The Experience
Rocker Chubby Checker, film composer Alex North, jazz pianist Joey DeFrancesco, Jazzman Stanley Clarke, rapper Cruse and actor Kevin Bacon studied at Settlement, the people's music school. Here students of all ages and abilities can learn to sing, dance, play the flute or cello or study harmony in individual or group lessons.
The largest community-based school of the arts in the U.S., Philadelphia's Settlement Music School operates six branches, each with a distinct signature, all offering extremely affordable lessons. Master classes and concerts by noted classical and jazz artists are open to the public and usually free.
Settlement's Distinguished Alumni Recital Series showcases former students and celebrates the School's role in shaping and nurturing their wonderful talents. Settlement also has an excellent jazz program and the Adult Chamber Music Players, a chamber music program for mature adults.
History
The music school began in 1908 as part of the College Settlement house, which offered services to immigrants to South Philadelphia; by 1917, support from Mary Louise Curtis Bok enabled the building of its headquarters at 416 Queen Street, now the heart of the city's Queen Village section.
The current 200-member faculty includes members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, many of whom studied here. Executive Director and composer, Robert Capanna, is committed to the school's philosophy that everyone should have access to the highest instrumental education possible where students of all abilities learn together.
Programs at Settlement include an arts-intensive preschool program called Kaleidoscope, offered at the Mary Louise Curtis Branch and the Germantown Branch, and a therapeutic arts program for physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities, managed by the Kardon Institute for Arts Therapy.