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
Inquiry Form
Get in touch by filling out the form below or by emailing us at decaturfineartsacademy@gmail.com.
For summer camp information, keep scrolling (feel free to use this form to submit any camp-related questions)!
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
Topic: Summer enrichment
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)
Spring 2025 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!
Now enrolling: Summer Camps 2025!
Enrollment is now open for our 2025 summer programs! Click on the camp options below to learn more about each one.
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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)!
*Discounts available for current DFAA students, returning campers, siblings, and students who register for multiple camps.
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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!
*Discounts available for current DFAA students, returning campers, siblings, and students who register for multiple camps.
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Chamber Music Intensive
Our Chamber Music Camp is July 21-25 from 9:00 am-3:00 pm (with childcare available until 5:00 pm for those who need it). Tuition is $500/camper.*
This camp is designed for early intermediate to advanced string and piano students seeking to develop their musicianship through collaborative performance and study. Students will be placed into small ensembles, and their groups will receive coachings, masterclasses, and performance opportunities. The Intensive will be taught by faculty from DFAA and local guest artists.
This camp is for rising 6th-12th graders who:
have at least 1 year of orchestra experience and/or private lessons
submit a video demonstrating their playing ability
register by May 31!
Note: Younger students with equivalent experience may inquire about participating.
*Discounts available for current DFAA students, 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 focus on storytelling through chamber music, with works by Gabriel Fauré, Matthew Pellegrino, Errollyn Wallen, and Emmy Wegener.
Performers on this concert are Robert Cushing (piano), Caroline Owen (piano), Julie Saxton (violin), Adrienne Steely (cello) and Kathryn Steely (viola).
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
