The MSU Community Music School was filled with excited children as they banged on drums and blew trumpets. Each child went through every instrument to find one that spoke directly to them.
The school invited Greater Lansing residents to their annual semester open house Sunday.
The school offers a variety of classes and experiences for children who wish to get involved with music.
Throughout the open house, young students took their turns playing different instruments as a part of the school’s “petting zoo.” Children were able to experience each of the sections of a band, from strings to percussion.
The school was founded in 1993 as a nonprofit outreach division for what was at the time MSU’s School of Music. The program has classes and lessons in virtually every instrument and other programs such as choral performance.
Age is not a factor. The school has courses for anyone from youths to seniors.
“We serve approximately 1,100 students per semester and another 800 in the summer,” Community Music School director and MSU alumna Jaime DeMott said.
The school has been located in their building at 4930 S. Hagadorn Road for the past two years.
According to the Community Music School’s official website, “The goal of CMS is to offer music and its inherent possibilities to everyone in the community regardless of age, ability or income.”
The CMS expanded to Detroit’s Cultural Corridor in 2009 and serves Metro Detroit residents with several programs.
The staff shares in the excitement of music while teaching and participating with their students. The school offers music therapy for special needs students, which instructors say offer new opportunities to see students grow.
“Just seeing how the clients come out elated and watching them run out the doors singing and dancing still is awesome,” said intern Katharine Nunn, who also is a vocal performance senior at MSU.
The variety of classes range in prices and choices from private lessons for specific instruments to band programs. The prices vary due to financial situations and depend on the class being taken.
“If it’s under the umbrella of music education, we can offer something,” DeMott said.
Financial assistance is available for all those who want to learn music but cannot afford the tuition.
