Music, Art & Dance Programming
Music Lessons and Classes
We are in open enrollment for our individual lessons and group classes for our winter semester (January-May 2025). New students, please complete our Music Intake Form and continue to enroll for the program you're interested in below.
Music Therapy
Music therapy uses music as the therapeutic stimulus to achieve non-musical treatment goals, for example:
Increased attention
Improved cognitive functioning
Increased socialization and improved behavior
Successful and safe self expression
Enhanced auditory processing
Improved communication or verbal skills
The purpose of music therapy is to provide the individual with an initial assist using melodic and rhythmic strategies, followed by fading of musical cues to aid in generalization and transfer to other environments. Click here for a video of this program.
Adapted Music Lessons
Adaptive music lessons focus on musical goals. Beginning adaptive music lessons with a music therapist can often be the first step a student needs to successfully start a lifetime of musical learning. The purpose of adaptive music lessons is to provide additional support to increase musical skills until traditional music lessons can be successful. We offer adapted music lessons in piano, voice, guitar and ukulele. Click here for a video of this program.
Traditional Private Lessons
We offer 30-minute, weekly individual lessons in voice, guitar, ukulele and piano at our studios in North Royalton.
Do Re Read Mi a Story: Parent/Child Music Class (ages 1-5)
Our developmental music & movement class is inclusive to neurodiverse, disable and neurotypical children. This lively and interactive program is designed to engage young children in the joy of music. Through a combination of singing books, rhythmic activities, instrument ensembles, and creative movement exercises, our classes aim to foster a love for music while enhancing motor skills, coordination, and social development. Led by a Board Certified Music Therapist, children will have the opportunity to explore various genres of music, develop their sense of rhythm, and express themselves in a fun and nurturing environment. Join us as we embark on a musical journey filled with laughter, learning, and creative expression!
Speaking Through Song Class (ages 4-6)
This class is perfect for emerging communicators, using pictures, devices and verbal approximations in a non-threatening environment filled with music. Your child will sing, dance and play instruments while working on communication skills of requesting items, choosing from 2-3 items and participating in a musical ensemble. This class is appropriate for neurodiverse, disabled and neurotypical children.
Music in Color Classes (ages 5-7, 8-10 & 11-13)
This class offers students a chance to engage together through structured musical ensembles with a goal of playing a variety of instruments through matching colors on the instrument to the visual prompt of adapted music notation. We also include sensory integration and regulation with movement manipulatives & sensory items. Led by two Board Certified Music Therapists, this inclusion class is appropriate for children who are neurodiverse, disabled and neurotypical.
Art Therapy Lessons and Classes
We are in open enrollment for our individual lessons and group classes for our winter semester (January-May 2025). New students, please complete our Art Intake Form and continue to enroll for the program you're interested in below.
Art Therapy
Art Therapy is the therapeutic use of the creative process in art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of an individual. In art therapy, individuals are encouraged to explore their feelings, thoughts and perceptions through various art materials and techniques. This therapeutic approach provides a safe and supportive environment. For individuals that have difficulty with social and verbal communication, art therapy provides an non-verbal means of communication and self-expression.
Art therapists are trained to assess the whole individual through the art making process while developing a treatment plan with action steps. Art Therapy targets non-artistic goals such as:
Emotional regulation
Self expression
Sensory integration and regulation
Leisure skills
Social skills
Coping skills
Developmental growth
Visual/spatial skills
Imagination/abstract thinking.
Adapted Dance Lessons and Classes
The ultimate goal of our adaptive dance program is to mainstream our dancers into a traditional dance class. The benefit to these classes is the low teacher to student ratio (1:4). Skills taught in these classes are the same as a typical dance class, but are tailored to each dancer’s unique needs and abilities in order to provide the most successful learning environment.
We are currently in open enrollment for our individual lessons and group classes for our winter semester (January-May 2025). New students, please complete our Dance Intake Form and continue to enroll for the program you're interested in below.
Level 1 – Individual Adapted Dance Lesson
A private dance lesson allows the instructor to focus on the skills and needs of the dancer. We tailor private lessons to developing the dancers’ skills in social, communication and gross motor, as well as developing a foundation for dance.
Level 2 – Adapted Dance Class
Our class focuses on social, communication & gross motor skills, as well as developing a foundation for dance. Dancers have the opportunity to learn multiple styles of dance in one class (lyrical, ballet, jazz, tap or tumbling). The ratio for this class is no more than 1:5 instructor/dancer ratio.
Level 3 – Adapted Dance Class with Peer Models
Our class focuses on social, communication & gross motor skills, as well as developing a foundation for dance. Dancers have the opportunity to learn multiple styles of dance in one class (lyrical, ballet, jazz, tap or tumbling). The ratio for this class is no more than 1:8 instructor/dancer ratio. Peer models do not pay for the class, but make a time commitment for the duration of the semester. Peer models are individually selected based on attention, personality, energy and social behavior to match what is appropriate for each class.
Level 4 – Inclusion into Traditional Dance Class
Adapted dancers registered in this type of class are included into a traditional dance class with an assistant instructor. The assistant instructor will guide the dancer through the challenges of class pace, sequencing and social expectations, which fading the levels of prompting until the assistant is no longer needed. These classes are a partnership with North Royalton Dance Academy.
2025 Summer Camps
Parent/Child The Eras Tour Camp (ages 2-5)
Are you a parent or caregiver who loves Taylor Swift and want to share this with your children? Our Parent/Child The Eras Tour Camp is a developmental music & movement camp that is inclusive to neurodiverse, disabled and neurotypical children alike. The camp is a lively and interactive program designed to engage young children in the joy of music. Through a combination of rhythmic activities, instrument ensembles, and creative movement exercises, our camp aims to foster a love for Taylor Swift's music while enhancing motor skills, coordination, and social development.
Parent/Child Speaking Through Song Camp (ages 2.5-3)
Our parent/child camp features the experience of two professionals – music therapy and speech therapy. This pre-camp meets for only 45-min/day for one week providing opportunities to increase communication and socialization through musical interventions. This camp is appropriate for neurodiverse and disabled children and their siblings.
Parent/Child Sensory Play Art Camp (ages 2.5-4)
Sensory art play is when a child engages with art that involves one or more of the five senses. In this camp, encourage creativity through play, sometimes messy play. Join us as we explore a different sense each day through art. This camp is appropriate for neurodiverse and disabled children and their siblings.
Sensory Play Art Camp (ages 4-6)
Sensory art play is when a child engages with art that involves one or more of the five senses. In this camp, encourage creativity through play, sometimes messy play. Join us as we explore a different sense each day through art. This camp is appropriate for neurodiverse and disabled children and their siblings.
Speaking Through Song Camp (ages 4-6, 7-9, 10-14)
Our unique camp features the experience of two professionals - music therapist and speech therapist. This summer program is perfect for emerging communicators, using pictures, devices and verbal approximations in a non-threatening environment filled with music. Your child will sing, dance and play instruments while working on communication skills of requesting items, choosing from 2-3 items and participating in a musical ensemble. This camp is appropriate for neurodiverse and disabled children. Check out this summer camp in action here.
Everything Disney Dance Camp (ages 5-8, 9-13)
Join in the magic with our inclusive, Disney Camp. Dancers of all abilities learn fundamental dance skills in a creative environment with their peers. Every day features a theme from your favorite movies with songs, dances and crafts. This inclusion camp is appropriate for neurodiverse, disabled and neurotypical dancers alike. Check out this summer camp in action here at 2:39.
PASS Camp (ages 5-8, 9-13)
PASS Camp offers children a chance to engage together socially through structured musical experiences. Students engage in fine arts experiences of songwriting, musical ensembles, dancing and drama exercises with a focus on social skills opportunities of taking turns and making friends. This inclusion camp is appropriate for neurodiverse and disabled students and will meet for Monday-Friday from 9-noon for one week. Check out this summer camp in action here at 3:30.
Showstopper Camp (ages 6-9, 10-13, 14-18)
Does your child love to dance and sing? Our inclusive Showstopper Camp teaches musical theater skills of singing, dancing and drama in a creative environment with peers of all abilities. Each day, we focus on a different musical theater show and perform a showcase of songs on Friday. This inclusion camp is appropriate for neurodiverse, disabled and neurotypical students alike. Check out this summer camp in action here at 2:56.
Music in Color Camp (ages 7-11)
Music in Color camp offers students a chance to engage together through structured music therapy interventions. Students learn how to play multiple instruments through matching colors on the instrument and in music notation with the piano, guitar, piano, Boomwhackers, handbells and tone chimes. We also include sensory integration and sensory regulation with movement manipulatives and sensory items. This inclusion camp is appropriate for neurodiverse and disabled students. Check out this summer camp in action here at 0:42.
The Eras Tour Camp (ages 8-10, 11-13, 14-18)
Does your child love to dance and sing to Taylor Swift? Our inclusive The Eras Tour Camp teaches skills of singing and dancing in a creative environment with peers of all abilities. Each day, we focus on a different songs from one of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour and make a music video or perform a showcase of the songs on Friday. This inclusion camp is appropriate for neurodiverse, disabled and neurotypical students alike.
We have one camp week specific for our seated dancers that will be offered in a larger dance studio space, as well as have accommodations for a private area (for feeding, medications, changing, etc.) if needed.
Hip Hop Dance Camp (ages 9-13)
Does your child love to watch dance videos? Want to learn the trendy dance moves they see on YouTube or TikTok? Our Hip Hop Dance Camp allows dancers a chance to learn popular hip hop line dancers and basic hip hop movements. This inclusion camp is appropriate for neurodiverse, disabled and neurotypical students alike. Check out this summer camp in action here at 3:15.
Jam Session & Songwriting Camp (ages 15+)
Jam Session & Songwriting camp offers teens and young adults the opportunity to write new songs and create structured musical ensembles with piano, guitar and drums, using our adapted music program. Students learn the basics of music notation, increase rhythm and improvisational skills through active music making with their peers. This inclusion camp is appropriate for neurodiverse, disabled and neurotypical students alike. Check out this summer camp in action here at 1:50.
Community Outreach Programs
Do Re Read Mi a Story at Hobbitts Preschool
Do Re Read Mi a Story is a developmental music & movement class designed to empower children to reach their full musical, academic and creative potential. This class will be offered on Monday or Thursday from 12:00-12:30 for the 2024-25 school year, divided into two 11-week semesters (Fall and Winter).
Music Therapy in the Community
Beyond Words has partnerships with several public schools, private schools, non-profit organizations and hospitals bringing music therapy to you in the community. Our contracts are tailored to your budgetary and programming needs. Contact Erin Jester for more details at 440-230-6100 x.700.