Choose a CMC Program, Some Background Info

We've grouped offerings in our Program Catalogue by age to make it easier for you to find the right program for you or your student.  A little background on the logic we used developing our programs might be helpful to you.

CMC Atlanta Core 

The primary elements at the core of CMC Atlanta educational program design are:

• Studio Lessons: private lessons, usually weekly, but potentially more often, with a qualified and devoted musician
• Comprehensive Musicianship Programs (CMP): musicianship training, including concepts and skills, covered not only in Studio Lessons, but also in group classes.  CMP training includes theory, history, listening lab, literacy and more.    
• Performance & Projects, which put all training to use and inspire the student by empowering personal and group expression through music

Student Background and Goals 

These are the essential elements and activities in any rigorous music education, but we understand that different students have different backgrounds, and varied amounts of time and other resources to devote to training. Students also have different goals.  

We provide opportunities for beginners to pre professionals.  By far, the most common question asked of us: can a brand new beginner participate in a program?  The answer is yes, beginners are welcome in just about every one of our programs.  It's the essential nature of a community music school, to provide access to musical training to anybody who wants it.  That said, we have someprogramming designed specifically for students who are passionate and focused on cultivating their musical expression to their fullest potential. To accommodate this broad spectrum, we frequently divide students by age and skill or experience.  This keeps beginners from feeling intimidated or more advanced students from being boredor progress thwarted.      

Flexibility and Program Innovation 

We've also made some adjustments to accommodate busy family schedules.  Through the popular AfterSchool Music Program (for grades K-5), for example, we offer transportation from local public and private schools to nearby CMC Atlanta locations, which helps families overcome a logistical barrier to enrollment.  (Atlanta traffic is no joke!)  Students can stay with us until 6:30 pm, and while they're with us, they engage in all the elements listed above: Studio Lessons, CMP courses, and Performance & Projects.  Similarly, we offer a Performance Workshop for older students.  The Performance Workshop focuses teens on the Performance & Projects, plays to the social nature that is a hallmark of their age, and still manages to provide access to all three core elements of our programming.  If you have a tighter schedule or tighter resources to put toward training, we also offer Studio Lessons as a stand alone option.  You simply come to the Center, more or less weekly, for the scheduled appointment with a private teacher.  This is an educational strategy used across the country to teach students how to sing or play, and while we have more holistic options available, Studio Lessons with a good teacher can provide ample support for many students to meet their needs and initial goals.  

We thank you for your interest, and if you have questions or want to schedule a visit, please feel free to Contact Us.