Private lessons are available for both youth and adults students with little to no playing experience to the more advanced. Choose from over 20 instruments to learn, including piano, woodwind and brass, strings, percussion, voice, and more. During each lesson, emphasis is placed on development of musical skills, including reading and technical skills, using a repertoire based on the students' goals. Individuals in private lessons participate in weekly lessons, school-wide recitals, and occasional guest master classes.
Lessons are offered on a variety of instruments, including:
One-on-one piano instruction is available to both adult and youth students with all levels of experience. Suzuki piano lessons are available for children and youth and group piano classes are offered for both youth and adults.
Offered on violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, and harp. Suzuki strings lessons are also available for children and youth.
Offered on flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet/cornet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, and tuba. Private instruction on woodwinds generally begin when a student’s physical development enables the student to play the instrument—typically fourth grade.
Offered on snare drum, keyboard percussion, timpani, and drum set.
Private voice instruction begins when the student’s voice is mature enough to benefit from instruction outside group singing, generally around age 16. Students younger than 16 must request a special consultation with a voice faculty member before enrolling for voice lessons. Youth beginning at age 7 may participate in one of the Children and Youth Choirs.
Instruction on MSU’s Beaumont Tower carillon is available on a limited basis to students with keyboard skills and is by audition only.
Students can study music theory, composition, and computer music. Arrangements can be made for private or group theory/composition/technology lessons.
Buddy Lessons are a great way to make music lessons more affordable and ideal for students unable to fit weekly lessons into their schedules and new students who want to explore an instrument. The buddy lesson options are:
Call CMS at (517) 355-7661 or visit the office to discuss Buddy Lesson options.
Lesson times are scheduled around student and teacher availability.
CMS offers financial assistance to those with varying levels of financial need. Learn more about the CMS financial assistance program.