Jeff Hanson launches Musicology music school in Winter Garden

Veteran music executive Jeff Hanson is opening Musicology in Winter Garden, Florida, on Sept. 1 as a contemporary music school and after-school program built around lessons, performance and real industry exposure. The first location is also the launchpad for a planned franchise expansion across the U.S. and eventually internationally.

Why it matters: - Musicology aims to blend music education with real-world industry access, giving students a path that goes beyond weekly lessons. - The Winter Garden launch is the first step in a planned franchise model designed for national and eventual international expansion. - The school is positioned to serve children and teens who want music training, confidence-building and community in one place.

What happened: - Jeff Hanson, a veteran music executive who has worked with Creed, Paramore, Sevendust and other artists, founded Musicology. - Musicology will open its first location in Winter Garden, Florida, on Sept. 1, 2026. - The school is launching as a contemporary music school and after-school music program. - Musicology will hold a three-day community open house Aug. 28-30, 2026, from 2-9 p.m. each day. - The open house will let families tour the school, meet the team, explore lessons and after-school programs, and reserve preferred lesson times.

The details: - Students can study guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, brass and woodwinds. - Programs are designed for different ages, experience levels and goals. - Musicology also offers songwriting, music production, recording, live performance, DJing, artist development, video production and music business education. - The school plans private lessons, after-school programs, bands, workshops, master classes and collaborative projects. - Musicology says students may use the program to play their first song, build confidence, join a band, earn a college scholarship, record original music or pursue a professional career. - The Winter Garden location will serve families in Winter Garden, Horizon West, Windermere and surrounding Central Florida communities. - The open house will include live performances, artist meet-and-greets and giveaways for a guitar, drums and free music lessons. - Musicology's website is musicologyorlando.com.

Between the lines: - Hanson is framing Musicology as a school built by people who have lived the music business, not just taught it. - The model is meant to expose students to more than the stage, including producers, songwriters, engineers, managers, videographers and marketers. - That broader approach can make music feel like a career ecosystem, not just an arts class. - The franchise pitch suggests Hanson is aiming to turn a local school concept into a scalable brand.

What's next: - Musicology Winter Garden opens Sept. 1, 2026. - The school will use the early location to build its community and prepare for future sites. - Musicology plans to grow through a network of people and systems already being assembled for expansion. - Hanson said the long-term goal is to bring the same model to communities across the U.S. and eventually around the world.

The bottom line: - Musicology is trying to turn professional music-industry access into a youth education franchise, starting in Central Florida.