Music & Dance Programming

Music Lessons and Classes

We are in open enrollment for our individual lessons and group classes for our winter semester (January-May 2024).  New students, please complete our Music Intake Form and continue to enroll for the program you're interested in below. 

Policies and Procedures

Music Therapy

Music therapy uses music as the therapeutic stimulus to achieve non-musical treatment goals, for example: 

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 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!  *This class replaces The Learning Groove Program, which we have been offering for the past 10 years!

Music in Color Classes (ages 6-9 & 10-13)

This class offers students a chance to engage together through structured musical ensembles and learn how to play multiple instruments through matching colors on the instrument and in music notation with the guitar, Boomwhackers, handbells & tone chimes. We also include sensory integration and regulation with movement manipulatives & sensory items. Led by a Board Certified Music Therapist, this inclusion class is appropriate for children, ages 6-9 who have special needs and those neurotypically developing.  

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 will begin open enrollment for our individual lessons and group classes for our winter semester (January-May 2024).  New students, please complete our Dance Intake Form and continue to enroll for the program you're interested in below.  Click here for a current video of our programs. 

Policies and Procedures

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.

2024 Summer Camps

Parent/Child The Eras Tour Camp (ages 2-4)

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 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 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 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 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 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 and neurotypical students alike.  Check out this summer camp in action here at 2:56.

The Eras Tour Camp (ages 5-7, 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 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.

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 students.  Check out this summer camp in action here at 0:42.

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 and neurotypical students alike.  Check out this summer camp in action here at 3:15.

Ukulele Camp (ages 9+)

Ukulele camp offers students a chance to become immediately successful in playing the ukulele in an inclusion setting, using our adapted music program. This inclusion camp is appropriate for neurodiverse and neurotypical students alike.  Check out this summer camp in action here at 0:17.

Level 1 - Students will learn the first four chords (C, Am, F & G), basic strumming patterns, finger/hand positions and songwriting skills. 

Level 2 - Students know their first four chords (C, Am, F & G) and will advance their strumming patterns and songwriting skills. While it is not required to complete Level 1, it is recommended that the student has had individual lessons or experience in a prior camp year.  This level is not for students who haven't played the ukulele before. 

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 and neurotypical students alike.  Check out this summer camp in action here at 1:50.

Community Outreach Programs

The Learning Groove at Hobbitts Preschool

The Learning Groove Music Class 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 2023-24 school year, divided into two 10-week semesters (Fall and Winter).   WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING STUDENTS ON OUR WAIT LIST.

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.