While some students study music with no performances in mind, most people take lessons and classes with the goal of developing the skills and confidence to play for others, either friends and family members or an appreciative audience, small or large. After all, who wants to be alone hour after hour in a practice room, taking lessons week after week, with no end, no purpose, no clear goals in sight?
Drawing on Studio Lesson and CMP Course & Workshop training, AMHS and Gap students form small ensembles of all kinds--
Chamber Ensembles, Jazz Combos, Rock Bands, Bluegrass, Folk, and Old-Time Bands, small vocal ensembles, and music theater troupes. Through our ensemble program, we help aspiring musicians cultivate a stylistically and developmentally sensitive authentic performance practice.
We don't force students to perform, but we're serious about creating formal and informal performance opportunities that meet two goals: supporting the student's development and furthering the cause of living musical traditions. For more invested students, in particular, this often involves performance off-site in community venues, as well as local galleries, coffee shops, and theaters. We also arrange for students to perform at festivals (for example, on the Main Stage at the Atlanta Dogwood Festival) and in professional venues like the Variety Playhouse and 7Stages. The concomitant benefits for the student include added motivation (a snow-balling of interest and skill development) and the simple pleasure of playing music with friends.
Through Performance Programs, we also host a number of Performance Events by professionals for the benefit and enjoyment of students. Center faculty, guests, local and regional professional musicians visit the Center or a procured off-site venue to perform . Guest performers often pair their performance with a CMP Workshop.
When a student enrolls in GAP, department coordinators and Studio Lesson faculty assess the student's readiness and when appropriate, match the student with an accompanist or place them in a small ensemble or band based on skills and stylistic interests. Students who already play in a band or with one or more friends independently may request for their group to rehearse at the Center and/or receive Center coaching once enrolled.
Center faculty coach students to help them prepare to perform on any number of informal and formal, on- and off-site performances held each term. We create performance events that fit well with each style of music and meet the educational and developmental needs of our student ensembles. Recitals, Salons, Shows, Concerts, Festivals, Jams.
CMC Atlanta students perform on the Main Stage @ the Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Featured Video :: CMC Atlanta students at Variety Playhouse in Little 5 Points
Whether your interests are Classical, Jazz, Blues, Rock, or American Folk & Roots music, traditional or experimental approaches, lessons with our faculty provide the means and the motivation for developing musical skills and understanding. When you arrive, if not before, we match you with the desired resource-- a great teacher-- and pair you up in an inspiring setting.
Options include:
Read MoreThe Comprehensive Musicianship Program (or CMP) Courses and Workshops provide essential support for CMC Atlanta students. Time spent one-on-one or in small group classes taught by music theory, harmony, composition and improvisation specialists works in tandem with private lessons to foster musical understanding, skills, and ultimately, the framework for performance and creation.
For each of our AMHS and GAP students, we develop a unique curriculum that meets the students needs and interests.
Read MoreWhile some students study music with no performances in mind, most people take lessons and classes with the goal of developing the skills and confidence to play for others, either friends and family members or an appreciative audience, small or large. After all, who wants to be alone hour after hour in a practice room, taking lessons week after week, with no end, no purpose, no clear goals in sight?
Drawing on Studio Lesson and CMP Course & Workshop training, AMHS and Gap students form small ensembles of all kinds--
Read MoreAMHS and GAP students are encouraged to work with CMC Atlanta faculty and administrators to take on an internship or externship. These arrangements are designed to meet the student's short and long term goals, and they can be either administrative or instructional in nature.
Internships are sometimes, but not always, available as an element of GAP and upper level; AMHS enrollment.
Read MoreA creative musical output requires an approach that immerses the student in a community of practicing musicians and encourages the student to engage in a crucial set of activities with teachers and peers in a disciplined and ongoing way. The educational or (perhaps, put better) human goal of cultivating musical artistry and understanding drive the curriculum and schedule for individual students and the AMHS community. Because of the condensed academic schedule, the AMHS experience also provides balance and harmony between traditional academics and passionate pursuit of musical skills and authentic artistic personal expression. We think this balance and harmony are crucial for student happiness and success.
Since AMHS curriculum and schedules are designed on an individual basis, AMHS is suitable for students falling on a continuum from some experience to Pre-Professional levels of training. Since the program immerses the student in music performance, music education, and music outreach experiences, students who enroll should be passionate about music and in most cases have had at least a foundational education, whether formal or informal.
Students are divided by interest and skill level, so we are able to accommodate diverse skill levels without undermining the experience for advanced students or putting a less experienced student in an unnecessarily intimidating situation.
Atlanta Music High School is open to 9th-12th grade students. Atlanta Music High Prep is open to students grades 6-8.
AMHS is based primarily at CMC Little 5 Points; however, elements of AMHS (private lessons, rehearsals, personal practice space, or internships) can potentially be arranged at any of the four CMC Atlanta locations for interested students:
We also use a variety of community resources and local performance venues, as needed
AMHS offers coursework year round:
Although we operate on a traditional academic term cycle, students may register and begin at any time pending an audition/interview.
Once a student enrolls at AMHS, we plan directly with the student and family to create an individually crafted schedule that accommodates the student's interests, goals, and academic coursework, regardless if the stduent is cross enrolled at Capstone Academy, another public or private school, or home schooled.
We offer training in
Traditional and experimental approaches within these fields are supported.
Students are not limited to a single genre or style. All students are taught to read and understand music using the terminology and conceptual frameworks used by professional musicians in these different styles.
Term tuition, music training only:
Please note: there is an annual registration/enrollment fee of $350 per student; other fees and restrictions may apply. Tuition rates are subject to change with 60 days notice.
Tuition will be discounted for students who would like to enroll at AMHS, but would like to continue private lessons with an approved teacher who is not a member of the CMC Atlanta faculty.