About The Catoctin School of Music
The Catoctin School of Music is passionate about music and education and how we share these with our students. We pair enthusiastic, passionate, exciting, professional and knowledgeable music instructors with every student, resulting in highly creative private lessons, group classes, ensembles, live performances, recording and other events and performance opportunities.
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Our Mission
CSM’s mission is to support our lovely Loudoun County (and the world beyond) by inspiring and empowering the next generation of local musicians: savvy students who crave learning and working with our talented musical staff. God has blessed us and we chose to emulate Him and to inspire, collaborate and create beautiful skills and music with you.
We believe if you can imagine and immerse yourself in music, together we can apply the right tools to grow and nurture you, your heart, craft and soul. Then out into the world you go with purpose: to spread joy and beauty with your music; inspiring the very best out of everyone and everything you encounter in life! Each day we are blessed with the privilege of introducing students to their dreams…our dreams: music and education!
Our School
The Catoctin School of Music believes that studying music is an investment in your education. We have taught a wide array of students including public school, private school, homeschool, parents, and adults from ages 4 to 84, guided students through college auditions, produced grand prize winners of local and national music competitions, and much more!
All of our instructors at CSM have degrees in music education and/or performance. In addition, many have completed their Master’s and Doctorate coursework and have advanced degrees. CSM has purposefully hired a diverse staff in order to teach almost every music style and interest including: classical, country, pop, Suzuki guitar, rock, contemporary Christian, performance techniques, standard notation reading, chord chart and lead sheet reading and writing, songwriting, arranging, theory lessons, recording, jazz improvisation, just to name a few. Check out our Faculty Page to learn more about our wonderful staff!
In general, we all begin our student’s lessons with a slight “classical” approach in order to facilitate a strong musical foundation and create valuable practicing habits, such as technique, tone production, reading, and theory. We do this unapologetically in the very early stages because honestly, it works! We have found that a strong and rich musical foundation provides our students with the greatest opportunity to succeed and to be the best musicians they can be in the shortest amount of time. We also incorporate many modern pieces, songs, repertoire, styles, and techniques in our teaching to keep students interested in their studies and to help them grow as musicians.
Our facility offers a fun and relaxing learning atmosphere, in order to inspire students, motivate them to grow, and aspire to take on more challenging directions as musicians. Our studio rooms are clean, quiet, climate-controlled, and comfortable with plenty of room for the teacher, student, and parents. All of our rooms are equipped with the necessary equipment for your discipline. We also have free Wi-Fi available for all clients to use in our waiting rooms.
Why Choose CSM?
Get StartedAccreditations & Affiliations
National Association for Music Education (formerly MENC), Music Teachers National Association, American Choral Director’s Association and Suzuki Association of the Americas. We are a founding school in the Music Development Program by The Royal Conservatory of Music, offering RCM training by specialized staff in all areas of music study.
Inclusive & Personalized Learning for Every Student
We welcome every student! Our diverse faculty is equipped to handle varied learning styles. We have a full time education specialist on board in addition to career educators and highly experienced professional performers.
Highly Qualified Faculty with Advanced Degrees
Several of our exceptional faculty have Masters and Doctoral degrees in their fields of study. Our faculty puts 110% effort into each student with individual expectations tailored to each student’s needs and abilities! Our faculty members are performers as well as teachers, visible in the local, regional and national arenas!
Parent Education Classes to Support New Families
We offer Parent Education Classes for our new families to make your experience at CSM welcoming and enjoyable. We are dedicated to partnering with our students and families!
Year-Round Learning with Flexible Summer Makeup Policy
We offer continuous 12-month learning, straight through the summer, with a flexible makeup policy for accommodating summer vacations!
Award-Winning Music Instruction and Community Recognition
CSM has been awarded the “Best of Leesburg for Music Instruction”.
Proven Teaching Methodology That Evolves with Excellence
We offer cohesive & coherent methodology and pedagogy that is well established and continually updated and evaluated.
Dedicated Full-Time Administrative Staff for Client Support
Dedicated, full time office staff to handle all scheduling/communication and administrative needs of our clients.
Philanthropy and Community Giving Through Music
Philanthropy efforts: CSM actively supports the local Salvation Army. We are proud to be the largest single supporter of Angel Tree program and Tools for Schools in our local region, offering hands on volunteer opportunities.
Community Outreach Performances at Local Venues
Community Outreach – students and faculty perform at a variety of venues in the local area: public schools, private schools, community theatre, Very Special Arts, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, area churches and synagogues, and ECHOworks (Every Citizen Has Opportunity).
Strong Partnerships with Loudoun Symphony and Youth Orchestra
CSM has close ties with the Loudoun Symphony and the Loudoun Symphony Youth Orchestra. Many of our faculty and students are members of these local orchestras.
The Best Makeup Policy in the Area – Find Out Why!
We have THE BEST makeup policy in the area! Contact us to find out why we stand out.
Seamless Integration with Public and Private School Music Programs
We work alongside our public and private school music colleagues to provide a seamless transfer of learning back and forth between private lessons to classroom learning.
Spacious, Comfortable Private Lesson Rooms with Advanced Technology
Our private instruction rooms are large and comfortable and have excellent technology in each room, that benefits learning!
Multiple Student Recitals, Summer Camps, and Ensembles
We offer multiple student recitals per year (included in tuition), summer camps, classes and ensembles, some of which are merit based and some fee based.
Convenient In-House Supply Store for Student Needs
For the convenience of our clients, we carry in house the basic supplies for students. Books, Tuners, Metronomes…you need it? We have it!
Large Student Community with Cross-Discipline Music Collaboration
Our large size (500+ weekly students) and our cross discipline atmosphere gives our faculty and students an edge! We regularly round table with our faculty, parents and students on strategies and methodologies that can be applied cross discipline! A unique and innovative way to study music!
Instrument Rental Programs for Young Musicians
We have a rental guitar program for our young classical guitarists.
Established Vendor Relationships for Quality Instrument Rentals and Purchases
We have long and established relationships with many vendors such as Potters Violins in Bethesda, an excellent source for renting violins, violas, cellos and basses. We also work with Melodee Music in Sterling, a wonderful place to purchase your Rock gear!
Competitive Pricing That Offers Exceptional Value
Our pricing is a great value! We are competitive with area lessons studios, however, our clients get so much more for their dollar in highly trained and specialized music staff and dedicated studio suites for lessons on all instruments (and voice!).
