversityBM, String Bass & Music Theory, Miami University (Ohio) Close
Ken LeeGrand
J@MS Department Head; Instructor, Saxophone, Clarinet; Ensemble Director, J@MS
Ken has performed with Arthur Fiedler, Freda Payne, Jean Carne, Petula Clark, The Temptations, Gladys Knight, The Miracles, Michael McDonald, The Funk Brothers, and Aretha Franklin (to name a few). With his group Horns and Things, Ken has had the privilege of being the opening act for the late Dexte... Expand
Ken has performed with Arthur Fiedler, Freda Payne, Jean Carne, Petula Clark, The Temptations, Gladys Knight, The Miracles, Michael McDonald, The Funk Brothers, and Aretha Franklin (to name a few). With his group Horns and Things, Ken has had the privilege of being the opening act for the late Dexter Gordon, El DeBarge, Freddie Hubbard, Ronnie Laws, Phillip Bailey and Joe Sample.
Ken has also done pit work for numerous plays at The Cleveland Playhouse and in Playhouse Square. LeeGrand has also performed at venues including The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Jacobs Field, Gund Arena, and Blossom Music Center. As a traveling musician, Ken has performed extensively throughout The United States and Europe.
For the last 16 years, Ken has been the resident artist for the Grammy Signature School Shaker Heights School District Music Department that has 1000+ students from grade 5 through 12.
Education
BM, Clarinet, University of Akron Close
Jim Wall
Instructor, Drum Set, Percussion, Outreach; Ensemble, J@MS
Jim Wall is a drummer, teacher, recording engineer and music producer. Drawn to the drums from the age of two, music and life became inseparable for him at a very young age. He has performed live since age 7 and has played throughout North America and Europe with numerous artists, including Big Brot... Expand
Jim Wall is a drummer, teacher, recording engineer and music producer. Drawn to the drums from the age of two, music and life became inseparable for him at a very young age. He has performed live since age 7 and has played throughout North America and Europe with numerous artists, including Big Brother and the Holding Company, Grammy award winner; Robert Lockwood, Love Janis: The Musical, Hair, Kristine Jackson, The Jack Fords, Walkin' Cane, and Cuda/Wall/Cuda among others. He owns and runs Blue Buddha Music Studio in Cleveland, Ohio, which has become both Northeast Ohio's state of the art recording studio.
Education
BM, Berklee College of Music Close
Max Schlenk
Instructor, Saxophone; Ensemble, J@MS
Max Schlenk is a recent graduate of Oberlin Conservatory returning to the Cleveland music scene after spending some time in NYC. He started developing his skills under the tutelage of Ken LeeGrand, Chris Burge, Ron Blake, and Gary Bartz. An alumnus of J@MS (Jazz at The Music Settlement) and The Ber... Expand
Max Schlenk is a recent graduate of Oberlin Conservatory returning to the Cleveland music scene after spending some time in NYC. He started developing his skills under the tutelage of Ken LeeGrand, Chris Burge, Ron Blake, and Gary Bartz.
An alumnus of J@MS (Jazz at The Music Settlement) and The Berklee 5 Week Aspire Program during high school, Max gained the skills and knowledge to excel during college and in the professional world of music. Having regular performances around the greater Cleveland area, he has acquainted himself with a multitude of styles such as Jazz, R&B, and Funk. He has collaborated and performed alongside artists such as Luis Perdomo, Camilla Meza, Dion Parson, and Vladimir Cetkar.
Additional work includes years of teaching experience throughout high school and undergraduate, as well as community service performances and projects. He aims to take his teachings and knowledge to create himself as a class act musician and entertainer.
Education
Oberlin Conservatory Close
Ed Ridley
Ensemble, J@MS
Well respected and seasoned, Ed Ridley's musical abilities have impacted Northeast Ohio, the US, and abroad for over 35 years. Ed's versatility can be seen through his varied experience of accompanying major artists, including Walter Hawkins, Aretha Franklin, Jon Hendricks, Vanessa Rubin, Peter Yar... Expand
Well respected and seasoned, Ed Ridley's musical abilities have impacted Northeast Ohio, the US, and abroad for over 35 years.
Ed's versatility can be seen through his varied experience of accompanying major artists, including Walter Hawkins, Aretha Franklin, Jon Hendricks, Vanessa Rubin, Peter Yarrow and Lauryn Hill. Having dozens of recording credits, over 100 professional theater credits, and numerous composer and arranger credits, Ed's world is constantly full of musical adventure.
Performer, composer, arranger, producer, conductor, musical director, and educator are all roles that Ed has maintained consistently throughout his musical career.