About the School
Westport School of Music (WSM) was founded in 1938 and is a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. We’re a long-established music school in Connecticut and beyond with the mission of providing quality instruction for people of all ages and abilities, regardless of race, income, ethnicity, or gender.
Located in a beautifully-renovated building which also houses the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Westport School of Music is one of Connecticut’s oldest continuing nonprofit schools of music. With a faculty from some of the most prestigious conservatories and university music departments in the country, we’re committed to providing student-centered learning for students throughout Fairfield County. Students receive private lessons every week and several performance opportunities each year.
Lessons
Lessons for Children & Youth
A Life-long Love of Music
Our instructors offer classical and jazz piano lessons as well as lessons in voice, strings, woodwinds, acoustic guitar, and electric bass. The goal is to provide a strong technical foundation while instilling self-discipline, encouraging creativity, and fostering a lifelong love of music.
Lessons for Adults
Your Time, Your Schedule
With adult learners, teachers act as more of a coach and mentor, working individually with students to attain their personal goals. Some adults want to return to the instrument they studied as a child; others see music lessons as a new hobby or as a vehicle for overall life enrichment. Students can choose either weekly adult music lessons or a package if they travel frequently. We’re happy to design a schedule that works for you.
Students with Special Needs
Reaching Where Words Cannot
Through neuroscience, we have begun to understand why music is so powerful, particularly for people with special needs. Music therapy is evidence-based and involves using music to help achieve goals.
Our Board-Certified music therapist works to develop trusting relationships with students who have developmental delays, autism, or other disabilities. Learning music encourages them to express themselves without judgment and increase their confidence.
For more information, visit our MusicWorks! page.
Performances & Collaborations
Engaging with Community
Twice a year, Westport School of Music students share their musical gifts by performing for residents of local nursing and healthcare facilities. Other community partners have included Norwalk Housing Authority, Sturges Ridge Assisted Living, Weston Public Library< Notre Dam Rehabilitation Center and The Residence at Westport.
Our Location
Find us on the 2nd floor above MOCA Westport.
19 Newtown Turnpike, Westport, CT
“It’s been many years since I was a musician and I always wanted to learn jazz piano. Luckily, I have found an amazing instructor recently at the Westport School of Music. He is a very patient and good teacher and my lesson time just flies by!
I try to arrive a little early to have a chance to warm up in one of the comfortable and charming studios and I am always greeted with a welcoming hello by the staff and other instructors. Such a warm and friendly atmosphere...”
PATRICIA, WSM Adult Piano Student
“Both my children have been taking piano lessons at Westport School of Music since the fall of 2018 and I am very impressed with their improvement in less than a year. They were only kindergarteners and just beginning their musical endeavors, but I can tell that the school and instructor are building a strong foundation for them. We love the staff and plan on continuing with lessons here for many years to come.”
JOO-HEE, Parent of WSM students
Our Partners
With support from the Connecticut Office of the Arts, which also receives
funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.