- Home
- Support Us
- Stories
- Music Gives Me Hope
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.
by Maureen Mbu
I’m from West Africa, Cameroon, and I’ve been in America since 2004, so over 20 years. I have been taking voice lessons with The Music Settlement for about four years, and having music in my life has been very important for my mental well-being. I have a scholarship to take voice lessons, and this has meant a lot to me.
I had been suffering from mental illness for a very long time. But music has helped me stay focused, to have hope that I’m able to do something. Before The Music Settlement, I was not able to do anything. I just sat at home crying. But now I have hope. I’m up. I’m able. I have confidence that I’m able to sing. I think that’s a beautiful thing.
When I was suffering from depression, I thought, I need something to help me cope with my mental illness, something that can give me hope, something I can focus on. I needed to find a way to help myself mentally. And it was music. It relaxed my brain and helped me stay focused.
When I am singing, I feel so good. I feel the music. I feel like, Oh, I got it. Just let it go. Singing helps me feel really happy, and it keeps me going every day. I’m very grateful that I have this opportunity to take music lessons with The Music Settlement.
Back to Stories