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Why Rochester Academy of Music & Arts is New York's #1 choice for music lessons

Rochester Academy of Music & Arts is New York's largest music school, teaching hundreds of students from ages 4 to adult. Whatever instrument you or your child wish to play, odds are we teach it: Piano, electric & acoustic Guitar, Drums, Bass, Ukulele, Voice and Singing, Violin, Woodwinds, Brass, Early Music, and more, all taught under one roof.

Winner of more awards than any other music school in Rochester!

Rochester Academy of Music & Arts has won more awards than any other music school in Rochester. Since 2007, it’s been the school of choice for more than 500 families. Students come from as far as Batavia to study with us. We've been voted #1 by the readers of Kids Out & About and Macaroni Kid, as well as winner of 5 "Best of Rochester NY" Awards!

1. Piano, Guitar, Drums, Voice, Singing, Woodwind, Ukulele, String, and Brass in ONE location!

We are the only school in Rochester that offers all of these popular instruments: All acoustic Pianos, Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Drum set, Voice, Singing, Bass, Woodwinds, Brass, Early Music, and Ukulele in one location. We are also the only school in Rochester that has installed thousands of dollars worth of technology to give you the BEST music lesson experience in Rochester that no one else can offer.

You can also choose between lessons in our studio, or lessons over Zoom!

2. The largest and most qualified teaching faculty in the area

All of our music teachers have either college training or professional performance experience. Our music teachers are dedicated to learning about your personal musical goals and helping you to achieve them. With at least three music teachers for every instrument, we are confident that we have the right teacher to meet your music lesson needs. In addition to their teaching credentials, our teachers have warm personalities, are extremely friendly and dedicated to teaching you the style of music that you want to learn in your music lesson.

With over 30 years of teaching experience, Brannon Hungness, owner and author of the bestselling The Book on Music Lessons, personally selects every teacher at his music school. If you take music lessons from the Rochester Academy of Music and Arts, you know you'll always learn the music that you want to learn!

3. The widest range of music lesson times available six days a week

We are the only music school in Rochester that offers music lessons six days a week from early in the morning to late at night to accommodate your busy schedule.

11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays

We are available by phone 7 days a week from 9am - 9pm. Office hours may vary, so please call to make an appointment.

4. A proven track record of excellence

Visit our testimonial page to see what our students are saying. Every year, aspiring music teachers start their own studio, and a year or two later it’s closed. Rochester Academy of Music & Arts has a proven track record of offering quality music, piano, guitar, voice, singing and drum lessons in Rochester year-round. Our full time mission is teaching music lessons trusted by thousands of families for over fifteen years.

5. A comfortable parent's lounge for our clients

Instead of waiting in a music retail store showroom, our clients enjoy a spacious, professional parent's lounge with comfortable chairs, Starbucks coffee, hot chocolate, tea, Wi-Fi, magazines, bottled water, and professional cleaning and disinfectant services. We also have a full playroom with toys, games, and movies. Plus, with our unique digital monitor service, you can view your child's lessons from the comfort of our lobby! The safest and most parent-friendly facility in Rochester, NY!

6. The most technologically advanced and fully stocked music lesson rooms in Rochester

Our rooms are stocked with everything you need for music lessons, including amps, stereos, full drum kits with pads, weighted-key electric pianos, and more. All you need to bring is your instrument. We have spent thousands of dollars on our studio to offer interactive Roku monitors.

Technology is also a big part of lessons at the Rochester Academy of Music & Arts. We are the only music school in Rochester, NY to offer interactive Roku monitors in every room, so students who take guitar lessons, drum lessons, voice lessons, piano lessons, & violin lessons can learn their favorite songs on the spot!

One of the things that has really set up apart is our focus on providing lessons that are fresh, new, and engaging. There are so many great teaching apps out there now that we felt we had to update our teaching rooms with interactive Roku monitors. By doing so, our students have never run the risk of being bored by their lessons.

7. Free, all-inclusive student showcases with NO participation fees!

Every parent wants to know how their child is doing and if they are really progressing. The best way for a parent to understand the value of lessons is to have their child participate in a recital. That's why we hold ours twice per year at the amazing Main Auditorium at the Strong Museum!

Unlike many local schools that charge dues or participation fees, Rochester Academy of Music and Arts recitals are 100% free for students, parents, families, and friends. Recitals are fun and low-pressure, and students of all ages perform. Featuring a full, professional sound system with a mic for students who take voice lessons, amps and PAs for students who take guitar lessons & piano lessons, and a full drum kit for our drum students. We also have a dazzling video background to accompany your performance. Show your family and friends what you have learned in your music lessons!

For students who prefer remote performances, we offer Zoom recitals live-streamed. Featuring celebrity guests, customized video introductions, teacher performances, and more, they are events not to be missed!

8. Professional office staff to serve you

We strive to bring you the best customer service possible. We are continually adding hours to ensure that our desk staff is able to assist you when you call or come to the studio! Most music lesson providers do not provide front desk staff, but we have full time desk staff who are available at the front desk to assist you during ALL lessons, quickly and professionally. Excellent customer service is what sets us apart!

9. Events for students

The Rochester Academy of Music & Arts is the only music school in Rochester NY to offer a wide selection of free events for students. Meet fellow students and get involved in the community with Disney concerts on Lake Ontario, Halloween parties at the Main St. Armory, KOA camping, Red Wings games, charity events, food drives, and more. We are the only school in New York to have performed at Carnegie Hall, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center, and Hershey Park!

Plus, the Academy offers a free photo session with a professional photography team. Students who take voice lessons can pose with microphones, while students who take piano lessons and drum lessons have instruments set up for them. Students who take guitar lessons, bass guitar lessons, or violin lessons can pose with their own instruments.

10. Make-up lessons

Missed a lesson? Out of town? No problem. Just sign up for our make up classes. They never expire, and you can come when it's convenient for you.

11. Early morning and lunch time lessons for home schoolers, retirees, college students and working professionals

Since we are the largest school in Rochester, we are able to be a 'full service' music school. This allows us to offer lessons as early as 10 a.m. and we see many students between the hours of 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. If you are a homeschool parent, retiree, college student or working professional who has a flexible schedule, take advantage of our early morning and lunch time lesson spots.

12. Conveniently located on Norris Drive in Rochester

Our music school is convenient to all areas of Rochester, New York. We are centrally located right off of 490 in the Rochester NY/Brighton NY area. (See map at the bottom of the page). The Academy is handily located near shopping, Cobbs Hill Park, dining, and more. Kids in voice lessons? Take the opportunity to get your shopping done at the East Avenue Wegmans, just two-minutes away. Enjoy the convenience of a music school that is only a short drive from all areas in Rochester!

13. Picture Day

We are the only music school in Rochester that offers a picture day for their students. We are the only music school that offers a picture day for their students! Every six months, we host a free picture day with a professional photographer. We want to celebrate your music and share that memory through pictures. Examples pictured on this page! Adults are welcome too! Students can bring their instruments to the photo shoot and wear whatever they like.

14. Month to Month lessons

Our desire is to inspire our students with the love of music. We do this through teachers and music that our students love. Unlike other programs, we do not require semester minimums for lessons. You can begin anytime!

If you are ready to start, you have nothing to lose as we only want students who truly want to be here and we will not commit you to a long term contract.

Meet the Owner

The ability to play an instrument or sing beautifully offers a lifetime of benefits. Music lessons also foster a student’s personal, social, and academic development. Rochester Academy of Music & Arts has made substantial investments in our three facilities and elite faculty to provide an uplifting environment designed to foster creativity, confidence and joy.

If you’ve been told you are tone deaf or uncoordinated, I’m here to inform you that everyone can improve their musical skills. As a musician, songwriter and music professor, I've witnessed thousands of students transform their lives in ways they never imagined possible. We make it our mission to help Rochester students explore and develop their talents, wherever their curiosity and interests lead them.

Brannon Hungness
Founder and President
Rochester Academy of Music & Arts
Author of The Book On Music Lessons