Introducing Vancouver Symphony's School of Music
What happens when one of Canada’s most iconic music schools decides to take its education beyond the concert hall?
You get VSO Learn Music—a vibrant, accessible online learning hub designed to make music education available to everyone, everywhere. In this article, you’ll discover how the VSO School of Music partnered with Thinkific Plus to bring their vision to life—expanding access to music education and reaching new audiences beyond the concert hall.
Keep reading to explore their journey and uncover insights you can apply to your own organization’s learning initiatives.
“At the VSO, we aim to curate and create irresistible musical experiences. We work with partners on and off stage to bring the power of music to our community, and help enrich people’s lives.”
Bringing World-Class Music Education Online
Getting to know Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the VSO School of Music
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO), Western Canada's largest performing arts organization, and its associated educational facility, the VSO School of Music, are bringing world-class music education online through VSO Learn Music. By leveraging Thinkific Plus, they’ve launched an accessible, engaging online academy that connects music lovers everywhere.
With over 100 seasons behind it, the VSO has a long history of curating irresistible musical experiences. Based in Vancouver, BC, the VSO performs over 150 concerts annually and serves over 270,000 people through live performances, education programs, and community outreach. The accompanying VSO School of Music traditionally welcomes students from three months old to senior citizens, nurturing the next generation of musicians and music enthusiasts.
Creating Harmony Beyond Concert Halls
Recognizing physical limitations and the growing demand for flexible learning, the VSO School of Music envisioned expanding its educational reach beyond physical spaces. The goal was clear: enhance community connection through accessible online music education, allowing individuals everywhere to experience the transformative power of music.
VSO Learn Music, their new online learning platform, was created to make high-quality music education available to anyone, anywhere. Whether you're a complete beginner, returning musician, or seasoned professional, VSO Learn Music offers curated self-paced courses to deepen musical skills and knowledge.
“We are at a stage in our growth, when we’re at capacity with the physical limitations of our building. What a better way to expand, grow our audience, and create community than through an online platform”
- Natasha McEwen, Vice President, VSO School of Music and Education
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The VSO School of Music aimed to overcome space constraints and scheduling issues inherent to traditional, in-person music lessons. They sought a scalable platform to offer self-paced courses, ensuring accessibility for busy learners and those geographically distant from Vancouver.
Bringing Music Education Online
Thinkific Plus as the solution.
Choosing Thinkific Plus, the VSO School of Music launched seven asynchronous courses taught by their expert faculty. The platform empowered educators to create engaging online content, easily integrating quizzes and downloadable resources to enhance the learner experience.
- The VSO team had some key goals:
- Design intuitive, easy-to-navigate courses for a diverse audience to enhance student engagement and satisfaction.
- Enable busy professionals to access quality music education at their convenience.
- Expand VSO's community reach far beyond Vancouver’s geographical limits.
"We have recorded 7 online courses for our platform, and what’s very interesting is that because we are a school , we have lots of great faculty that are very knowledgeable and have great ideas. We chose Thinkific to host our courses because it aligns with our vision, and we like that it has a variety of features we can integrate like quizzes and PDF files."
- Janika Mueller , VSO School of Music, Digital Strategy Officer
Learn Music – VSO's New Online Education Hub
VSO Learn Music was born, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s dedicated online learning platform designed to offer flexible and enriching music education experiences for learners at any stage. The program currently features seven self-paced courses across a range of topics, including music appreciation, practice strategies, and instrument-specific techniques. Each course is led by VSO School of Music’s expert faculty and includes engaging video lessons, downloadable resources, and interactive elements.
“As an educator, one of the biggest benefits of online learning is that it’s more accessible to a wider variety of students. Students that might not have the time for weekly personal lessons, or want to fit in a little bit of learning when they have an opening in their schedule.”
- Christie Reside, VSO Principal Flute, VSO School of Music Faculty
The platform caters to a broad audience—from absolute beginners to working musicians—providing pathways to build foundational skills, refresh musical knowledge, or explore new areas of interest. With intuitive navigation and clear learning objectives, VSO Learn Music helps learners track their progress at their own pace.
Courses are structured into manageable modules that allow users to start and stop when needed, making it ideal for busy schedules. With a mission to make music education more inclusive, the VSO has positioned Learn Music as a modern-day extension of its School of Music, opening doors for people worldwide to experience the transformative joy of music.
Learn more at vsolearnmusic.ca
Learning From VSO for Online Learning Success
With Thinkific Plus, the VSO quickly achieved key milestones in creating a thriving online educational community. Early feedback from students has highlighted high learner satisfaction due to their intuitive course design, and flexible learning modules.
If your organization is looking to expand it’s reach, here’s some lessons you can learn from them:
- Start Small, Scale Smartly: Leverage intuitive platforms like Thinkific Plus that allow gradual scaling as your audience grows.
- Engage Through Content Design: Incorporate interactive elements like quizzes and downloadable content for better learner engagement.
- Prioritize Accessibility: Ensure that courses are easy to navigate and intuitive for learners of all levels and tech familiarity.
Looking Ahead
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and School of Music have opened a new chapter in its legacy of education and community engagement through the launch of VSO Learn Music. By embracing Thinkific Plus, they’ve transformed traditional instruction into a dynamic, accessible online experience—one that extends far beyond the walls of their concert hall and into homes around the world.
VSO Learn Music represents more than just a shift to digital—it’s a powerful reimagining of how music education can reach and inspire learners of all ages, backgrounds, and locations.
As they continue to expand their offerings, the VSO and it’s School of Music is not only nurturing the next generation of musicians and music lovers but also setting a new standard for arts education in the digital age.
"VSO Learn Music is for folks wherever they are at in their education journey. Whether you’re starting out or a seasoned professional, there is truly something for everyone as you learn all the joy that music can bring to your life."
VSO School of Music's Favorite Thinkific Plus Features
Dynamic Course Builder
A critical component of VSO School of Music's online education program is creating engaging, multimedia content. With Thinkific Plus's intuitive Course Builder, the team can easily upload a range of rich multimedia content like videos and create interactive lessons that keep learners engaged.
Quizzes
VSO School of Music appreciated the ability to check-in on student progress via quizzes.
Discover how your organization can build an elevated online learning program.
If your organization is looking to increase capacity and desires expanded reach and accessibility, an online academy could be your perfect solution.
The VSO School of Music found success with Thinkific Plus, leveraging robust features and dedicated support to launch their online educational mission.
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