About

Hoffman Academy Portland provides students ages 5-99 a high-quality music education in an engaging and nurturing environment that promotes a life-long love for music and music making.

The Foundation of Life-long Musicianship
At Hoffman Academy we are focused on having a balance between both quality and fun. Our young students actually enjoy learning music, because we engage their natural curiosity and creativity using an innovative multi-sensory approach, while still providing them with the expert training to reach a high level of musical proficiency.

Our teachers don’t just teach-they are all practicing, expert musicians as well! The learning environment here is fun and nurturing, and our innovative, research-based curriculum has proven itself to quickly enable students to play music they love.

The Hoffman Method
We teach students to play both by ear and by sight. Based on research in child development and learning theory, it engages kids with a multi-sensory approach. The Hoffman Method is now used in 115 countries, with thousands of students around the world. Learn More about the Hoffman Method.

  • SOLFÈGE
    Singing each note on a scale, the foundation for sight reading.

  • RHYTHM
    Identify, create and perform unique rhythms.

  • SIGHT READING
    Open up any piece of music and start playing!

  • IMPROVISATION
    Spontaneously created expressions in the language of music.

  • EAR TRAINING
    Learn to play “by ear” and recreate any song.

  • MUSIC THEORY
    The concepts behind it all, taught using games and activities.

  • COMPOSITION
    Writing music reinforces important musical concepts in a fun and creative way!

  • TECHNIQUE
    Proper body positioning for strong and healthy music playing.

Students achieve excellence through careful development of hands, ears, mind, and heart.

Music Lessons & Classes

Little girl playing piano

Ages 5+

Discover the joy of playing the piano with the guidance of our expert piano teachers.

Young brother holding a guitar and sister smiling next to him

Guitar Lessons

Ages 8+

Whether you’re into rock, folk, blues, or classical, learn to play and perform like a pro.

Young man singing into a microphone

Ages 9+

Learn effective and healthy techniques for beautiful singing with an experienced teacher.

Older adult woman playing piano

Ages 18+

Designed with flexibility in mind, catering to beginner, intermediate, and advanced adult learners.

Young group of children playing a music rhythm game

Ages 5-99+

Flexible private music lessons and exciting piano camps to keep the music going all year long..

  • Our History

    The Hoffman Method was born when Joseph Hoffman began teaching kids in his neighborhood while a graduate student at Brigham Young University. After struggling to find a piano method that provided a rigorous, well-rounded musical education while still being fun and engaging, he began creating his own curriculum to fill this need for piano students everywhere.

    He honed the method through several years of study, exploration, and experimentation, and moved to Portland, Oregon in 2007 to found Hoffman Academy. Hoffman Academy now serves over 200 students with a faculty of 10+ teachers trained in the Hoffman Method.

    Meet Mr. Hoffman

  • Our Difference

    Hoffman Academy has an amazing staff of dedicated instructors who have all received degrees in music and are trained in the Hoffman Method. Our teachers’ deep knowledge of music makes them perfectly equipped to meet a student at their current level and help them grow, no matter how early or late they are in their musical journey. Take a look at our teacher page to get to know them better!

    Meet Our Teachers

  • Our Mission

    To provide a world-class music education in an engaging, nurturing environment while inspiring a life-long love for music making.

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