The Academy at Bethel Woods is a year-round, long-term, afterschool program in Popular Music and Visual Art & Design for high school students. Students from local schools spend two afternoons per week at our state of the art facilities where they work through a 4-year curriculum led by full time and professional teaching artists.
Artistic Development
Growth as an artist aligned to National Core Arts Standards
Personal Growth
Growth as a person aligned to the CASEL SEL framework.
Access to Opportunities
Access to post-secondary opportunity and a more creative future.
Popular Music
Popular Music students learn guitar, drums, bass and keys, ensemble performance, songwriting, and digital audio production at The Studios at Bethel Woods - all rooted in our history and The Modern Band Method.
Visual Art & Design
Visual Art & Design students engage in a hands-on journey through wide-ranging contemporary art making modalities including printmaking, digital painting, photography, 2D/3D animation and film with projects inspired by our legacy that come together in a portfolio.
Our Students:
It is our sincere belief that music and art are for everyone, that the only deficits that exist are our communities are in access to the opportunities all students deserve. The Academy’s program model was developed to target students from economically disadvantaged rural communities, meet them where they are and engage them in a long-term, accessible journey towards their full potential. Transportation to our studio is provided, participation is tuition-free, and learning is led by professional teaching artists using proven, trauma-informed and student-centered approaches. The result is an inclusive creative community where students feel belonging and the safety required to take creative risks, try new things and fail forward in a supportive environment dedicated to cultivating their unique creative potential.
- 98% require transportation to participate
- 66% of students qualify as economically disadvantaged
- 64% are otherwise not engaged in after school activities
Our Impact:
- 100% student reported satisfaction with the program 100% students would recommend The Academy to a friend
- 100% students report their TAs cared about them as a person
- 100% students report they received “high quality instruction” at The Academy
- 89% growth in SEL 86% reported a sense of belonging to The Academy Community
- 85% participant retention
- 85% student reported growth aligned to national core arts standards
Student Testimonials:
“We never got a chance like this before. This feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
“I had a really great time here. I met so many good people and improved my skills.”
“Every single time we go into band and start jamming, it’s beautiful - we lose track of time constantly”