Looking for lessons for younger kids? Visit the early childhood page.

The Institute for Creative Music offers lessons and classes for piano, guitar, voice, woodwinds, percussion, and more for ages 6+. You can also build your foundational musicianship at any age with our “Understanding Music” classes/lessons. New students can enroll at any time; fill out the inquiry form to reserve your spot, and we will contact you to set up a regular lesson day/time. Lessons and classes are held at our private home studio in Denton, TX near Bowling Green Park. Please view our tuition document for up-to-date pricing. Email chris@ifcmusic.org with questions.

Music Moves for Piano

• Group classes for 2-3 students

• Learn all about this revolutionary teaching and learning “method for the 21st century that builds on Orff, Kodaly, Suzuki, and Dalcroze and applies Edwin E. Gordon's Music Learning Theory to the teaching of piano.”

Audiate Guitar

• Group classes for 2-3 students

• “The first guitar method based on Music Learning Theory. It guides beginners through progressive levels of technical and musical content and also provides audio and jam tracks featuring real musicians playing popular genres such as pop, blues, jazz, classical, and rock.”

Understanding Music

• Sing, move, play, and understand foundational songs. Perfect for the student who wants to learn an instrument at some point down the road to become more musical right now!

• Individual or group lessons are available.

Individual or group lessons are offered for:

• Woodwinds (recorder, flute, clarinet, saxophone)

• Percussion/Drum Set

• Jazz piano

• Voice

• Improvisation on any instrument or voice-type

Fill out the inquiry form to get started!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who are IfCM lessons and classes for?

• IfCM programs are for learners of all ages and experience-levels.  This specifically includes babies and toddlers, elementary/middle/high school students, homeschool students, college students/college prep, adults of all ages, hobbyists, professionals, retired & ready to jam! Our programs emphasize accessibility and integrative learning and teaching strategies.

How does the IfCM teach?

• The IfCM teaching artists teach utilize principles of Music Learning Theory with the goal of teaching audiation (based on the research and testing of Edwin E. Gordon and others). An example of this is when we use the “whole-part-whole” learning sequence with a focus on “sound before sight before theory.” This means that students experience complete versions of songs, the songs are then broken into parts and patterns, the patterns are rearranged and developed through exploration, creativity, and improvisation, and then the complete song is put back together again. We have the goal of learning through listening, movement, singing, and playing in order to know core repertoire of all genres and create our own.

What kinds of music can I learn with the IfCM?

• The IfCM focuses on learning foundational folk song repertoire as well as jazz repertoire and popular music. This includes tunes written by artists like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, American Songbook standards, improvised music, original compositions by our Teaching Artists, and pop songs by artists like Radiohead, Björk, and Prince. 

Why does the IfCM take this approach?

• We learn music in a way similar to how we learn spoken language. As a jazz-based organization that follows the aural/oral traditions rooted in Black American music, we pay tribute to the history and culture of swing, bebop, and the community learning practices of the great musicians who created this music.

I already play in jazz band at my school. Why should I join the Denton Jazz Workshop?

• We are huge fans of the DISD jazz groups and other school programs in our area and have our professional performing group, the IfCM Collective, visit for outreach performances regularly. The DJW aims to supplement the great teaching that goes on in school music programs and get students of all ages interested in playing jazz and improvising. We focus a lot on solo and small group improvisation and playing by ear (without sheet music) rather than performing big band jazz, the more typical model for jazz in school music programs. We are also open to students on any instrument or voice type, so we have people in the group learning jazz and improvising who wouldn't typically be able to participate in traditional jazz band programs because they play bassoon, banjo, or violin. For those students that play in both DJW and their school jazz bands, the improvisation skills they build in our workshops can be applied to the music they learn at school. We also serve folks who aren’t in the DISD, though, as our classes are open to adults and home school students, as well.

These classes run on sliding scale payments. All are encouraged to participate regardless of ability to pay. The IfCM wishes to be 100% inclusive of all interested people and our programming is made possible by donations from members of the community. Pay what you can to make it possible for us to provide the classes to all, regardless of ability to pay (email chris@ifcmusic.org for suggested options and discount codes).

Want to learn more about the Institute for Creative Music? Check out our Mission Statement, FAQs, and Organizational History

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