Kanack School of Musical Artistry

The Kanack School of Musical Artistry is a thriving national hub for creativity education and musical excellence located in Brighton, NY. Kanack students are immersed in a friendly and rich learning environment where they experience both creative fun and technical discipline from wonderful teachers. As a result, Kanack students stand out in the community for their quality playing, infectious joy, and easy camaraderie. Inspired by her collaboration with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, Alice Kanack founded the Kanack School in 1995 to use creativity as the driving force behind a child's education. Today, the Kanack School has trained over 250 teachers across the world in her Creative Ability Development Method, which continues to gain international recognition and acclaim. You can join us easily! There is so much to do at Kanack! In addition to traditional studies, Kanack students learn to improvise and unlock their creative potential. Group classes are included with private lessons, so that students have every opportunity possible! Classes include Suzuki repertoire, improvisation, orchestra, the Bach Children's Chorus, fiddle and folk music, music theory, and pre-twinkle arts. Motivated students can join small classes for ensemble coaching for a small fee, including chamber music, folk band, and rock band (where they can learn to write their own songs). The Kanack School also hosts public concerts, guest artists, teacher training, a full summer of camps for students of all ages, an annual Creative Ability Development Conference, and more!

Creative educational systems in a warm, disciplined, non-competitive environment.

The Kanack School of Musical Artistry, founded in 1995, is a vibrant community where creativity meets musical excellence. The story of the school began in 1984 when founder Alice Kanack traveled to Matsumoto, Japan, to meet the legendary Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. Inspired by their shared belief that creativity is not fixed but can be nurtured through music, Alice developed her own groundbreaking approach. Dr. Suzuki himself recognized her vision, affectionately calling her “Mozart’s Mother.” Over the next decade, Alice honed her ideas while teaching in New York City before returning to her hometown to establish the Kanack School.

At the heart of the school’s philosophy is the Creative Ability Development Method (CAD), authored by Alice Kanack, which teaches students to improvise and unlock their creative potential. Combining discipline with fun, the Kanack School emphasizes both technical excellence and musical expression, ensuring every student becomes a true musical artist. In Alice’s words:

Creative Ability + Music = Musicality
Musicality + Technical Facility = Artistry

Today, the school serves over 400 students, with a talented team of 20 professional musicians and educators, and is actively expanding its capacity. Students enjoy private lessons in violin, viola, cello, guitar, piano, and voice, as well as a wide range of group classes at no additional cost. These include improvisation classes, string orchestras, repertoire sessions, fiddle styles, chamber music, and more. This inclusive, collaborative environment fosters a community of fun-loving musicians and creators.

The Kanack School also serves as the headquarters for the Creative Ability Development Method. Each year, Alice and a group of student improvisers of all ages tour to showcase CAD at workshops and conferences throughout the United States. Additionally, the school offers summer camps, masterclasses, performances by guest artists, and regular concerts that are free and open to the public.

Whether you're a toddler discovering music for the first time, an adult picking up an instrument, or an aspiring artist seeking technical mastery, the Kanack School welcomes students of all ages and backgrounds. Visit our website for more details on lessons, classes, and events—join us!

Preschool music to college audition prep. We offer private music lessons for many instruments and voices as well as group classes in Suzuki, improvisation, orchestra, music theory, folk music, chorus, and more!

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Kanack School of Musical Artistry