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Main Hall Aretha's Jazz Cafe 3Fifty Terrace orsa Music Hall Expansion

Music Hall Teaches Kids

We believe in the importance of the performing arts to developing minds. Our eight youth education programs, FREE TO STUDENTS, employ seven teaching artists who bring inspiration and new skills in music, dance, and theatre to almost 5,000 students each year. These programs are at the heart of our efforts to ensure access to the arts for all young people, with particular focus on disadvantaged youth. Since 2010, our artists-in-residence have sustained the rare privilege of teaching in classrooms during the school day, alongside District faculty.

CURRENT IN-SCHOOL & AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

  • The School at Marygrove Elementary
  • The School at Marygrove High School
  • Detroit School of Arts
  • Brenda Scott Academy
  • Ellington Conservatory at Beckham Academy
  • John R. King Academy
  • Spain Elementary-Middle School
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School
  • Mackenzie Elementary-Middle School
Music Hall Education Programs

Music Hall

8

Youth Education Programs

10

Professional Teaching Artists

5000

Students Served Annually

100

FREE to All Students

85% %

African American Students

Where Every Genre Finds Its Stage

Our Programs

There is overwhelming evidence of the importance of arts education to a child’s development, academic achievement, and lifelong success. Our eight youth education programs, FREE TO STUDENTS, employ seven teaching artists who bring lessons and educational experiences in music, dance, and theatre to over 5,000 students ages 3-18 each year. These programs are the heart of our efforts to improve equitable access to the arts for students who attend school in lower-income districts. In a recent annual State of the Schools address, Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti singled out Music Hall for special recognition as a model of partnership in providing arts education services.

1

K-5 Elementary Music Instruction at The School at Marygrove

Students play child-friendly instruments, sing, and use movement to create their own music and to interpret the tunes of the greats – including the many major musical stars who come from Detroit!
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2

High School Instrumental & Vocal Instruction at The School at Marygrove

Far too many high school students enter high school without having had the opportunity to begin music instruction in their younger years – this program addresses that need.
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3

Educational Jazz Jams in Aretha’s Jazz Café

Sunday evenings are a special time in our Café, welcoming instrumentalists and vocalists ages 8-80 for a jam session built on tradition but with extra educational elements.
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4

Jazz for Young People

Detroit elementary-middle schools receive weekly instruction in the form of jazz – its basic concepts, important artists, its sounds and instruments and the ways in which jazz is woven into contemporary pop, rap, and other forms.
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5

High School Big Band Nights in Aretha’s Jazz Café

Once a month during the school year, a high school band suits up to perform on our Café stage, test-driving their growing skills for excited family & friends.
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6

Summer Vocal & Instrumental Jazz Workshop

An opportunity to learn from some of the region's best jazz educators for all levels of vocal and instrumental study.
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7

Contemporary Dance Master Classes

Students gain exposure to the latest & greatest in their field.
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8

Jazz Band Rehearsal Support & Sectionals Lead

Student musicians receive extra coaching on interpretation and performance.
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Music Hall Educational Programs

Our Instructors

Our programs are guided by an exceptional team of professional and passionate instructors whose dedication to teaching and love for the arts shine through in every lesson—they not only cultivate talent, but also inspire confidence, discipline, and creativity in every student they mentor.

Ted Nagy
Programming Director, Aretha’s Jazz Café
Scott Gwinnell
Director of Education
Jordan Schug
Strings Instructor
Andrew Silva
Elementary Music Instructor at the School at Marygrove
Mathew Balos
Keyboard Instructor
Steve Wood
Woodwinds Instructor
Michael-Ashton Samuels aka MARS
Elementary Music Instructor at the School at Marygrove
Jiana Hunter
Jazz Vocal Instructor
Jason Smith
Elementary Music Program Instructor
Dave Zwolinski
Percussion Instructor
Where History Comes Alive

Tour of Music Hall

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