Whether you're a beginner or a pro, alumni teachers from the prestigious Aspen Music Festival and School are waiting for students like you – only on Forte!
The perfect teacher for you.
Find the right teacher for your skill level, budget, goals, and musical interests – then learn from them on a revolutionary music education platform.
Your goals. Your talent. Your dreams.
Entrust them to a teacher who knows what it takes to reach the highest levels of musicianship.
Founded in 1949, the Aspen Music Festival and School is the preeminent classical music festival in the United States, noted both for its concert programming and its musical training of exceptional musicians. The typical eight-week summer season includes more than 300 classical music events—including concerts by four orchestras, solo and chamber music performances, fully staged opera productions, master classes, lectures, and children’s programming—and brings in 100,000 audience members.
Forte’s partnership with the Aspen Music Festival and School offers you unprecedented access to elite musicians who are eager to share their skills and knowledge with students of all levels.
Why take lessons from an Aspen Music Festival and School alumni teacher?
AMFS verified alumni teachers are among the top musicians in the world and perform in some of the most prestigious orchestras, opera companies, and ensembles on the globe.
Having participated in AMFS programs of study ranging from orchestra, solo and collaborative piano, opera, conducting, composition, brass quintets, classical guitar, and more, AMFS alumni are experts at their craft and at the top of their field.
AMFS verified alumni teachers have taught in AMFS Education programs and been recommended by the AMFS’s Dean of Students, ensuring the highest level of teaching experience and ability.
Forte’s video conferencing tool offers radically better audio quality and other features purpose-built for learning music.
The Royal College of Music and Berklee College of Music have offered programs on our platform.
Forte's Dedication to Excellence
All levels welcome
Forte is a great place for beginners and advanced learners alike. No more stage fright from classroom lessons - with one–to-one online lessons, you can learn at your pace with the personalized attention of your dedicated music teacher.
Flexibility
Online music lessons offer more scheduling flexibility, allowing students to learn at a time that is convenient for them.
Safety & convenience
We pride ourselves in providing a safe online environment where students take classes from their own home.
Personalization
We believe every musician is unique, and their learning experience should be too. We know that working with a teacher who feels exactly right for you makes all the difference. That's why we ask questions about what you want from your lesson experience to intentionally connect you with teachers who align with your skill level, your musical goals and aspirations, and your budget.
The best online learning experience
Forte Pure Audio is our proprietary audio environment that uses state-of-the-art technology to revolutionize online music learning. With Forte Pure Audio, the most human and expressive aspects of music making, like tone color, dynamics, articulation, inner pulse, and musical nuance, are no longer sacrificed because your lesson is online.
Fair Pricing
We strive to enhance music accessibility by offering affordable pricing options.
Meet Some Forte Teachers
Annamarie Wellem
Cello Teacher
Annamarie Wellem is currently pursuing her master's degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music and is a graduate of Rice University, where she earned her bachelor's with former Houston Symphony principal Desmond Hoebig. Originally from Chicago, she received her training at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy where she studied with Tanya Carey and Hans Jorgen Jensen. She has sat principal of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Fringe Opera, and Cleveland Pops Orchestra as a substitute cellist.
Elizabeth Barnes
Voice Teacher
Elizebeth is a graduate of The Hartt School of Music (University of Hartford) with a Masters in Voice Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. She's sung professionally with The Santa Fe Opera, The Annapolis Opera, Maryland Lyric Opera, The Atlanta Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Sarasota Opera, and The Aspen Opera Theater. A DMV resident since September of 2019, she has a flourishing studio of avocational and young professional students. She's a third-generation opera singer and educator, following in the footsteps of her paternal grandmother and mother.
Bryce Leafman
Percussion Teacher
Bryce has performed around the world as the Assistant Principal Timpanist/Section Percussionist of the San Francisco Symphony and has taught students of all ages across the country. Before winning his position with the San Francisco Symphony, he was the Principal Percussionist of the Billings Symphony and has also performed with the New World, Omaha, and New Hampshire Symphonies and the Boston Philharmonic, among others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aspen Music Festival and School Verified alumni teachers are musicians who have attended and performed at the Aspen Music Festival and School. They have been verified by the Aspen Music Festival and School to teach on Forte.
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Royal College of Music verified teachers are premium teachers on Forte and start at $100 per one-hour lesson.
Forte offers a wide variety of instruments, including all Western classical instruments, composition, songwriting, and more – we are always adding new instruments. If your instrument is not listed, please email us at info@fortelessons.com.
Forte makes it easy to learn online and doesn’t require any special equipment. All you need to get started is a laptop/desktop computer and the Chrome browser OR an iPad with the Safari browser.
Forte was purpose-built for online music lessons, with help from some of the world’s top conservatories. With tools designed to disappear rather than distract from your lesson experience and Forte Pure Audio, our industry-leading audio that captures the full richness of sound, you can focus on doing your best learning online and getting the most out of your lesson experience.
Forte makes it easy to find a teacher who meets your needs and will help you become the best musician you can be.
If you take an introductory lesson with a teacher and it’s not the right fit, you can easily review other teacher profiles to find the right teacher for you by clicking Browse Recommended Teachers in your Profile tab.
