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

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

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 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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Percussion Ensemble

Ages: 10 and up
Session Length: 15 Weeks
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner and Up

Registration for the 2025 - 2026 school year will open June 1, 2025.

Experience the power of rhythm in this high-energy ensemble!

Explore a wide range of percussion instruments and musical styles from around the world, including African drumming, Latin rhythms, classical percussion, and contemporary grooves. Participants will build their technique and expand their ensemble skills in a fun and supportive environment.

Skill Requirement: At least two years of experience playing percussion and reading music notation.

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
February 02, 2025 - May 11, 2026 Feb 02, 2025 - May 11, 2026	Monday	4:00pm - 5:00pm	University Circle	$190
September 29, 2025 - January 26, 2026 Sep 29, 2025 - Jan 26, 2026	Monday	4:00pm - 5:00pm	University Circle	$190

Faculty

Drew Parent

Department Head, Percussion; Ensemble, J@MS

Drew Parent is a percussionist and multi-instrumentalist based in Cleveland, OH. Prior to working at the Music Settlement, Drew held music faculty positions at Bowling Green State University, University of Toledo, Owens Community College, Trine University, and most recently Tiffin University where he was the Director of Bands as well taught percussion lessons, percussion ensemble, jazz band, funk band, rhythm section courses, and music entrepreneurship. He has also worked as a percussion instructor and clinician for high school band programs all over the midwest region for the last fifteen years.

A native of Mid-Michigan, Drew began his musical journey at the age of eight with piano lessons, soon followed by guitar, saxophone, and finally settling on drums and percussion in high school. Throughout high school and college Drew was a member of both drum corps and indoor percussion ensembles that included the Madison Scouts, The Glassmen, The Americanos, and NorthCoast Academy Percussion. Drew graduated with a bachelor's degree in music education from Saginaw Valley State University and then attended graduate school at Central Michigan University where he earned a masters degree in percussion performance.

In 2011 Drew co-founded the Detroit-based ensemble Rela Percussion. Since then Rela has commissioned a number of works for percussion quartet as well as performed in chamber ensemble competitions across the country. In 2017 Rela held a residency at The Toledo Museum of Art where they spent two weeks making percussion instruments from glass. As part of this project they commissioned the piece Glass Cathedral by David Gillingham to be performed on four glass marimbas.

Currently Drew is the Percussion Advisor for the Shaker Heights Public Schools band program, is an active gigging and session drummer, and also a multi-instrumentalist playing keyboards, saxophone, and bass guitar on a number of projects. In his spare time Drew enjoys getting outside to hike, go paddle boarding, play disc golf, and spend time with his wife and two children.