HICKS MUSIC INSTITUTE
Music is the Vehicle.
Belief is the Destination.
Building Better Musicians. Building Better People.
Our Mission
At Hicks Music Institute, we believe music education is about far more than learning notes, rhythms, and performances.
Music is one of the most powerful tools available for shaping confident, disciplined, compassionate, and resilient young people. Every rehearsal, every lesson, every performance, and every challenge provides an opportunity for students to discover what they are capable of becoming.
Our mission is to use music as the vehicle for building belief—in ourselves, in one another, and in what is possible.
Through intentional teaching, meaningful relationships, strong fundamentals, and a culture of excellence, we help students develop the confidence, leadership, character, and work ethic that will positively impact every aspect of their lives.
Because while great musicians inspire audiences...
Great people inspire the world.
Our Philosophy
Every student possesses incredible potential.
Our responsibility as educators is not simply to teach music.
Our responsibility is to build an environment where students earn confidence through preparation, discipline, perseverance, and success.
Belief is not given.
It is built.
Brick by brick.
Layer by layer.
As students overcome challenges they once believed were impossible, they begin to see themselves differently.
That belief extends far beyond the rehearsal hall.
It shapes how they lead.
How they serve.
How they overcome adversity.
How they pursue their dreams.
Music is simply the vehicle that carries them there.
What We Believe
At Hicks Music Institute, we believe...
Every student has extraordinary potential.
Excellence is built through strong fundamentals.
Character is more important than trophies.
High expectations demonstrate belief in students.
Positive relationships create lasting influence.
Great cultures don't happen by accident—they are intentionally built.
Leadership is learned through service and responsibility.
Success is measured not only by performances, but by the lives we help shape.
Music is one of the greatest classrooms for developing future leaders.
How We Build Belief
Belief is not created in one rehearsal.
It is built through countless intentional moments.
Every scale.
Every long tone.
Every rehearsal.
Every performance.
Every challenge.
Every conversation.
Every success.
Every setback that becomes a lesson.
Over time, those moments become confidence.
Confidence becomes belief.
Belief becomes leadership.
Leadership builds culture.
And culture changes lives.
Our Core Values
Excellence:
Doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.
Integrity
Doing what is right, even when no one is watching.
Leadership
Serving others by example.
Discipline
Understanding that consistent effort creates extraordinary results.
Respect
Valuing every student, educator, family, and community.
Growth
Always striving to become better than we were yesterday.
Belief
Recognizing that our greatest limitations are often the ones we place on ourselves.
Our Vision
Hicks Music Institute exists to create life-changing opportunities for musicians throughout Southeast Louisiana.
Our vision is to become a regional center for musical excellence where students from every school and every background come together to learn, perform, grow, and inspire one another.
As Hicks Music Institute grows, we envision expanding opportunities through:
Southeast Louisiana Youth Jazz Orchestra (SLYJO)
Private Music Instruction
Middle School Honor Jazz Programs
Youth Wind Ensembles
Chamber Music Programs
Summer Music Camps
Leadership Development Programs
Music Educator Clinics
School Consulting Services
Scholarships for deserving students
Community performances and outreach
Partnerships with schools, universities, and arts organizations
Our dream is not simply to build outstanding music programs.
Our dream is to build generations of confident young people who will positively impact their schools, their families, their professions, and their communities.
Current Opportunities
Private Lessons
Individual instruction designed to help students develop exceptional musical skills while building confidence, discipline, and strong fundamentals.
Southeast Louisiana Youth Jazz Orchestra (SLYJO)
A premier regional jazz ensemble bringing together outstanding student musicians from across Southeast Louisiana for advanced musical experiences, mentorship, performance, and leadership development.
Looking Ahead
Hicks Music Institute is only beginning.
Every great organization starts with a vision.
Every great building begins with a single brick.
Every great student begins with someone who believes in them.
Today we are laying the foundation.
Tomorrow we hope those foundations will support thousands of students whose lives are forever changed through music.
Join the Journey
Whether you're a student, parent, educator, alumnus, volunteer, supporter, or community partner, we invite you to become part of something bigger than a music program.
Together, we can build belief.
Together, we can build leaders.
Together, we can build stronger schools and stronger communities.
Because...