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, and mandolin. Musicians should have at minimum some experience and familiarity with their instrument.

Keys for Upcoming Jam Sessions:

  • February: D
  • March: G
  • April: A
  • May: D
  • June: A

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.


View the tunes lists from our recent jam sessions!

Click Here


Join us for Old-Time Fiddle Boot Camp!

New for Summer 2023! Spend three days with master fiddler Paul Kirk as he teaches you how to produce an authentic old-time sound. Open to intermediate to advanced violinists ages 13 and up.
August 8, 2023 - August 10, 2023
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
$165

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Jam sessions take place the third Wednesday of every month. Registration is required as space is limited. Click "Enroll" below to reserve your seat today.

Register

Session Day Time Campus Fee  
April 19, 2023 - April 19, 2023 Apr 19, 2023 - Apr 19, 2023 Wednesday 6:30pm - 8:30pm Ohio City Donations Accepted Enroll
May 17, 2023 - May 17, 2023 May 17, 2023 - May 17, 2023 Wednesday 6:30pm - 8:30pm Ohio City Donations Accepted Enroll
June 21, 2023 - June 21, 2023 Jun 21, 2023 - Jun 21, 2023 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
Cleveland State University Close

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