The Music School

The Music School offers listening, singing, rhythmic activities, instrumental instruction, games, music theory, group experiences, private lessons, ensemble participation, theater, camps, preschool programs, choral festivals and concerts, musical theater productions, student recitals, and community performances. Specific offerings include the Teddy Bear Concert, Music and Art Around the World, Music and Art Camp, Young Musician Violin classes, Kaleidoscope classes, and specialized workshops for both kids and adults.

• Ages: 1–18 years old
• Schedule: Registration for Summer 2026 is open, with classes and private lessons by appointment from June 8 to August 28; registration for the 2026–2027 regular term is open, and private lessons enrollment is open year-round, pending availability

The Music School is a non-profit outreach program and mission outreach of Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church, with open enrollment and scholarship assistance available. The curriculum includes group experiences, private lessons, ensemble participation, theater, and camps, with most classes and lessons meeting once a week without regular in-class parent participation. Class curricula are designed for each level with specific learning materials, preschool classes are built on singing, playing, listening, rhythms, and creative movement, and school-age classes include large and small group activities and individual projects. Adult classes welcome students of all levels with no previous experience required, and most class students learn basic piano skills because the keyboard is used as the main way to show how music is organized. Private and small group teachers individualize the approach for each student, the school uses Just Playing as its basic music-reading method, and students study classical, folk, and fun repertoire. The program offers a range of performance events including preschool programs, choral festivals and concerts, musical theater productions, student recitals, and community performances, and its Summer Selection provides options to fit busy summer schedules. Private lessons enrollment is open year-round, pending availability, and The Music School notes 50th Anniversary Celebrations beginning in 2027.

The Music School has been teaching children and adults since 1977, when founder Doris Harry and a small group of music educators created the school and enrolled thirteen children in a twelve-week pilot program. Today, The Music School has an enrollment of over 500 students throughout the year and has taught students ranging in age from 12 months to well over 80 years old. Jan Williams came to teach at The Music School in the summer of 1978 and taught for 19 years; she died on October 22, 1996, and all proceeds from the Teddy Bear Concert go to a scholarship fund in her memory. Bobbi Rupp died on September 5, 2018, at age 89, and The Bobbi Rupp Memorial Senior Scholarship is granted to all students age 65 and older with no application required. Music School alumni are active as professionals and amateurs in orchestras, choirs, operas, and musicals on and off Broadway, and as educators, choir directors, band teachers, and accompanists.

The faculty consists of highly qualified music educators with extensive teaching and performing experience, holding degrees from bachelor’s to doctoral levels. The leadership team includes Director Chantelle Urbina and Founder Doris Harry.

The Music School states that it offers comprehensive musicianship through active learning for children and adults, believes that learning music should be fun and open to all ages and abilities, and believes in the effectiveness of learning in groups. A Music School family quote reported by founder Doris Harry says, “We love this school. There are a lot places where you can get piano lessons or other instruction, but THIS SCHOOL HAS HEART!”

Last updated June 21, 2026.