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“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato
We agree, music is pretty amazing! At St. Joseph’s School of Music, we believe music is an essential part of a community’s well-being. It brings people together, fosters creativity, and has been shown to boost brain power and social skills.
St. Joseph’s School of Music (or St. Joe’s for short) is committed to providing a space where all are welcome and have access to the benefits of a quality music education.
Being part of a community music school like St. Joe’s means access to expert instruction, performance opportunities in beautiful venues, interactive group classes, collaboration with other musicians, and enrichment activities that motivate, spark curiosity, and develop a well-rounded education.
Joining a music school community provides benefits that go beyond traditional lessons. Here are just a few:
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Accessible Music Education
An inclusive and accessible musical education is one of the many benefits of a community music school. At St. Joseph’s School of Music, kids and adults of all ages, levels, and backgrounds are welcome, with scholarships available to ensure everyone has access.
Students have the opportunity to work with some of the best music teachers in the Twin Cities, with support from birth to adulthood:
- High-quality music education for all levels, ages, and abilities, including music introduction classes for babies and toddlers, lessons for kids, teens, and adults in beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels.
- Exposure to a variety of musical styles including classical, jazz, musical theater, contemporary, and pop music.
- Thoughtfully tailored instruction to meet students’ unique needs, learning styles, and pace. Students are carefully matched with a teacher to ensure the best fit for their interests, learning style, and personal goals.
- Scholarships are available to ensure that anyone interested can receive a quality music education.
Artistic & Personal Development
Students at St. Joseph’s School of Music have access to traditional one-on-one lessons plus group classes and enrichment activities to support a holistic, well-rounded education.
Individual and group lessons are available for almost any instrument, including piano, voice, violin, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, guitar, mandolin, percussion, and more!
More than 40 teaching artists offer expert instruction and real-world experience. Many are active in the local music scene including orchestras, bands, chamber ensembles, and other music groups in the area.
In addition to teaching essential instrument skills, our instructors are committed to developing each student’s artistry and supporting their unique musical interests and goals. Lesson curriculum is tailored to the student’s goals, whether they are studying just for fun or pursuing music as a career.
The school’s highly trained teaching artists often coach and prepare students for performances, college auditions, and competitions such as All-State contests and the Minnesota Music Teachers Association events. Teachers also offer mentorship and career advice for aspiring professional musicians and students pursuing a college music degree.
Performance Opportunities
One of the advantages of studying music at St. Joe’s is the opportunity to participate in recitals and other performance events throughout the year, with access to performance spaces on site and around the community.
St. Joe’s school-wide concerts, or “musicales,” feature both students and teaching artists from multiple studios, sharing diverse styles, levels, and musical styles with the audience. Musicales are held monthly, and are a great way to meet other students and families across the school.
Each teaching studio also holds seasonal recitals where students showcase pieces they’ve worked on throughout the year in front of a supportive audience. Hearing their peers progress over the months and being exposed to different levels and pieces can be especially motivating for students, providing inspiration and new musical perspectives.
Students have the opportunity to participate in community concerts throughout the year at a variety of local venues including concert halls, churches and retirement homes, bringing the joy of music around the community.
Additionally, the school provides welcoming performance spaces for students to hold senior recitals, Suzuki book recitals, audition recordings, and other solo or ensemble performances.
Social Connection
One of the best parts of a music school is the people! Shared performance spaces and a convenient lobby with free wifi create a warm and welcoming environment for students and parents to relax and connect with other families.
Group classes, ensembles, special events, and performances provide abundant opportunities to develop new friendships and collaborate with other musicians, fostering shared creativity and social skills.
School-wide performances feature students and faculty members across different studios to hear other students perform, meet different families, and build new friendships.
Through the school’s Suzuki Strings Program, classes emphasize parental involvement and include weekly lessons, group classes, and performances that build confidence and stage presence.
Adults are welcome too! Special classes for adults, flex lessons and salons provide nurturing and fun opportunities for adult students, busy parents, and retirees to learn and grow together on their musical journey.
Community Engagement
St. Joe’s offers performance opportunities around the community at retirement homes, churches, schools, and other Twin Cities venues. Through Community Care Concerts, students not only gain experience playing in front of an audience but also bring the joy of music to audiences that may not otherwise have access to live performances.
Recent performance locations include Carondelet Village, Sholom Senior Living Community, Macalester Plymouth United Church, Hamline United Methodist Church, and Unity Church-Unitarian in St. Paul.
Supplementary learning opportunities like the Music Exploration Series provide enrichment outside of the private lesson, exposing students to new topics and skills, ensemble opportunities, and guest performances.
Recent program offerings include workshops to learn about instrument care and maintenance, student chamber music and rock band ensembles, and open rehearsals with renowned music groups, connecting students to the arts ecosystem in their surrounding community.
Learn More and Join!
The caring, close-knit family of teaching artists, staff, and volunteers at St. Joe’s provide a nurturing environment for students to gain a holistic music education that goes further than the private lesson.
With a commitment to sharing the joy of music with students from all walks of life, we offer early childhood music introduction classes, Suzuki string classes for kids, one-on-one lessons on all instruments and voice, coaching and performance opportunities for teens, and flexible learning options for adult learners.
Learn more and register for lessons at stjomusic.org.
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