Music & Dance Programming
New students, please complete our Dance Intake Form or Music Intake Form first and then continue to enroll for the program you're interested in below.
Music Lessons and Classes
We are in open enrollment for our individual lessons and group classes for our fall semester (September-December 2023).
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.
The Learning Groove Music Class (ages 1-5)
The Learning Groove program is a developmental music & movement class for children ages 1-5. TLG's mission is to empower children to reach their full musical, academic and creative potential. This program was created by Eric Litwin, author of the Pete The Cat picture books and special needs educator and is an inclusion class at our North Royalton.
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 fall semester (September-December 2023). 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.
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.
Community Outreach Programs
Music Therapy Classes at Abilities First
The Learning Groove: Parent/Child Class (ages 1-5)
This developmental music & movement class is inclusive to children with special needs and neurotypically developing. TLG's mission is to empower children to reach their full musical, academic & creative potential. Children develop their rhythm, pitch and melody, language skills, interpersonal skills, motor coordination, cultural awareness and preschool & reading readiness!
Music in Color Class (ages 6-9)
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.
Ukulele Class (ages 9+)
This class offers students who have never played ukulele before and have a chance to become immediately successful in an inclusion setting, using our adapted music program. Students will learn the first four chords (C, Am, F & G), basic strumming patterns, finger/hand positions and songwriting skills.
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.
2024 Summer Camps
Check back in February for Summer 2024 camp dates, times and registration information! Check out our summer camps in action here.
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 children who have special needs.
Speaking Through Song Camp (ages 4-6, 6-9, 10-13)
Our unique camp features the experience of two professionals – music therapy and speech therapy. 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 music ensemble.
This camp is appropriate for children who have special needs. 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 dancers who have special needs ("adapted") and those neurotypically developing ("peer models"). Check out this summer camp in action here at 2:39.
Music in Color Camp (ages 7-11)
Music in Color camp 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, piano, Boomwhackers, handbells and tone chimes. We also include sensory integration and sensory regulation with movement manipulatives and sensory items.
This camp is appropriate for campers who have special needs. Check out this summer camp in action here at 0:42.
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 individuals who have special needs and those neurotypically developing ("peer models"). 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.
PASS Camp (ages 9-13)
Performing Arts & Social Skills 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 students who have special needs ("adapted") and those neurotypically developing ("peer models"). Check out this summer camp in action here at 3:30.
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 dancers who have special needs ("adapted") and those neurotypically developing ("peer models"). Check out this summer camp in action here at 3:15.
Showstopper Camp (ages 10-13, 14-17)
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 campers who have special needs ("adapted") and those neurotypically developing ("peer models"). Check out this summer camp in action here at 2:56.
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 camp is appropriate for campers who have special needs. Check out this summer camp in action here at 1:50.
Adult Showstopper Camp (ages 18+)
Our inclusive, Adult Showstopper Camp teaches the performing arts skills of singing, dancing and drama in a creative environment with peers of all abilities. Each week, we focus on a different musical theater show that culminates in a performance on the last day. Each week, we focus on vocal warmups, physical warmups, learning a song, integrating dance movements, character/team building and creative expression interventions. Adaptations that are considered when working with adults with developmental disabilities include sensory integration, multiple models of learning (visual, modeling, verbal) and integrating multiple ways of participating (communication & physical adaptations) through positive reinforcement and presuming each individuals' intellect. North Pointe Ballet organizes our paid, adult peer models (consisting of professional dancers and dance teachers) for each adult registered. To see it in action, check out last year's performance: https://vimeo.com/738122562/371b345fe3