The Community Music School in Centerbrook announces an information session on our New Horizons Adult Music Program to be held on Wednesday, August 25^th at 10:00 a.m. at the School located at 90 Main Street in Spencers Corner.

If you have always wanted to play an instrument or would like to return to an instrument you played in the past, come join us! Patricia Hurley , the director of the New Horizons Band of the Connecticut-Valley Shore , will discuss how this exciting beginner-level music instruction and ensemble performance for adults has enriched the lives of so many throughout the area. Open to all adults, classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings beginning in September.

For additional information, contact the school Please call the school at 860-767-0026 to learn more about this information session and Fall classes.  
 

Having worked in management for various New Haven non-profits such as Long Wharf Theatre, The Shubert Theater, Film Fest New Haven, Youth Continuum, Inc, and most recently as consultant to Chestnut Hill Concerts, Guilford, Boy & Girls Club of New Haven, among others, Andreoli brings to the school her successful track record of critical and creative analysis, community outreach, building relationships that have generated increased support and financial resources both in the community and grant writing, as well as administrative and financial management. She holds a Master of Business Administration, Public Relations Concentration, and a Bachelor of Science in Communications, Public Relations Concentration from the University of New Haven  In 2004 Ms. Andreoli was recognized as a "Rising Star" by Business New Haven; in 2002 Business Times she was on the list "40 Under 40."

Founded in 1983 with a roster of 12 teachers, the Community Music School held instruction in voice and instrumental at the Essex Town Hall and other locations for its 43 students. Its permanent home was established in 1991 at Spencer's Corner in Centerbrook. Today the 6,000-square-foot facility houses 17 studios with a dedicated faculty of 30 offering private, group or ensemble instruction to nearly 600 students of all ages from pre-kindergarten to adults, from over twenty-five towns throughout the Connecticut Valley-Shore area. 

The mission Community Music School is to provide a full range of the finest possible instruction and musical opportunities to persons of all ages and abilities, to increase appreciation of music and to encourage a sense of joy in learning and performing, thus enriching the life of the community. CMS is a member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, The Shoreline Arts Alliance for the Arts.

We know that you require a little more schedule flexibility in July and August to accommodate vacations, visiting relatives and summer camp. Once you have an idea of your summer plans, call the CMS office with a list of the weeks you'd like to arrange lessons, and we'll set them up.  Your summer timeslot can be different from the one you've had during the school year.  You may schedule as few as one lesson or as many as eight.  There's one caveat, though -- if you later need to cancel a lesson you've arranged, we need a week's notice during the summer, or you will be charged for the lesson.  We can try to give you a different timeslot, though.

Students often take 45-minute lessons in the summer since they have the luxury of a little more available free time.  For some students, summer actually provides more time than usual to practice! Summer's also a great time to try a new instrument, or to start a young child to judge their readiness for private lessons.

Don't wait until the last day of school to start thinking about signing up though -- all of the timeslots are "first come, first served".  Give us a call!

Summer is also an excellent time for you to try a few lessons on a new instrument.  Our instructors are able to evaluate a child's readiness and you can test their interest level without making a full semester's commitment.  More advanced students could also try "special" supplementary lessons in such areas as Music Theory, Composition, Sight-Reading or Accompaniment. 

There are many fun and interesting group programs planned for this summer as well -- check them out by clicking on "Programs" and "Summer 2010".  For those of you who've been looking for a music-themed alternative to day camp, try Studio 15.  If musical theater interests you, try Broadway Bound, Broadway Beginners, or Scenes from Broadway.  There are ensemble programs for brass musicians, cellists, singers and chamber musicians.  Miss Nancy has Kindermusik Summer Adventures for all preschool age groups, too!  Last summer, 50 of you enjoyed Jim Beloff's Ukulele workshops, and he'll be back again this year.

We'll start accepting registrations on Monday, March 1.  Please don't be disappointed by waiting too long to call -- some of our programs fill up the very first day!  Group programs will require a deposit (and in the case of Broadway Bound, full payment) when you call.