Programs

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

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

Spring 2023

  • Janaury 23, 2023 - First Day of Spring Semester
  • April 29, 2023 - All School Recital, 1:00pm, CMS Performance Hall
  • May 13, 2023 - All School Recital, 1:00pm, CMS Performance Hall
  • May 21, 2023 - New Horizons Adult Ensembles Concert, 3:00pm, Fairchild Theatre
  • May 27, 2023 - Last Day of Spring Semester

Programs