Sweet Music Academy of Lakewood

Sweet Music Academy is a music school located at 4042 US-9 in Lakewood, NJ. It has a 5.00 rating. The school offers individual music lessons, group classes, and performances for all ages. It has helped students grow for more than 20 years. The academy provides lessons in piano, voice, guitar, bass, drums, strings, ukulele, woodwinds, and brass. Students can also participate in recitals, performances, rock band, jazz band, and other group programs. The academy offers on-site retail and instrument repair services. It is a 2026 Best of Award winner. The school was founded in 2004 by Jay Sweet. Instructors include Chris Tuccillo, who has been teaching for 30 years, and Deseree Spinks, a three-time Asbury Music Award-winning performer. Jay Sweet is a musician, educator, and author. He holds degrees from Berklee College of Music and Rutgers University. He teaches at Monmouth University, Rutgers, and Middlesex College. He has worked with jazz icons such as Ted Curson and Norman Simmons. His latest group, Atmospheric Trio, released its debut album, Following Polaris, in 2025. He is also a published music historian, with articles in DownBeat, Jersey Jazz Magazine, and Oxford University Press. His books include Ray Brown: His Life and Music (2025), The Music 1964 (2024), and A History of American Music (2021). He also hosts two podcasts.