The Music Settlement, Center for Early Childhood was founded in 1955 with the idea of providing a quality preschool experience with a commitment to the Arts. Children involved in our program participate in regularly scheduled Dalcroze classes, which introduce children to musical concepts and theory through a variety of movement activities. Pre-Kindergarten students are also involved in a six week Orff experience which encourages music composition and provides ensemble experience through the playing of pitched and unpitched percussive instruments. Both classes are taught by a music educator. Drama is another creative component that Pre-K, K, and Day School classes experience. Children participate in weekly drama classes, where they have an opportunity to discover their creative potential using elements of storytelling and movement. In class they explore self-expression through familiar tales and original works. Another unique feature of our school is the Science program. In addition to the science experiences, which occur daily in each classroom, children are provided the opportunity to explore science concepts in a dedicated Science Room (Discovery Room) guided by a science teacher. Another unique resource to our program is our Library. Classes regularly visit our Library to participate in stories, songs and poems with our storyteller. Our Center for Early Childhood is enhanced by our accessibility to the University Circle community and by the strong involvement of our parents.

Each child is an individual and, depending on your child’s and your family’s needs, we address each transition individually. If your child needs you to stay, then please stay. You may then slowly withdraw to the doorway, the hallway, down the hallway, etc. We feel it is very important and fundamental that you and your child feel comfortable and secure in making the transition from home to school.

The Music Settlement staff recognizes that the parent/guardian is the child's most important caregiver. The parent/teacher relationship should be that of a cooperative partnership working for the fullest benefit of the child. Parents are encouraged to be active in their child's experience through visitations, social functions, daily communication, classroom participation, parent functions at night, and participation in The Music Settlement Parent Committee. The Parent Committee has meetings on developmental topics, supporting our community and opportunities to volunteer your time and talents for the betterment of The Music Settlement Early Childhood programs. Parents are welcome to visit the school at any time your child is in attendance. We believe our parent’s involvement to be one of the strengths of our school and welcome you to join us.

At the beginning of the year there is a one-time Activity Fee assessed by the Parent Committee. This fee varies according to the child’s program. The activity fee pays for:

• School pictures (individual and class)


• Speech and Hearing and Vision screenings


• Special performances (music, puppet, storytelling)


• Art experiences (in addition to those included in daily curriculum)


• Classroom allowances for special projects


• Guest Artist visits


• ELI (Pre-K students only - monthly field trips) (Early Learning Initiative - program coordinated by University Circle Incorporated) Admission fees to the cultural institutions


• Transportation costs to/from the institutions

YES, for all Early Children programs (Preschool/Day School/Kindergarten Explorers), children are required to have toilet mastery. This includes dressing and undressing as well as all aspects toileting. We believe that successful mastery of this self care skill allows children to be more able to connect with the group.

Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) is a voluntary rating system for early care and education centers in Ohio. SUTQ was created by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services - Bureau of Child Care and Development to improve the quality of child care in Ohio. Participating centers earn a one to five-star rating by meeting an extensive list of quality benchmarks that exceed licensing standards. Experts say these benchmarks improve the growth and development potential of children. These benchmarks include low child-to-staff ratios, group size, accreditation, staff education, specialized training, improved workplace characteristics and early learning standards. SUTQ assists parents in making more informed choices on behalf of their children in center-based programs licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Visit www.stepuptoquality.org

Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK), unique to Cuyahoga County, was initiated in 2007, and makes high quality early care and education more affordable for families. All UPK sites licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) must be enrolled in Step Up To Quality and meet a series of standards, proven through vast research to be the hallmarks of quality that result in improved school readiness. These standards include teacher qualifications, formal assessment, lower staff to child ratios, use of approved curricula, engagement of families, and family linkages to necessary supportive services.

Visit http://investinchildren.cuyahogacounty.us

PRE4CLE, PRE4CLE is Cleveland’s plan to expand access to high-quality preschool in community-based and school-based Pre- Kindergarten programs for Cleveland families who are seeking an excellent preschool experience for their children. PRE4CLE’s success will fulfill a key goal of the Cleveland Plan, a plan to ensure that every child in Cleveland attends a high-quality school and that every neighborhood has a multitude of great schools from which families can choose. PRE4CLE embraces the vision that every child in Cleveland will enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school. Visit http://pre4cle.org

Both of the buildings with our performance spaces (Burke Mansion at TMS/University Circle and BOP STOP at The Music Settlement in Ohio City) are handicap-accessible, including the bathrooms, which have grab-bars in the accessible stalls. BOP STOP has portable ramps that allow wheeled patrons to get closer to the stage.

Please feel free to call us in advance of your visit so we can ensure your group is welcomed as comfortably as possible!
University Circle campus: (216) 421-5806 xt. 100
BOP STOP at The Music Settlement: (216) 771-6551

Length is not really the issue for the waiting list. People move up on the waiting list based on the date we received their completed intake (click on this to go to intake) materials. Also, the more availability and flexibility you can provide us in terms of when we might be able to schedule your music therapy sessions, the sooner you might be able to be placed and begin participating in our programs. Due to the fact that we place individuals in music therapy sessions based upon availability for the particular days and times which become open in our schedule, the length of our waiting list is not the most important factor to consider. Please provide us with as many scheduling options on your Intake Form (INCLUDE LINK TO FORM) as you possibly can in order to have the best chance of receiving a call for scheduling. Those who provide very limited options for scheduling (e.g. only Wednesdays starting at 5:00 p.m.) will most certainly wait longer for a scheduling phone call/e-mail than those who document greater flexibility. You may also want to consider the fact that weekday sessions which occur in the morning or early in the afternoon (between Noon and 4:00 p.m.) are less desirable for most individuals than weekday sessions starting at 4:00 p.m. Therefore, if you are available during the morning or early afternoon, your chances of receiving a scheduling call may be increased. Our best advice to you regarding the wait list is to give us your widest possible availability of days and start times. As well, please don’t forget to call or e-mail if your schedule changes!

Please note that summer will now vary between 6 adn 8 weeks.

Our fall/spring programs begin in early September and end mid-June; our summer program begins the final week in June. However, please be aware that music therapy sessions may become available at any time throughout the year! Openings occur in our schedules for a variety of reasons, and placement is a highly individualized process.

The first step in the intake and enrollment process is to get your name, your family member’s name, or the individual you are responsible for onto our waiting list. This is accomplished by sending us a completed Intake Form (link to Intake Form). Although we have a 36-week school year session and a 6-8 week summer session, we often have openings in our schedule which occur at any time during the year. We schedule new registrants based upon the date we receive the completed Intake Form, documented information regarding preferred days and start times, and therapist experience related to the individual’s diagnosis, needs, and abilities. When we call or e-mail you to offer a session, you will be given a limited window in which to respond, often between 1 to three days. Please be ready to respond at your earliest convenience, as we will move on to another individual on the wait list if we do not hear from you by the deadline you are given. Once you accept an offer of a day and time within our schedule and a plan for financing music therapy services has been developed, an assessment date and time will be scheduled. Therapeutic programming and finalized decisions for music therapy services are determined after an assessment is conducted. The assessment provides an evaluation of the strengths and needs of the individual as observed in the music therapy setting and collected in the intake process. An initial treatment plan with selected therapeutic targets for ongoing music therapy sessions is begun at this time. Music Therapy sessions will generally start two weeks after the assessment has been concluded, so that the Assessment and Initial Treatment Plan may be developed and written.

Once clients begin music therapy services within the Center for Music Therapy, we make every effort to have them continue with the same therapist, unless a schedule change prevents us from doing so. In most cases, we cannot place new clients with a specific music therapist. Each music therapist has a unique schedule, tailor-made to accommodate the clients here and the outreach agencies served. We pride ourselves on hiring only the best and most qualified music therapists. All music therapists have completed an approved music therapy education and training program. All are Board Certified within the first year of their employment and all continue to be recertified, with ongoing participation in our Center’s and other professional development and continuing education opportunities. All music therapists are supervised by the Chair or Clinical Director of our Center, and the entire staff provides informal networking opportunities with one another, which can only enhance the experiences of our clients.

All of our music therapists travel to various community outreach partners in the Greater Cleveland/Northeast Ohio area. We focus on serving those in diverse educational, social service, medical, and recreational settings. For more information about our music therapy outreach contract process, contact Ronna Kaplan, Chair of the Center for Music Therapy.

We may also be able to provide home-based music therapy for those who have challenges accessing services within the community. Contact Anne Reed, Clinical Director of the Center for Music Therapy if you are interested in having a music therapist come to your home.

Kindergarten is an option for children turning 5 years old by September 30 or those tested for early enrollment by their home school district. After completing TMS Kindergarten, students may enroll in first grade or kindergarten in their home districts or the school of their choice. Kindergarten is held mid-August through late May/early June, five days/week, 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aftercare will be exclusive to Kindergarten students, Monday through Friday, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Registration for Aftercare will take place in the Spring. The cost for Aftercare is $500 for each day enrolled for the year and parents have flexibility to sign up for select days, or all aftercare days.

The Music Settlement staff recognizes that the parent/guardian is the child's most important caregiver. The parent/teacher relationship should be that of a cooperative partnership working for the fullest benefit of the child. Parents are encouraged to be active in their child's experience through visitations, social functions, daily communication, classroom participation, parent functions at night, and participation in The Music Settlement Parent Committee. The Parent Committee has meetings on developmental topics, supporting our community and opportunities to volunteer your time and talents for the betterment of The Music Settlement programs. Parents are welcome to visit the school at any time your child is in attendance. We believe our parent’s involvement to be one of the strengths of our school and welcome you to join us.

Private lessons start at $30 per half hour. This could be more, depending upon the instrument, instructor, or pedagogy (for example, Suzuki private lessons cost more). For those who want to take voice lessons, there may be an extra accompanist fee.

Yes! We take students of all ages and abilities. So long as you are interested, we are happy to welcome you!

Thank you for considering us for such an honor. Legacy gifts will ensure the health of The Music Settlement for our next century. For more information about legacy giving, please contact Patricia Camacho Hughes.

Absolutely! Please contact Patricia Camacho Hughes for information on how to submit your employer's matching-gift form.

We are happy to accept gifts of stock. Please contact Patricia Camacho Hughes for more information.

Our teaching staff meets educational standards as established by the Ohio Department of Human Services and aligned to accreditation guidelines of Step Up to Quality and Universal Pre-Kindergarten, with a majority of staff holding a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Education or related fields. As per state licensing requirements, our staff is also trained in First Aid, CPR, Child Abuse Recognition, and Communicable Disease Prevention. Staff annually attends in-service training and workshops, observe other early childhood programs, and access our professional library. Staff turnover is very low; the average tenure of our dedicated staff is 8 years.