Our Program
Community Music School provides opportunities for children and teens with limited financial resources to receive small class and one-on-one music instruction in orchestral instruments, voice, piano, percussion or guitar.
Thanks to generous donations from supporters like you, we provide affordable lessons, plus instruments and music books for the students to use free of charge while they are enrolled.
Programming all genres from Classical to Contemporary!
Explorations – These group classes engage beginning students by incorporating percussion, singing, recorders, ukulele, and technology. The students will begin to learn about musical concepts like rhythm, pitch, dynamics, timbre and form.
Journeys – These small group classes build on the foundational elements developed in Musical Explorations, and offer students an introduction to an instrument of their choosing. Emphasis is placed on building fundamental skills leading to fluency and proficiency.
Destinations – Students at this level are offered one-on-one instruction with a professional musician. Opportunities in piano, guitar and bass, drums and percussion, brass, woodwind, strings, voice and harp, focus on building individual technique and musicianship based on unique student needs.
Students of middle school age and above may elect to add ensemble study in addition to their other studies. Teamwork, responsibility and communication skills are honed while performing in these groups, which include:
- Jazz Ensemble
- David L. Marzetti Memorial Percussion Ensemble
- Recording/Technology
- Musical Theater
As an established 501(c)(3) community institution, CMS is committed to growing its mission of inspiring and enriching underserved children through traditional and innovative musical education opportunities of the highest caliber. Dynamic and diverse experiential learning environments will foster foundational growth and encourage the development of mature musicians that will express themselves through any number of instruments and musical genres of their choosing. Music education is a path to life-long learning and knowledge of self and culture.
Our program uses class & private study with limited enrollment in order to:
- promote musical literacy foundations
- provide one-on-one mentorship
- nurture relationships with students and their families
CMS maintains a rigorous student-teacher-parent partnership to ensure success. Weekly, classes & private music lessons are just one component of the learning process that is enhanced by recitals, master classes, concerts, ensembles and an interactive online learning laboratory with the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Student Expectations
CMS students are expected to meet participation standards, including weekly attendance, home practice and a commitment to progressing in their musical ability.
Each student performs in one school recital each year and advanced students may audition for a coveted spot in the annual honors recital. Students are also selected to perform in the community, challenging their skills, elevating their confidence and learning to give back to the community that supports their music education.
Partnerships with local arts organizations provide complimentary tickets for our students and families to attend community performances.
Students often remain in the CMS program for several years with some studying more than one instrument. Our students exemplify the research connecting music education with academic achievement, consistently placing on the honor roll at their Wake County schools. Over 90% of recent CMS graduating seniors attend four-year universities. Career paths have included the health sciences, education and law.
Learn more about enrolling in our program
