Music School

Bringing the Joy of Music to Kids in Regent Park

Dixon Hall Music School has been providing lessons to thousands of children in the Regent Park, Moss Park and St. Lawrence neighbourhoods since 1978. We offer a comprehensive music program that sees students through all stages of their musical and personal development.

We exists to help youth in danger of being left behind to achieve productive, engaged, and successful lives. We build on nearly fifty years of experience to impart ideals, skills and knowledge through music. It is our privilege and calling.

Combining three pillars of operation: family engagement, ease of access and building belonging, we encourage kids of all ages to develop and believe in their individual strengths to overcome inequity, poverty, and violence. 

A core measure of impact is that one hundred percent of our Grade 12 students graduate high school and go on to post-secondary education.

Programs and Registration

Getting Your Child Registered at Dixon Hall Music School:

Students at Dixon Hall Music School have access to:

  • Half-hour, private lessons, group, and ensemble classes in over 20 subject areas
  • Instruments to rent for $5 a month
  • Free tickets to concerts in many genres of music, dance and theatre
  • Intensive and exhilarating spring, summer and winter music camps

Lessons are taught by professional musicians who are supportive and encouraging, all who have degrees in music and a broad range of experience in music.

We offer private, half-hour lessons for the following instruments:

Age 5+ : Piano, Recorder, Violin, Viola

Age 6+ : Voice, Cello, Drums, Percussion, Clarinet, Flute, Acoustic Guitar, Classical Guitar

Age 8+ : Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Saxophone, Music Theory, Ear Training

Age 10+: Songwriting and Recording: students work with our Recording Engineer/Producer, Daniel Sheikh, to learn how to write, record, and produce their own music in our recording studio.

  

Group Lessons are offered in:

  • Early Childhood Music
  • Junior Choir
  • Senior Choir

Early Childhood Music: Ages 1+ 

Tuesdays:

4:45 pm to 5:30 pm: Ages 3-5 years-old

Saturdays:

10:30 am-11am: Ages 1.5 – 3 years-old

11:15 am-12pm: Ages 3-5 years-old

12:15 pm-1pm: Ages 3 – 5 years-old

Junior Choir: Ages 6+ Mondays 5:30pm-6pm

Senior Choir: Ages 10+ Mondays 4:30pm-5:30pm

Our Junior and Senior Choir are FREE for all students. For kids who like to sing, the choir is a great way to learn vocal and performance techniques within a positive group setting.

Time: Fridays, 4:30–5:30 PM

The String Ensemble is a collaborative group where students come together each week to rehearse and perform as an ensemble. Through guided practice and teamwork, students build technical skills, musical confidence, and ensemble experience while developing their sound in a supportive and engaging environment.

Time: Saturday, 4 – 5 PM

Our Jam Session is a student-led and directed program where participants gather in our drum studio to rehearse, collaborate, and play the music they love. This weekly session gives students the space to develop musical independence, build confidence, and strengthen their artistic voice in a supportive, creative environment.

We offer Adapted Music Lessons and Music Therapy for students with intellectual, developmental or physical disabilities, ages 4+ (adults too) who reside at any Toronto address on a sliding scale from $6-$24 per half hour session.

30-Minute Music Therapy Sessions -Thursdays or Fridays

One-on-one sessions with our Music Therapist (and former Dixon Hall student) Hayley Naunton (MTA), students explore music making, singing, improvisation, songwriting, movement, listening, to meet goals such as: improving communication and motor skills; developing coping skills to handle complex emotions (anxiety); increasing social interaction and self-expression.

30-Minute Adapted Music Lessons – Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays

Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Violin, or Recorder with Hayley Naunton (MTA) on Thursdays/Fridays 

Piano or Ukulele with Anson Cheng on Saturdays

Adapted Music Lessons are for students with various intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities who wish to learn in an alternative way at their own pace.

Click here to register for Adapted Lessons or Music Therapy

At Dixon Hall Music School, we believe in extending our learning and character-building activities beyond the walls of the Music School. Our FREE extensive camp programs send children and youth to music and arts camps throughout the year.

Our Music Camps are a free intensive and exhilarating overnight camp experience available during March Break and throughout the summer months.

Dixon Hall Music School Overnight Camps:

Hart House Farms in Caledon

Dixon Hall Music Camp is a free intensive and exhilarating event that takes students 10 years and up to a farm northwest of Toronto during the summer and March break. There, students have the freedom to create, inspire and achieve. Many of our students return year after year, rejoicing in the friendships and atmosphere.

 Partner Camps:

  • National Music Camp
  • Harbourfront Centre
  • Canadian Opera Company
  • Music at Port Milford
  • And more!

Lessons run weekly from September to June, with the option of extra lessons in July.

Between $4-$22. All of our lessons are subsidized, and cost is based on a financial assessment.

Eligibility

Who can register?

  1. Youth living in the Regent Park/Moss Park/St. Lawrence neighbourhoods
  2. Children ages 5+ for private lessons, with no age restriction once registered
  3. The youngest age we accept is 1.5 years old for our Early Childhood Music Program

Catchment Area

To be eligible for music lessons, families must live between Jarvis St. and Broadview Ave. and Wellesley St. and Lake Ontario.

Photo Gallery

Latest News

Find out about latest happenings at Dixon Hall:

Dixon Hall Staff Marches in Toronto’s 2023 Pride Parade! 
June 26, 2023

Dixon Hall Staff Marches in Toronto’s 2023 Pride Parade! 

June is the month when Dixon Hall shows its unwavering…

Read More
Celebrating Pride and Community at the Pride Party
June 23, 2023

Celebrating Pride and Community at the Pride Party

We are excited to share the incredible success of the…

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That’s a Wrap for this year’s Dixonlicious!
June 20, 2023

That’s a Wrap for this year’s Dixonlicious!

After 6PM on June 6th, it didn’t take long for…

Read More
Pride Month at Dixon Hall
June 6, 2023

Pride Month at Dixon Hall

Pride is a time to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion…

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Our Partners

Our Supporters

Dixon Hall Music School would like to thank the following organizations for their tremendous support: 

Contact

51 Wyatt Ave. 
Toronto, ON M5A 0M1

Music Lesson Hours (Sept to June)

Monday to Thursday 4 pm to 8 pm
Friday 4 pm to 7:30 pm
Saturday 11 am to 4 pm

Bob McKitrick
Director, Music School
e. bob.mckitrick@dixonhall.org

t. 416.863.0499 x2015

Hilary Hart
Manager, Music School

e. hilary.hart@dixonhall.org

t. 416.863.0499 x2016