The Bethlehem Music Settlement is a private music-education institution that offers private and group instruction in piano, voice, music theory, Jaques-Dalcroze Eurhythmics, and composition. The Settlement is owned and operated by the Music Director, and Chairman of the Board, John R. Stevenson, D.J-D (Jack). Now in its 16th year, The Settlement has educated over 1000 students; and continues to attract some of the finest young musicians in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.

The studio is located in the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at 1773 Falcon Drive off route 191, and only one-half mile south of the route 22 and 191 interchange. There is ample parking, and a reception area for waiting parents. However, there is plenty of shopping nearby for parents at the Bethlehem Square Shopping Center, The Sears Essencials Plaza, Josh Early Candies, and the Small Mall, all located close by on route 191. Click for Directions to the Settlement.

The Director will interview all students who wish to register at the Bethlehem Music Settlement. Please call Jack at 610-691-5544 or email him at Jack@bethms.com for an appointment or further information. Please enjoy our website.

The Bethlehem Music Settlement serves Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley and surrounding communities as an independent, music-teaching institution offering private, and group piano, voice, eurhythmics and music theory instruction to students regardless of age, race, creed, or color through the educational philosophy of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze.

The Settlement is committed to providing professional music education in music and through music within an enriched environment conducive for the developing artist. Here the learner is nurtured, encouraged, and challenged to develop, and mature into a self-actualized individual capable of fulfilling true artistic potential.

JOHN R. STEVENSON, DJD (Jack) holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Duquesne University, a license d'Enseignement with the Premiere Prix en Pedagogy and the Diplôme Jaques-Dalcroze from the Institut Jaquesa-Dalcroze, Geneva, Switzerland.

Jack left Ithaca to serve on the music faculty and as chair in the Performing Arts Department at The Spence School, New York City.  During his eight-year tenure, Jack was honored with the Zuckerman Foundation Award for teaching excellence.  In 1995, and while remaining at Spence, Jack founded The Bethlehem Music Settlement, an independent teaching institute offering private and group piano, musicianship and eurhythmics instruction to students of all ages.  Jack currently works full-time as the music director of the Settlement.

Jack  has also served as guest faculty in music education, Jaques-Dalcroze Education, piano improvisation, ear training, and choreography at many leading colleges and universities.  Some of these include: Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, Geneva, Switzerland, Oberlin Conservatory of Music (artist in residence program) The Royal Conservatory of Toronto (dance department), Carnegie-Mellon University (performing arts drama, and dance departments),  Bien Music Conservatory, Bien, Switzerland (eurhythmics department), Louisiana University School of Music. In 2000, Jack co-founded the Instittue for Jaques-Dalcroze Education whith Monica Dale and together they directed the Dalcroze program at University of Maryland, College Park until 2005. Currently the Institute is housed at the Lucy School in Middletown, MD where they both continue to train future Jaques-Dalcroze educators. Jack is also a certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor.

After completing his graduate and post-graduate education in Switzerland, Jack joined the faculty at Laval University in Quebec City where he trained future Jaques-Dalcroze educators. Subsequently he received an appointment at Ithaca College School of Music, Ithaca , New York where he was tenured and promoted to Associate professor and remained for 12 years.  While at Ithaca , he founded the Division of Jaques-Dalcroze Education in the graduate school of music and served as its director for nine years.  He also founded and directed the dance ensemble Jaques-Dalcroze Plastique Animée.  The ensemble performed nationally and internationally for eleven years with guest appearances and workshops including Boston's First Night, The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, The International Congress for Jaques-Dalcroze Educators, Geneva,Switzerland, the National MENC conventions at Pittsburgh, Chicago, and St. Louis and numerous Orff-Schulwerk Association National Conventions nation-wide. Finally, while at Ithaca  he was honored as the Dana Teaching Fellow for his "outstanding contributions to the classroom,” authored many articles, and co-authored the text Rhythm and Pitch: An Integrated Approach to Sight Singing published by Prentice-Hall, Inc.