Music Instruction Music Instruction

Award-winning music lessons, ensembles, and group classes for aspiring musicians of all ages and skill levels — children, teens, and adults.

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Early Childhood 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!

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Music Therapy Music Therapy

Established in 1966, our pioneering Center for Music Therapy (CMT) uses guided music experiences to help individuals meet life's challenges.

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BOP STOP 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.

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Old-Time Jam

Ages: 12+
Session Length: One Day
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner and Up

old-time-jam

Gather with friends new and old...

Join us each month for an informal jam session at our Ohio City campus as we learn and share folk tunes by ear. This music is the kind you might hear at square dances or contra dances. Everyone is welcome -- bring your instrument!

Open to fiddle/violin, viola, cello, double bass, banjo, guitar, mandolin, autoharp, and dulcimer (hammered or mountain/lap). Musicians should have at minimum some experience and familiarity with their instrument.

Keys for Jam Sessions:

  • September: D
  • October: G
  • November: A
  • December: D
  • January: G
  • February: A
  • March: D
  • April: G
  • May: A
  • June: D

Key of C and modal tunes may be added spontaneously at one of the G or A jams.

This program is free of charge, but donations are welcome! All donations will support the mission of The Music Settlement and the talented team who coordinates these events.

This program is made possible by support from the William O. and Gertrude Lewis Frohring Foundation and the Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services through the Health Aging Grant funding from the Ohio Department of Aging.


View next month's featured tune, as well as tunes lists from our recent jam sessions!

Click Here


Jam sessions take place the third Wednesday of every month. Registration is required as space is limited. Click the "Enroll" button below to reserve your seat today. From the enrollment screen, you can select as many sessions as you wish to attend.

Enrolling for additional sessions? Click the "Enroll" button below and add additional sessions.

Register

Session Day Time Campus Fee  
November 20, 2024 - November 20, 2024 Nov 20, 2024 - Nov 20, 2024 Wednesday 6:30pm - 8:30pm Ohio City Donations Accepted Enroll
December 11, 2024 - December 11, 2024 Dec 11, 2024 - Dec 11, 2024 Wednesday 6:30pm - 8:30pm Ohio City Donations Accepted Enroll
January 15, 2025 - January 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025 - Jan 15, 2025 Wednesday 6:30pm - 8:30pm Ohio City Donations Accepted Enroll
February 19, 2025 - February 19, 2025 Feb 19, 2025 - Feb 19, 2025 Wednesday 6:30pm - 8:30pm Ohio City Donations Accepted Enroll
March 19, 2025 - March 19, 2025 Mar 19, 2025 - Mar 19, 2025 Wednesday 6:30pm - 8:30pm Ohio City Donations Accepted Enroll
April 16, 2025 - April 16, 2025 Apr 16, 2025 - Apr 16, 2025 Wednesday 6:30pm - 8:30pm Ohio City Donations Accepted Enroll
May 21, 2025 - May 21, 2025 May 21, 2025 - May 21, 2025 Wednesday 6:30pm - 8:30pm Ohio City Donations Accepted Enroll
June 18, 2025 - June 18, 2025 Jun 18, 2025 - Jun 18, 2025 Wednesday 6:30pm - 8:30pm Ohio City Donations accepted Enroll

Faculty

paul-kirk

Paul Kirk

Instructor, Fiddle; Coordinator, Old-Time Jam

Paul Kirk has been playing bowed string instruments since 1980 and has been teaching them privately in classroom settings and workshop formats since 1988. He studied music theory, composition, music education, music history, and musicology at Cleveland State University. While at CSU, Paul played vio... Expand

Paul Kirk has been playing bowed string instruments since 1980 and has been teaching them privately in classroom settings and workshop formats since 1988. He studied music theory, composition, music education, music history, and musicology at Cleveland State University. While at CSU, Paul played violas da gamba, krummhorns, and recorders in early music ensembles. He was a founding member of Good Company: A Vocal Ensemble and has founded many of his own bands over the years including A Hundred Thousand Welcomes Celtic Ensemble, Knives and Forks English Country Dance Ensemble, and Down the Road Old-Time String Band. He has composed over 500 folk tunes in a variety of styles.

Paul has closely studied the music of Appalachia, the history of American old-time fiddling, source fiddlers, as well as the social aspects of the music. Since July 1, 2018, he has been creating and sharing videos each Sunday through his Old-Time Tune of the Week series on YouTube. Paul puts a great focus on fiddle bowing patterns and techniques and has devised practical methods for teaching with excellent results. One of his specialties is teaching old-time fiddle to crossover students, especially those coming from a background in classical violin and other musical traditions.

In 2022, Paul was designated as a master old-time fiddler and received a Traditional Arts grant from the Ohio Arts Council to work with an apprentice of his choice.

Paul taught viola, choir, music history, and assisted with drama and art for ten consecutive summers at orchestra and fine arts camps for The Music Settlement when it was known as the Cleveland Music School Settlement.

Education
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