Music & Acting Lessons
Personalized training for actors, musicians, and artists of all levels since 2010.
Home is where the art is.
Inside Hickory Arts
Hickory Arts is more than a lesson studio. It’s a place where students explore music lessons, acting lessons, artist development, recording, and live performance in a real-world creative environment.
From private lessons to live performances and production work, everything we do is designed to help artists grow.
What We Offer
Acting
Lessons
Train for stage, camera,
auditions, and performance confidence.
Artist Development
Focused training for students
ready to grow as complete artists.
Music
Lessons
Personalized instruction in
voice, guitar, piano, and more.
Creative
Services
Recording, photography, video,
and production support.
Why Hickory Arts
Learn from Working Artists
Our instructors are college-educated, award-winning working artists who bring real-world experience in music, acting, recording, performance, and production into every lesson. No gimmicks.
We’re not, as David Lindberg says, "…a music retail store or a couple of music teachers selling whatever we think we can sell you under the guise of the genre of rock music."
Personalized Training
Dr. Justin Tarte wrote, “We shouldn’t treat schools like factories.” We tailor instruction to each student’s goals, skill level, and creative interests. Whether students are studying acting, voice, guitar, piano, or artist development, our lessons are designed around the individual rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Quality over quantity.
“The key to this business is personal relationships. Suddenly, it was all pretty clear. The answer was fewer clients.”
— from Jerry Maguire
A Creative Community
Hickory Arts is more than a studio. It’s a place to learn, collaborate, and grow through real artistic experiences.
Our Team
Jeff Hartman
Artistic Director / Artist DevelopmentASU alumnus—Advertising/Theater/Music; Singer/Songwriter, Film Composer, Actor, Director, Multi-instrumentalist—Jeff offers beginner through advanced lessons in acting, artist development, audition prep, guitar, music industry, musical theatre, piano, recording, self-accompaniment, songwriting, and voice.
William Knight
Guitar & Fretted InstrumentsWilliam Knight is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in guitar, banjo, dobro, mandolin, and ukulele, offering beginner through advanced lessons at Hickory Arts, with formal training in Jazz Guitar Performance and Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music from East Tennessee State University.
Chelsea Westbrook
PianoChelsea Westbrook offers beginner and intermediate piano lessons at Hickory Arts focused on creativity, confidence, and strong fundamentals. With a lifelong background in performance and teaching, she helps students build a strong musical foundation while making lessons engaging and enjoyable.
What Our Clients are Saying
"Hickory Arts provides a welcoming and friendly space incredibly conducive to creativity—perfect for actors, musicians, and writers of all ages and talent levels. I only wish there was a place like this in the neighborhood when I was growing up!"
Kyle Vincent, Billboard-Charting Artist
"Hickory Arts truly enriched my life with creativity and joy. I worked with Jeff Hartman for 10 plus years on singing, songwriting, acting, and more. I wholeheartedly recommend Jeff and all the teachers at Hickory Arts. I will forever be grateful."
Shannon Underwood, Artist Development
Events
Brian Saveedra & Co. Present
Take Us Home: House Concert
May 29th
Hickory Arts House Concert Series
From workshops and student showcases to house concerts featuring local and touring artists, Hickory Arts hosts creative events throughout the year.
Serving Hickory, NC, and Surrounding Areas
Hickory Arts proudly offers acting and music lessons in Hickory, North Carolina, serving students from across Catawba County and beyond. Whether you are looking for acting lessons, voice lessons, guitar lessons, or artist development, we provide professional training close to home.
Get in Touch!
Ready to Get Started? Whether you’re exploring something new or taking your craft to the next level, Hickory Arts is here to help you grow.
Schedule a free introductory consultation with us to discuss your artistic needs.
