Organization Overview
Virginia Hoff and Joyce Barthelson believed that the joy of music and the skills to perform it should be available to everyone. When these two gifted musicians founded Hoff-Barthelson Music School in 1944, they built a legacy that has touched the lives of thousands: a warm, friendly music school dedicated to the highest standards of education, performance, and community service.
Today, a commitment to creativity, collaboration, and community permeates the School. Students of all ages, aptitudes, and levels of interest—from casual learners to students preparing to pursue careers in music, from 9-month-olds in our Early Childhood Program to recent retirees returning to music making after decades devoted to pursuing careers and raising children—all enjoy these benefits:
A supportive, joyful learning environment. We inspire students to develop their full creative potential by pursuing their love of music with peers, friends, family members, and teachers.
A focus on the whole person. Developing musical skill, understanding, and appreciation goes hand in hand with nurturing valuable learning and life skills. Problem-solving abilities, fine and gross motor skills, self-confidence, peer relationships, focus and organization, teamwork, and more are strengthened through high-quality music education.
Exceptional teaching. Our faculty—drawn from the region’s most talented teachers and performers—excel at meeting individual needs, developing artistic and human potential, and inspiring achievement for students of all levels of ability.
A multifaceted curriculum. Our comprehensive approach deepens and accelerates musical development through individualized private instruction; classroom instruction in music theory, sight-singing, and music history; frequent performance opportunities, including workshops, master classes with visiting artists, recitals, and festivals; and ongoing assessment of student progress.
The Hoff-Barthelson Music School has achieved national recognition as a premier community music school for its unsurpassed leadership in education, performance and outreach. Since its establishment in 1944, the School has become one of Westchester County's most cherished and active cultural resources.
