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Summer Camps!
Registration begins February 14, 2025! View 2025 summer offerings and information now.
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.
Since 1912, The Music Settlement has provided accessible, life-enhancing music and arts experiences to people of all ages and abilities. The Music Settlement believes it is never too late: to learn music, to return to music, to sing and to dance. Due to the positive results of current adult programming at The Music Settlement, we have developed a Creative Aging Department for researching, designing, piloting, supporting, and expanding arts and culture opportunities for adults and life-long learners throughout Northeast Ohio. We are dedicated to providing music, movement, and community to adults ages 55+, open to beginners and up. Discounts, financial aid, and hardship assistance are available to those who qualify.
By 2030, 20% of our nation will be 65+. By 2034, more Americans will be over 60 than will be 18 and under. Yet some art programming disregards this demographic. Creative Aging at The Music Settlement recognizes and provides artistic and intellectual stimulation for this growing demographic, as well as offering social engagement that promotes wellness. The Creative Aging Department has a key role to play in meeting the unique needs of our adult population in Cleveland such as socialization, mobility, and support of brain health (skills retention, stimulation, and memory care).
Creative Aging Department Head
Afi Scruggs is an experienced musician, songwriter and teaching artist. Her primary instrument is electric bass. She also plays keyboards, mandolin and balaphone, the West African ancestor of the xylophone.
She is the staff bassist for Progressive Evangelistic Baptist Church and also plays bass for the youth choir of Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church, both in Cleveland. In addition to gospel, Afi plays blues and jazz.
Afi has been a teaching artist since 2004. She’s developed arts-integrated curriculum for subjects ranging from social studies to financial management. She conducts songwriting workshops for grades K-6, using the blues to teach literacy. She’s also coached middle and high school students for the “Stop The Hate: Youth Sing Out” songwriting competition sponsored by the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and Roots of American Music.
Afi is also an award-winning author, columnist and reporter, whose work has been featured on NPR, The Plain Dealer and in national and international publications and news sites.
Adult Orchestra
Age: 18+ | Session Length: 15 Weeks (6 Days in Summer)
This is a great opportunity for those who may have played previously in life to get back in the game!
Champagne Flutes
Age: 18+ | Session Length: 15 Weeks
A small ensemble geared toward intermediate level adult flutists who like to play with others and want to enhance their performance skills.
Flautrageous Flute Choir
Age: 15+ | Session Length: 15 Weeks
Our largest and most advanced flute choir, participants have the opportunity to play all members of the flute family.
Musical Mix and Mingle
Age: 16+ | Session Length: One Day
Come join us for a social afternoon of chamber music making. Open to strings, winds, and piano.
Old-Time Jam
Age: 12+ | Session Length: One Day
Learn and share folk tunes by ear at this monthly informal session for acoustic strings.
The Settlement Singers
Age: 18+ | Session Length: 15 Weeks (6 Days in Summer)
The Settlement Singers is a co-ed ensemble for adults interested in expressing themselves through music.
I can’t think of anything that gives me more hope for our world than seeing a diverse group of young people come together to make music.