Welcome to the online home of Settlement Music School! Named a national top 10 music organization by Charity Navigator, we designed our flexible, best-in-class programming in music, dance, and creative arts therapy with our students in mind.
Join us for lessons, classes, and performance opportunities all from the comfort of your home. Regardless of age, background, ability, or economic circumstances, there is a place for you at Settlement. We are proud to offer more than $2.6 million in financial aid each year to more than 60% of our student population, ages six months to 92 years.
Online Music and Dance Lessons
Individual music lessons are offered at all levels in keyboard, string, brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments, as well as voice, composition, music theory, and music production. For a full list of instruments, please visit our Instruments page. We also offer individual instruction in dance.
Students may begin online lessons at any time throughout the year. Weekly lessons may be 30, 45, or 60 minutes in length as appropriate for age (see starting age list below) and length of study.
Tuition Pricing
We are currently waiving our $55 registration fee for new students interested in our online lessons.
30-minute lesson: $41.50
45-minute lesson: $62.25
60-minute lesson: $83.00
Financial Aid is available to all students through completion of high school (through age 21 for voice students).
At the time of registration, payment for the final three lessons of the school year is due. This non-refundable deposit, which we call Credit Lessons, is asked for in advance to hold your place in the schedule for the duration of the school year (September through June), even for adult students.
Credit Lessons Fee Due at Registration
Three-lesson deposit saved for final three lessons in June
30-minute lessons: $121.50
45-minute lessons: $182.25
60-minute lessons: $243.00
Tuition payments can be made in advance, for as many lessons as you would like, or after each lesson via PayPal online payment or by phone. You do not need a PayPal account to pay online.
If you are age 65 or above, you are eligible for an older adult discount for lessons before 2 p.m.
Absences and Make-up Lessons
If a student is absent, you will still be charged for the missed lesson – however, the student will be entitled to a make-up lesson after submitting a make-up request. Qualifying circumstances for make-ups are student illness, a required school activity, a death in the family or a religious activity. Students are limited to three make-ups per year and requests must be submitted within 30 days of the absence.
Starting Ages for Individual Lessons
Age 4 – Suzuki Piano, Pre-Ballet, Cello (Parent attendance required for lesson)
Age 5 – Piano – Traditional and Jazz
Age 6 – Violin, Viola and Guitar
Age 7 – Cello, Trumpet, French Horn, Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute
Age 8 – Double Bass, Percussion
Ages 13-14 – Voice (age 13 by audition) and Music Production
Online Musicianship Classes
Online Musicianship is back for the 22-23 season! Join Settlement faculty member Beth Benson for online study of music notation, scales, intervals, triads, musical terminology, transposition, harmony, and counterpoint. The class will run in the fall, with opportunity to continue into December and onward if there is interest.
Teen Beginners I
Thursdays, 4:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m.
DATES CHANGED: January 5 – March 9
Course topics include music clefs, notation, time signatures, terminology, and major scales and key signatures. Beginning ear training is introduced.
$180.00 tuition
Teen Beginners II
Mondays 6 p.m. -7 p.m.
DATES CHANGED: January 9 – March 20
Course topics include intervals, triads and dominant seventh chords, figured bass, minor scales and key signatures and triad quality. Ear training is continued.
$180.00 tuition
Teen Intermediate/Advanced
Mondays 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Full year session w/rolling admission w/placement clearance from Settlement Music School (Days off are Monday 12/12, Monday 12/26, Monday 1/2, and Monday 1/16 off for Winter Break and MLK Day)
Course topics include seventh chords, chord progressions, diatonic modulation, terminology, rhythm and ear training.
$180.00 tuition
Adult Musicianship I
Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. -12:30 a.m. (students have the opportunity to sign on at 11 a.m. for a coffee half hour to socialize and do homework together)
January 7 -March 11 (Ten week session)
Course topics include music clefs, notation, terminology, major scales and key signatures, intervals, and root position triads and dominant seventh chords. Beginning ear training is introduced.
$180.00 tuition
Adult Musicianship II
Fridays 10 a.m. -11 a.m.
November 18 – February 10 (Ten week session, Friday, 11/25, Friday, 12/23, and Friday, 12/30 off for Thanksgiving and Winter Break)
Course topics include triad and dominant seventh chord inversions, figured bass, chord symbols, minor scales and key signatures, triad qualities, chord progressions and cadences. Ear training is continued.
$180.00 tuition
Adult Musicianship III
Fridays 10 a.m. -11 a.m.
March 10 – May 19 (Friday 4/7 off for Spring Break)
Course topics include non-harmonic tones, seventh chords, chord progressions, functional harmony, diatonic modulation and ear training.
$180.00 tuition
Advanced Adult Musicianship
Fridays 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
March 10 – May 19 (Friday 4/7 off for Spring Break)
Course topics include chromatic modulation, borrowed chords, Neapolitan triads, augmented sixth chords, additional modulation techniques and ear training.
$180.00 tuition
To register, please contact Elisabeth Oosthuizen at 215-320-2660 or elisabeth.oosthuizen@settlementmusic.org.
We hope you will join us!
Wonder what it’s like to study with one of our awesome songwriting teachers online? Check out this clip to for a sneak peek into a Settlement Music Online lesson with faculty member April Gompers.
"This was one of the brightest spots of quarantine!" - Torren Blair, Settlement Music Online Parent
Can’t find what you are looking for?
Settlement offers a variety of additional online programming listed below through our other branches.
Kids & Teens Music Classes
Suzuki for ages 4-8
Kids Dance Classes
Kids & Teens Ensembles
Adult Music Classes
Adult Ensembles
Creative Arts Therapy
Contact one of our branches today, or fill out our Inquiry Form, so we can connect you with the appropriate staff member for more information.
Meet our teachers and arts therapists
At the heart of our programming is our highly credentialed and dedicated faculty. They bring years of professional experience to Settlement and strive to provide each student with exceptional training and support.
Faculty and Arts TherapistsGallery
How to join us online
All of our lessons, classes, and ensembles take place on Microsoft Teams. In order to participate, please make sure you have the following:
- Tablet, laptop, or smartphone (yes, you can use your phone—please use Wi-Fi as it is faster and less expensive than wireless data)
- Video and sound capability through your device of choice
- High speed internet access (some Internet Service Providers are offering special access options during this time—Comcast has opened its Xfinity Wi-Fi Network for free nationally, and is offering two months of free internet to new, low-income Internet Essentials customers)
For video tutorials on how to join your lesson on Microsoft Teams, click on one of the links below:
How to join on your desktop
How to join on your phone
To learn more about downloading, installing, and participating in a digital lesson, please review our Distance Learning Handbook for Microsoft Teams (available in multiple languages below).
Distance Learning Handbook – English
Distance Learning Handbook – Spanish
Distance Learning Handbook – Simplified Chinese
Distance Learning Handbook – Traditional Chinese
Distance Learning Handbook – Indonesian
Distance Learning Handbook – Russian
Distance Learning Handbook – Vietnamese
Meet our Settlement Music Online staff
Elisabeth Oosthuizen
Program Manager Voice Music
Tuition & Fees
Pricing for individual lessons, classes, workshops, summer programs, and more.
Creative Arts Therapy
At Settlement, Creative Arts Therapy uses the senses to open new channels of communication and create improvements in cognition, social and physical skills, self esteem, and more.
Community Partnerships
We provide teachers and early childhood professionals with supplemental training to deliver quality arts instruction to children ages 3-10.
Ready to sign up? Fill out our Inquiry Form below and be sure to select “Settlement Music Online” in the topic field. We look forward to talking with you and matching you with one of our expert faculty!
Settlement featured in Philadelphia Magazine’s 2020 “Best of Philly” issue
Settlement Music School’s Kids: Live series is named as one of the Best Virtual Kids’ Classes.
Providing a consistent connection online
Lena Sinker has been studying with Andrea Carlson for two years and has experienced major improvements in her self-esteem and self-confidence while learning to read music and play guitar.
A ‘seamless’ transition to online learning
Omai Harvey doesn’t want to think about what would happen if he couldn’t continue his violin lessons online with Lynne Budnick-Lennon these past few months. When you ask him about it, he gets a little emotional.
Helen Eaton receives Americans for the Arts’ Annual Leadership Award
Helen Eaton, Chief Executive Officer of Settlement Music School, has received one of the highest honors in her field with the 2020 Arts Education Award.