Enriching lives and creating community through music


Hoff-Barthelson Music School was founded in 1944 by Virginia Hoff and Joyce Barthelson, two gifted musicians who believed that the joy of music and the skills to perform it should be available to everyone. They left a legacy that has touched the lives of many thousands: a warm, friendly music school dedicated to the highest standards of music education, performance, and community service.

A commitment to creativity, collaboration, and community animates our holistic approach to music education, which is characterized by:

  • A supportive musical environment. We inspire our students to develop their musical and human potential as part of a community of peers, teachers, and parents. Adults find a musical home at HBMS, too—pursuing their love of music with others who share their passion.

  • A focus on the whole student. Teaching understanding, appreciation, and musical skills goes hand in hand with nurturing critical thinking, creative, social, and other valuable learning and life skills.

  • Customized learning. We work with all students—whether their interests are casual or pre-professional—to design individual goals and pathways and connect them with the best possible teachers.

  • Exceptional teaching. Our faculty—drawn from the region’s most talented teachers and performers—excels at matching the teaching approach to the individual, catalyzing each student’s progress from beginner to advanced.

  • A multifaceted curriculum. Our comprehensive approach combines individual instruction, musicianship courses, ensembles, and frequent performance opportunities offered year-round.




 A nonprofit institution, Hoff-Barthelson Music School is a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education and an affiliate of ArtsWestchester.