Piano (Youth & Adult)

CMSD Group Music Instruction

MSU Community Music School-Detroit offers group piano courses for students 9 years old and up.

Studying piano is one the most popular ways for students to introduce music making into their lives or continue their music education. Our classes are structured to welcome complete beginners, intermediate players, and advanced students through a flexible and sequential curriculum that allows students to explore music that is meaningful to them!

Registration

Meet our Piano Faculty

Jon Dixon

With over 30 years of experience on piano, 15 plus years have been dedicated to teaching group and private piano. Jon continues to lead, shape and mold students by sharing the knowledge gained from his many mentors and by giving students a glimpse of what's possible in the real world musically. As he continues to perform locally, nationally, and internationally, teaching and passing on knowledge is one of the ways Jon sees keeping Detroit at the forefront of being known for its top-notch musicians.

Mark McGruder

Mark McGruder began his musical training at the Detroit Community Music School/Institute of Music and Dance, participated in the music programs of the Detroit Public Schools and received a BA in Music from Wayne State University. Mr. McGruder has a wide ranged skill set. He's comfortable in various musical settings be it as an accompanist for vocal and instrumental soloists, a Jazz Ensemble or a Classical chamber music piano trio. As a piano instructor he emphasizes that musical literacy is an imperative, requiring that all new students utilize music flashcards to help reinforce the learning of the music notes and where the notes are located on the piano. In his group classes as well as private lessons Mr. McGruder emphatically emphasizes the importance of developing the ability of hearing with your eyes and seeing with your ears. Mr. McGruder has a passion for music and enjoys helping those that are serious about fostering their musical gifts and interests.