Teton Music School

Teton Music School (TMS) provides accessible music education in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Founded in 2019 to fill a gap in local music education, TMS now supports nearly 300 students and 16 faculty members as a Resident Organization of The Center for the Arts. In 2023-24, TMS delivered private lessons and engaged students in ensembles, including rock bands, Youth Choir, and the Music Together curriculum for young learners. Summer camps, therapy partnerships, and community events, like the sold-out Taylor Swift Tribute, marked our 5th anniversary. Scholarships ensure that music education is within reach for all. For details, and specific impact numbers, please see Schedule O.Private InstructionOur diverse lesson offerings allow both youth and adult students to learn one-on-one from professional musicians in guitar, bass, piano, ukulele, drums, voice, woodwinds, violin, viola, cello, songwriting, music production, and more. Instructors meet students at their skill level, whether they're learning a favorite song or striving for mastery. In 2023-24, TMS delivered 5,120 individual lessons to 209 students.Group Classes and EnsemblesPerformance opportunities and social learning are key to comprehensive music education. Teens develop their performance skills in rock bands coached by TMS instructors, while other students explore music composition through production classes, crafting and recording original songs. TMS's ensemble offerings expanded to include an elementary rock band, joining four bands for grades 6-12. Other group classes included Youth Choir, Rock Band Prep, After-School Strings, and Bucket Band (street drumming). The introduction of the acclaimed Music Together curriculum brought music learning to babies through age 5, with their grownups. In 2023-24, 163 students participated in ten group classes and ensembles, accounting for 2,671 class visits.Summer CampsOur weeklong day camps provide music education for K-12 students during the summer months. In 2023-24, 79 students participated in five music camps, including a DJ workshop and a multi-arts camp. Each camp is project-based, with students presenting their work in a performance or showcase at the end. Summer strings students performed alongside professionals on a Grand Teton Music Festival stage, while younger students in grades K-2 learned basic musical concepts by creating "Junkestra" instruments from found objects, in partnership with the Art Association of Jackson Hole.Creative PartnershipsOur collaborations enrich the entire Jackson community. In 2023-24, TMS partnered with organizations to reach broader audiences and impact lives through music. With a board-certified music therapist on staff, we brought music therapy to Teton County School District, Community Entry Services, and Teton Youth and Family Services. Adults 55 and older engaged through Uke55, a ukulele group promoting continued learning and social connection. These partnerships allowed us to deliver 148 outreach sessions, reaching 41 individuals in need of accessible music experiences.New Annual EventIn December 2023, TMS launched Teen Takeover, a new annual event focused on music and the arts, created by teens for teens. In collaboration with The Center for the Arts and Jackson Hole High School, this event features live music, art, and food all made by and for local teens creating a unique platform for youth expression and community building.A Year of CelebrationsIn honor of TMS's 5th birthday, we hosted impactful events in early 2024, each celebrating our mission and community's love for music:1. Taylor Swift Tribute Concert: Our first-ever ticketed event, which sold out, featured both faculty and students performing together, providing a valuable performance opportunity for all involved.2. Mardi Gras Second Line: A lively parade through The Center, where community members joined in behind the music therapy group from Community Entry Services, fostering a spirit of joy and inclusivity.3. TMS Fest '24: A celebration of the entire school, featuring an added soloist showcase the night before. This open-format festival included performances by students of all ages and skill levels, embodying our mission to inspire people of all ages to create and share music.ScholarshipsIn partnership with local service organizations, TMS provides scholarships to ensure that every student who wants to learn has access to music education.The focus of all TMS programs is to engage students of all ages as active participants in learning, creating, and sharing music, fostering a lifelong appreciation for the arts.