Where Kids Make Friends and Learn to Love Music
We love seeing our young students have fun with music, meet peers, and grow into confident and independent musicians. We hold weekly piano classes, singing classes, and private lessons for kids at the Bella Vista location of the Philadelphia Piano Institute, and we would love to hear from you! Get in touch and we will quickly send you more information about our programs.
Studio A at the Philadelphia Piano Institute
Fun Group Music Classes For Children at the Institute
Young Singers Program
(2nd - 6th grades)
Taught by expert vocal instructor and music educator Elisa Chodan, our Young Singers programs is an engaging 8-week program at our Bella Vista location. Your child will learn to sing in pitch, learn musical fundamentals with fun rhythm instruments, make friends, and enjoy music without the pressure of a performance. Children are offered two opportunities:
Music Explorers: Kinder - 1st Grade
Prelude Singers: 2nd - 6th Grad
There will be a social time of musical sharing for friends and family at the end of the 8-week period, and you are more than welcome to enroll your child in the continuing program thereafter.
It’s a great opportunity for your child to fall in love with music, and it serves as a gateway into instrument/singing lessons or other musical pursuits.
The Goal of our Young Singers Program:
We want to welcome children who are new to music-making into a low-pressure environment with no performance stress. It's all just about the joy of learning and creating a warm space where all are accepted. This would be a perfect fit for a child who is unsure about music or has more sensitivity toward differing social/emotional needs.
Meet Young Singers director Elisa Chodan. She directed choral studies at Veritas Academy, traveled with Voces 8, and has a tremendous amount of young music instruction experience.
Young Pianist Program
(1st - 6th grades)
Our Young Pianist program will help your child enjoy music, want to practice the piano at home, and have music to share with friends and family on a regular basis. Your child will learn the basics of piano, rhythm, note reading, technique and more in a fun group class of 3-4 students. We use age-appropriate method materials, duets, “off-the-bench” activities, and more to get your child excited about learning piano!
Our Bella Vista Location
807 S 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Our beautiful Bella Vista location has cafe seating for parents to wait and mingle, an Nesspresso machine, wifi, a patio, and several teaching studios. We are across the street from O Sole Mio and near the Italian Market, Shot Tower Coffee, and more.
Your Guide to Music Classes for Toddlers and Preschoolers in Philadelphia in 2023
We currently don’t offer opportunites for students younger than kindergarten, but here are some helpful resources:
The benefits of musical activities on a child’s development are well known, so we won’t belabor the point. Here’s a quick overview:
1). A recent study from USC found that children who began playing an instrument at a young age enjoyed accelerated auditory pathway development -- such development has been tied to an increased ability to read and learn languages.
2). The NAMM Foundation tied early childhood music education to achievement in math.
3). Studying music at a young age may be tied to higher SAT scores later in life (NAMM)
Of course, we don’t need abstract science and organization-funded studies to tell us that musical activities are fun, wholesome, and worthwhile.
If you are interested in getting your toddler or preschooler started with music classes in Philadelphia, here’s a guide -- and if you need some guidance on how to get your child to practice the piano, we’ve got you covered there as well.
Music Classes At Play Arts
Location: 1241 N. Front Street (Fishtown Area)
Ages: Classes for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Website: http://www.playartsphilly.com/classes
Caregiver Requirements: A parent or caregiver must be present
The Details: Classes are on select Saturdays, and the activities include singing lessons, dancing, rhythm, lessons on musical concepts like tempo, and more.
Cost: $20 per class session
Music Classes For Kids At the Philly Art Center
Location: Locations in Queen Village & Fairmount
Ages: Classes for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers (up to age 3)
Website: https://public.phillyartcenter.com/public/MusicClasses.faces
Caregiver Requirements: Caregiver must be present
The Details: Children enjoy a 45 minute-long music class each Wednesday at one of the Philly Art Center’s locations. Kids will dance, since, chant, use rhythm instruments, and engage with one another in a musical setting.
Cost: $92/month
Songs For Seeds at NEST
Location: 1301 Locust Street Midtown Village, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (in the NEST location)
Ages: Classes for babies through 6 year-olds
Website: https://songsforseeds.com/pa/philadelphia
Caregiver Requirements: Caregiver must be present
Details: Songs For Seeds features a kid-friendly three-piece band that plays both original and popular tunes for the children to sing and dance along with. It’s interactive; children make art, experience magic tricks, and use drums and other rhythm instruments. Each session is 45 minutes long, and there is a Wayne, PA based location of Songs for Seeds as well.
Cost: $225 for a two month long registration.
Early Childhood Music Ed @ Philadelphia Folk Song Society
Location: 6156 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19128
Ages: Classes for newborns through 5 years old
Website: https://pfs.org/our-organization/childrens-music-classes/
Caregiver Requirements: Parents or caregivers participate in activities
The Details: Children participate in 45 minute-long singalongs in which they are introduced to lullabies andfolksongs, and older toddlers and children use rhythm instruments and shakers. A brief introduction to music theory is also included.
Cost: $95 for month-long registration
Philly Music Babies
Location: 2111 E. Susquehanna Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Ages: Newborns through 3 year olds
phillymusiclessons [dot] com/phillymusicbabies-2/
Caregiver Requirements: Caregivers will participate in class
The Details: Children participate in mixed-age classes for 45 minutes at a time -- currently, these classes are offered on a pop-up basis. Older children will be introduced to guitars and other instruments, while younger kids will sing, dance, and use rhythm instruments.
Cost: Contact for details
Enchanted Music Together
Location: 701 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Ages: Newborns through 3 year olds
Website: https://enchantedmusictogether.business.site/
Caregiver Requirements: Caregivers participate
The Details: In this chain music class business, adults and children alike participate in musical activities. Children play rhythm instruments, sing, and dance, and the mixed age environment allows for the development of leadership and social skills.
Cost: Contact for details
DoMiSol Kids Classes
Location: Locations in the Ethical Society of PA and the Old Pine Community Center
Ages: Classes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers
Website: http://www.domisolkids.com/Welcome.html
Caregiver Requirements: Caregivers encouraged to participate
The Details: Children ages 0-5 enjoy eight 45-minute long music classes, in which they participate in both classical and pop music activities. They will be exposed to a variety of instruments, including keyboards and rhythm instruments.
Cost: $200-$250 for the first child per semester, 2nd child is $150
All Around This World Music Classes for Kids
Location: West Philly at Jay Sand’s house - contact for details
Ages: Babies
Website: https://www.allaroundthisworld.com/locations/west-philly-2/
Caregiver Requirements: Caregivers or parents participate
The Details: Jay Sands leads 45 minute-long singalong sessions that explore Jewish songs from around the world. The song content changes each semester, so stay tuned for details.
Cost: $175 for an 11-week session
Mister John’s Music
Location: 904 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 (Italian Market)
Ages: Babies - 5 year-olds
Website: http://www.misterjohnsmusic.com/early-childhood/
Caregiver Requirements: Caregivers or parents participate, depending on the class
The Details: Mister John’s Music offers a variety of early childhood classes. The youngest children will experience an introduction to rhythm and call and response singing, and the older range will explore more advanced music concepts. See the full roster of classes find the right fit for your family.
Cost: Up to $175 for a 1.5 month-long program.
If you think of any other early childhood music lessons in Philadelphia in the area that we missed, please let us know — we’d love to include them. And of course, if your child graduates from class and would like to begin private piano lessons or voice lessons, get in touch! Please also contact us for piano movers in Philadelphia.