Welcome to the Decatur Fine Arts Academy!

Established in 2023, the Decatur Fine Arts Academy offers private music instruction to students of all ages and experience levels. The Decatur Fine Arts Academy brings highly-qualified teachers to our vibrant and creative community. We are conveniently located at First Baptist Church of Decatur (Georgia), a welcoming and supportive space just steps away from downtown. All of our instructors hold advanced degrees in music, are established performers, and collectively have decades of teaching experience.

We are pleased to offer private musical instruction in a variety of disciplines.

Lessons are currently offered in the following areas of musical study:

  • Clarinet

  • Composition

  • Double bass

  • Guitar

  • Music theory

  • Piano

  • Percussion

  • Saxophone

  • Violin

  • Viola

  • Voice

Spring 2025 Important Dates

Spring Semester Dates: January 5-May 24, 2025

Studio Classes:

Studio Classes offer students the chance to practice performance in front of their DFAA cohort and instructors. They’re an excellent way for students to build confidence and performance skills. They’re designed to be casual, encouraging, and inspirational for students of all experience levels. Students are encouraged to bring their works-in-progress to practice performing in front of the group and to attend even if they aren’t performing. We’ll also have discussions about different music skills.

Spring 2025 Studio Class Dates:

  • Saturday, February 8, 1:00-2:00 pm

    • Topic: warming up

  • Sunday, March 9, 1:00-2:00 pm

    • Topic: local auditions and competitions

  • Sunday, April 6, 1:00-2:00 pm

  • Saturday, May 3, 1:00-2:00 pm

Student Recitals:

Recitals are open to students of all ages and experience levels. We highly encourage all of our students to participate in these performance opportunities. Our Spring 2025 semester dates are:

  • Saturday, February 1, 1:00 pm

  • Saturday, April 26 (time TBD)

  • Saturday, May 24 (time TBD)

DFAA Concert Series:

  • Sunday, February 9, 2025 (2:00 pm): Robert Cushing, Piano

  • Saturday, May 10, 2025 (2:00 pm): String Extravaganza

  • Sunday, June 1, 2025 (2:00 pm): Casey Margerum, Soprano

See Concert Series details below!

Inquiry Form

Get in touch by filling out the form below or by emailing us directly at decaturfineartsacademy@gmail.com.

Now enrolling: Summer Camps 2025!

Enrollment is now open for our 2025 summer programs! Keep reading to learn more about this year’s offerings.

Musical Theater Camps

Musical Theater Camps are for middle and high school students and are $275/camper.* Camps run from 9:00 am-12:00 pm.

  • June 2-6: Duets, Trios, & Ensembles

    • This camp will focus on making music collaboratively! Learn about working with scene partners, and perform some of Broadway’s best ensemble numbers! This camp will culminate with a showcase on Friday, June 6 at 11:00 am.

  • July 7-11: Ten-Minute Musicals

    • This camp will focus on producing several short, fully-staged musicals! Students will learn music, dialogue, and blocking (materials will be sent in advance). This performance will culminate with a public performance the evening of Friday, July 11 (time TBA)!

Art Camp

Art Camp is July 7-11 and is for rising 1st-6th graders. Tuition is $225/camper.* Camp runs from 9:00 am-12:00 pm.

  • Classes feature drawing, painting with watercolor pencils, fiber and metal arts, building with clay, and printmaking. All levels welcome!

Chamber Music Intensive

  • Details coming soon! This program will be open to all instrumentalists as well as vocalists and will focus on producing classical works in small groups. Please fill out our interest form (above) if you’d like to receive an email notification when camp dates are listed!

*Discounts available for returning campers, siblings, and students who register for multiple camps.

2024-2025 Concert Series

Saturday, May 10 (2:00 pm): String Extravaganza

Join us on Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 pm for a String Extravaganza! This concert will feature DFAA faculty as well as guest artists from the Atlanta area, and the program will focus on storytelling through chamber music.

Admission is free, and donations to support DFAA's mission are appreciated. This concert will be in the Sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Decatur (308 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030).

Sunday, June 1 (2:00 pm): Casey Margerum, Soprano

Join us on Sunday, June 10 at 2:00 pm for a solo recital by soprano and DFAA voice instructor Casey Margerum! Casey will present a variety of works by composers from around the world. Featured composers include: Cécile Chaminade, Carlos Gustavino, Maria Grever, Hideo Kobayashi, Tatsunosuke Koshitani, Undine Smith Moore, Carolina Uccelli, and Heitor Villa-Lobos. Casey will also be premiering a piece by Robert Cushing from his musical, Laura. She is joined at the piano by DFAA Co-Director Robert Cushing.

Admission is free, and donations to support DFAA's mission are appreciated. This concert will be in the Sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Decatur (308 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030).

Support the Decatur Fine Arts Academy

We sincerely appreciate your support of our mission to bring high-quality, accessible arts education to the Decatur community. All gifts to the Decatur Fine Arts Academy will support student scholarship funding, general operating expenses, our growing programs, and community events. Here are some examples of how your donation will make an impact:

  • $1,000+

    • Support yearly tuition scholarships for multiple DFAA students

    • Fully fund a performance in the DFAA Concert Series

  • $750+

    • Fully fund a semester of lessons for a DFAA student

    • Support the growth of DFAA’s visual art and drama programs

  • $500+

    • Partially fund a semester of lessons for a DFAA student

    • Fund the cost of supplies for a DFAA camp, or fully fund full-day camp tuition for a student

  • $250+

    • Fully fund tuition for a DFAA half-day camp for a student

    • Fund a year of tunings for a DFAA piano

  • $100+

    • Offset instrument rental costs for a DFAA student

    • Fully fund a DFAA monthly studio class