Programs

To ensure a safe and healthy in-person learning environment, please review the required CMS health and safety protocols.

• Virtual Programs
  Ongoing

  • Private Lessons (virtual and in-person)
  • Individual and Group Music Therapy (virtual and in-person)

• Private Lessons

  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:
  
  

  Piano

  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.

  Strings

  Offered on violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, and harp. Suzuki strings lessons are also available for children and youth.

  Woodwinds and Brass

  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. 

  Percussion

  Offered on snare drum, keyboard percussion, timpani, and drum set.

  Voice

  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.

  Carillon

  Instruction on MSU’s Beaumont Tower carillon is available on a limited basis to students with keyboard skills and is by audition only.

  Jazz

  Jazz instruction is offered on piano, saxophone, guitar, and bass for students that have at least one year of experience on their instruments. 

  Composition and Theory

  Students can study music theory, composition, and computer music. Arrangements can be made for private or group theory/composition/technology lessons.

  Music Technology and Production

  From beats and basslines, tracking and mixing, programming interactive audio works, and everything in between, lessons will get students up and running or build on what they already know. Students must bring their own laptops and software.

  Buddy 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:

  • two students with the same teacher at the same time, or
  • two students with eight alternating, biweekly individual lessons with the same teacher

  Call CMS at (517) 355-7661 or visit the office to discuss Buddy Lesson options.

   

  Register for Private Lessons

  Lesson times are scheduled around student and teacher availability.

  View pricing for private lessons

  Contact CMS at (517) 355-7661 to register for private lessons.

• Children and Youth
  • Beginning Violin
  • Children and Youth Choirs 
  • Early Childhood Music Education - for ages 0-5 
  • Group Piano 
  • Making Music - for ages 5-7 
  • Music Theory and Musicianship
  • Suzuki Strings and Piano
  • Vocal Village - for ages 5-7 

• Adults
  • Choral Union
  • CMS String Ensemble 
  • Group Piano
  • Musicians' Wellness Offerings
  • New Horizons Ensembles

• Special Needs (Music Therapy)
  • Group Music Therapy (virtual and in-person)
  • Individual Music Therapy (virtual and in-person)
    
    Stay tuned for the next one-of-a-kind, inclusive, and fun Eric 'RicStar' Winter In-Person and Virtual Music Therapy summer camp designed for all people with special needs and their siblings. Camp 2024 dates TBA.

• Summer Camps
  • Eric 'RicStar' Winter In-Person and Virtual Music Therapy Camp
  • Middle School Band Camp 
  • Beginning Strings Camp 
  • Ukulele Camp

Financial Assistance Is Available

CMS offers financial assistance to those with varying levels of financial need. Learn more about the CMS financial assistance program.

 

Important Dates

Fall 2023

• September 5, 2023 - First Day of Spring Semester
• November 21 - Regularly scheduled Monday lessons, classes and music therapy sessions and groups take place. This is a make-up day for Labor Day
• November 22 & 23 - Make up lessons/sessions (if necessary – please speak to your teacher or music therapist!)
• November 24, 25, 26 & 27 - CMS OFFICE CLOSED
• December 17 - New Horizons Adult Ensembles Concert, 3:00 p.m.
• December 24, 2023 - January 7, 2024 - Winter Break - no regularly scheduled lessons, classes, ensembles or music therapy sessions and groups.
• December 24 - 31, 2023 - CMS OFFICE CLOSED
• January 1 & 2, 2024 - CMS OFFICE CLOSED
• January 8, 2024 - Fall Semester Resumes
• January 21, 2024 - Last day of Fall Semester