Developing potential, enriching lives and creating community since 1944 
Space is limited | Register Today!
Summer Arts Program
For students entering 1st - 9th Grade
Selected late afternoon offerings are available for students entering grades 10-12 during Session 1.
Two Customizable 3-Week Sessions
SESSION 1: June 26–July 14
SESSION 2: July 17–August 4
- Morning, Afternoon and Full Day Options
- Early Drop Off and Late Pick Up Available
Group Instruction in Strings, Winds, Brass, Guitar, Piano, Percussion • Chorus • Drama • Music and Movement • Visual Arts • Orchestra • Jazz Band • Wind Ensemble • Music Technology • Piano as a Second Instrument • World Drumming • Chimes • Simple Symphony • Composers Corner • Introduction to Chamber Music • Music History Through the Ages • Reading, Writing, Listening: Building Music Literacy • Chamber Music • Crossroads Ensemble • Sing! Vocal Ensemble • Performance Forum
Space is limited | Register Today!
Hoff-Barthelson Music School is the ideal setting for a stimulating, challenging, and fun-filled summer of creative exploration. Our Summer Arts Program offers rich, individually tailored experiences in music, movement, visual art, and drama. Participants benefit from expert instruction; a nurturing environment; learning and practicing with peers; exploring new instruments, styles, and art forms; growing in their understanding of the language of music (music theory); honing performance skills; and forming lasting friendships.
Class and ensemble content varies from session 1 to session 2 providing students who attend both sessions with unique and complementary learning experiences.
Our exceptional faculty—made up of top performers and music educators—provide personalized attention to each student.
Quick Links
Schedule of Sessions
Morning Program
9:00 am–12:00 pm
Students select four classes from the list below:
Music and Movement Grades 1–3
A fun and effective approach to teaching music to children through movement. Students gain a strong rhythmic foundation leading to enhanced musical expression and understanding.
Chorus Grades 1–6
Students explore richly diverse repertoire as they develop singing and ensemble skills.
Drama Grades 1–9
A journey through the world of mime, sound, rhythm, movement, and improvisation. Classes leveled by age.
Group Instrumental Instruction Grades 1–9
Daily small group classes on student’s choice of strings, winds, brass, percussion, guitar, and piano. Students are grouped into beginning, early intermediate, and intermediate classes.
Visual Arts Grades 1–9
Children explore creativity and personal expression through a variety of arts and crafts projects. Classes leveled by age.
Jazz Band Grades 4–9
Explore the world of jazz! Open to wind, brass, percussion, piano, guitar, and bass players, students discover a world of performance styles and develop their ability to improvise. For early intermediate and above.
Music Technology Grades 4–9
Acquire the skills needed to use hardware, software, and app technology while creating your own compositions in our music technology lab.
Orchestra Grades 4–9
String instrument ensemble for intermediate and advanced players.
Wind Ensemble Grades 4–9
Wind, brass, and percussion ensemble for intermediate and advanced players.
Featured Morning Program Offering
Music Technology Workshop (JR & SR)
Morning Program Offering
This exciting workshop teaches participants the skills needed to use hardware, software, and app technology in support of their own creative process. Students will learn skills that include creating and publishing computer notated scores, using MIDI files with software samples, and creating digital audio recordings. Student projects will be shared at the final concert. Appropriate for students new to the use of music technology and for more advanced students. Theory background and placement interview required.
Early Afternoon Program
12:30pm–2:45pm
Students select three classes from the list below:
Composers Corner Grades 1–3
Music history comes alive as students explore the life and times of the great composers through listening and storytelling.
Simple Symphony Grades 1–3
A first orchestral ensemble experience for young string players.
Introduction to Chamber Music/Piano Ensembles Grades 1–4
A first small ensemble experience for wind, string, and piano students. Students are assigned one person to a part. Ensembles are organized by student performance level.
Piano as a Second Instrument Grades 1–9
Group instruction in foundational keyboard skills for students who already play another instrument. An excellent and fun opportunity to learn to play the piano as a secondary instrument. Classes leveled by age and level of advancement.
World Drumming Grades 1–9
Students use African drums to explore rhythm, timbre, and a cross section of world music styles as they discover song form, ensemble playing, and improvisation. Concepts of meter and note values are explored and reinforced.
Chimes Grades 4–9
Students learn to play beautiful bell-like tone chimes. An exciting approach to the study of pitch, rhythm, music notation, and playing in an ensemble.
Music History Through the Ages Grades 4–9
A guided tour through all eras of music history designed to make connections between composers, their landmark compositions, and the societal, artistic, and intellectual trends that influenced them.
Reading, Writing and Listening – Building Music Literacy All grades
Through a sequential, progressive, highly engaging approach, students develop competence and confidence reading, writing, and listening to the core elements of music. Subject areas include key signatures, pitch and notation, rhythm and meter, intervals, scales, chords, melody, and musical form. Classes are leveled by age and experience.
Late Afternoon Program - Session 1 Only
3:00pm–5:00pm
Students select two classes from the list below:
Chamber Music Grades 4–9+
Ensemble for intermediate to advanced students in standard chamber music configurations; trios, quartets, and quintets; strings, winds, and piano. Students are assigned one person to a part.
Crossroads Ensemble Grades 4–9+
An ensemble for students of any instrument that focuses on playing arrangements of popular music, the Great American Songbook, jazz, and world music with an emphasis on improvisation. Inspired by classical musicians including Yo-Yo Ma and Joshua Bell who have embarked upon projects that bring classical musical skills together with a wide variety of music and musicians. Students write songs and make their own arrangements using Finale or Garage Band notation software— no experience necessary!
Sing! Vocal Ensemble NEW! Grades 6–9+
Vocal ensemble surveying a wide variety of repertoire from different stylistic periods with an emphasis on musical theater selections.
Performance Forum NEW! Grades 4–9+
A forum to address the art and science of performing. Topics include preparing to perform, practice strategies and skills; performance anxiety, presentation skills; and audition preparation and presentation.
Space is limited | Register Today | Prices Increase May 20
Early Drop Off & Late Pickup
Early Drop Off
Supervised quiet time prior to the start of classes—available from 8:15–9:00 am.
Late Pick Up
For students in grades 1–3: supervised reading corner, listening corner, quiet time for students in grades—available from 2:45–5:00 pm.
How to Register
Space is limited; enrollment is on a first come, first served basis. Early registration is encouraged!
Step 1: Select the session(s) and package(s) you would like and register for these online. A non-refundable deposit of $150 per student is required at the time of registration.
Step 2: Once you have registered, we will contact you to determine precisely which classes within each package you’re interested in. Not sure which to choose? We’ll be happy to guide you!
Step 3: To ensure your child is placed in the most appropriate classes, which are leveled by age and level of advancement, you’ll then submit a 30-second to 2-minute video that demonstrates their current level of ability on each instrument that will be studied. Videos are not required for beginners or choral singers. Videos need not be fancy and can be recorded using a cell phone; memorization is not required.
Questions? Contact us at summerarts@hbms.org or call 914-723-1169.
Tuition
Registrations received after May 19, 2023, are subject to a $100 surcharge. The balance of tuition is due by May 19, 2023; after this date, tuition is non-refundable. Tuition includes music, art materials, and a T-shirt.
Session 1: June 26–July 14 | Early Bird | After 3/31 |
|---|---|---|
Morning | $1,135 | $1,195 |
Extended Day (Morning + Early Afternoon) | $2,200 | $2,280 |
Afternoon (Early + Late Afternoon) | $1,725 | $1,785 |
Early Afternoon | $850 | $895 |
Late Afternoon | $745 | $785 |
Full Day (Morning + Early and Late Afternoon) | $3,065 | $3,165 |
Early Drop Off | $115 | $115 |
Late Pick Up (grades 1–3) | $345 | $345 |
Session 2: July 17–August 4 (15 days) | Early Bird | After 3/31 |
|---|---|---|
Morning | $1,220 | $1,280 |
Early Afternoon | $915 | $960 |
Extended Day (Morning + Early Afternoon) | $2,360 | $2,440 |
Early Drop Off | $125 | $125 |
Late Pick Up (grades 1–3) | $370 | $370 |
