Community Music Academy

EMU's Community Music Academy (CMA) offers non-credit music lessons and classes in piano and early childhood music. We provide an environment that encourages students to realize their musical potential in a nurturing and supportive atmosphere. All instruction is provided/supervised by professional faculty. We use a curriculum that is unique in its focus on teaching music in a way that is similar to the way we learn language. 

WE ARE BACK! Fall 2024 Session begins September 14.

Download the Fall 2024 flyer!

  • Early Childhood Music Classes (ages birth through 5 yr.)

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    Fall 2024 session begins September 14!

    Description

    These classes will immerse young children in a rich musical environment and provide a variety of experiences designed to expand musical understanding and skills in an active and playful way. Class activities include singing and chanting, moving to music (including use of props such as bean bags, scarves and streamers), playing assorted small percussion instruments, pattern instruction and imaginative musical play. The goal of this program is to increase children's music aptitude (potential to achieve in music) through engaging and entertaining musical activities, which will lay a foundation for lifelong music making and enjoyment. Children attend infant/toddler and preschool/kindergarten classes with a parent or caregiver, who participates alongside the child.

    Instructor

    • Alissa Amell-Postler, music educator, Ann Arbor Public Schools (B.M. & M.A., Eastern Michigan University)
    • Myranda Nichter, music educator, Roseville Community Schools (B.M., Eastern Michigan University)

    Days/Times/Ages

    • Saturdays, 9:009:45 a.m. = Infants/Young Toddlers (newborns 24 mos.)
    • Saturdays, 10:0010:45 a.m. = Older Toddlers/Young Preschool (2–3 yr.)
    • Saturdays, 11:0011:45 a.m. = Preschool/Kindergarten (3-5 yr.) 
    **Classes will run September 14 - November 9, with NO class on 10/12 due to EMU's Fall Break.

     

    Location

    Classes are held in room 213 of the EMU Alexander Music Building (corner of Lowell and E. Circle Dr.). Parking information will be provided after registration.

    For more information, contact program coordinator, Dr. Heather Shouldice, via email at [email protected].

    Cost

    $120 per child for eight 45-minute classes

    Early Bird Discount

    Enroll on or before September 1 to qualify for our early bird discount of $10 off! See the online registration form (link below) for details.

    Multiple Sibling Discount

    There will be a discount offered when multiple siblings from the same family enroll in this class ($10 off per sibling). See the online registration form (link below) for details.

    Click here for the Fall 2024 flyer!

     

    Click here to register!

Piano Offerings

  • Keyboard Games (Ages 4–6)

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    • Small class sizes
    • Building on the foundation of informal learning laid in early childhood music classes
    • Continuation of moving, chanting, singing
    • High value placed on exploration & creativity
    • Age-appropriate activities guide concrete thinkers to acquire musical ‘vocabularies’
    • Gradual introduction to the piano and formal music instruction

    Parent/Caregiver

    Parents are encouraged to observe/participate in class unless supervising siblings in the waiting area. Listen to the CD/audio files with your child at home. Encourage your child to experiment at the instrument for frequent, yet brief, periods throughout the week. When interest and attention span allow it, encourage them to copy the game-like pieces from the CD/audio files and book exactly. To learn more about Music Learning Theory, visit the Gordon Institute for Music Learning. To learn more about Music Moves for Piano, visit the website.

    Materials

    Purchase Keyboard Games Book A by Marilyn Lowe online at GIA Publications or at your local music store.

    Instructor

    Jennifer Fisher, lecturer in keyboard studies

    Days/Times

    Tuesdays, 4:30-5:15 p.m.
    Tuesdays, 5:15-6:00 p.m.
    Thursdays, 4:45-5:30 p.m.

    Location

    Classes will be held in room 208 at the EMU Alexander Music Building (corner of Lowell and Jarvis) located on the east edge of campus in Ypsilanti, just east of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Parking is available in the guest lot next to the Alexander Building.

    Cost

    $22.50 per student for each 45-min class.

  • Beginning Piano (Ages 7-10)

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    • Small class sizes
    • Growth of the musician through moving, chanting, singing
    • High value placed on exploration, creativity & improvisation
    • Age-appropriate materials lead concrete thinkers to acquire musical ‘vocabularies’
    • Sequential development of piano technique, rhythm patterns & tonal patterns through short instructional pieces

    Parent/Caregiver

    Parents are encouraged to observe/participate in class unless supervising siblings in the waiting area. Listen to the CD/audio files with your child at home. Encourage your child to practice at home only what he/she clearly understands. To learn more about Music Learning Theory, visit the Gordon Institute for Music Learning. To learn more about Music Moves for Piano, visit the website.

    Materials

    Purchase Music Moves for Piano, Book 1 by Marilyn Lowe online at GIA Publications or at your local music store.

    Instructor

    Jennifer Fisher, lecturer in keyboard studies

    Days/Times

    Inquire for availability.

    Location

    Classes will be held in room 208 at the EMU Alexander Music Building (corner of Lowell and Jarvis) located on the east edge of campus in Ypsilanti, just east of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Parking is available in the guest lot next to the Alexander Building.

    Cost

    $22.50 per student for each 45-min class.

  • Private Piano Lessons

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    Arranged individually. Email [email protected] or [email protected] for availability.
  • Multiple Sibling Discount

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    A discount is offered when multiple siblings from the same family enroll in the same class ($10 off per sibling).

    For more information, contact Jenny Fisher, via email at [email protected].

The EMU Music Therapy Center

The EMU Music Therapy Center has served the greater Ann Arbor Community since 2008. Senior students conduct individual music therapy sessions under supervision in our state-of-the-art clinical center. Students engage in experiential learning through placement in a variety of clinical settings in the community - always working under the supervision of a board certified music therapist.

What EMU Music Therapy Center Offers

  • Clinical Services

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    Senior music therapy students provide clinical services under the supervision of a faculty board certified music therapist.

    All new clients must be assessed by a member of the EMU music therapy faculty to determine the client’s suitability for student services. This ensures that our students possess the skill level necessary to meet the dynamic needs of the individual client and assists us in assigning the student best able to meet the needs of the client (see section on fees for more information about initial assessment.)

    Professional music therapists with the MTC are also able to provide music therapy assessments for other purposes, such as eligibility assessments, among others.

  • Client Intake

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    Music Therapy sessions at the MTC correspond with the academic calendar, thus we accept new clients prior to September and January and maintain a waitlist for services. All new clients must first be assessed by one of the center’s professional board certified music therapists.

    Professional Services

    Limited professional music therapy services are offered at the MTC. Fees for service are negotiated between the therapist and client. Professional services are offered across the following specializations:

    • MT for early childhood, speech and language
    • MT for Autism Spectrum Disorder
    • MT for Parkinson’s Disease
    • MT for Neurological impairments
    • MT for Personal exploration
    • The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music
  • Spaces

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    We have a limited number of spaces in our program, and are not attempting to compete with the strong private practices of local music therapists, whose information we will gladly provide upon request. We provide services during the academic school year of Eastern Michigan University when the students are available, for approximately 13 sessions each semester. Each client may be observed by other students, or taped for training purposes.

  • Fees

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    Student-led music therapy services are offered on a sliding scale to partially cover the costs of the center. The scale will be negotiated on an individual basis. No person in need will be turned away for inability to pay.

    Fees for professional services vary by the type of therapy, length of session and the individual therapist’s credentials.

    Fee for the professional assessment for a client new to the MTC starts at $120 and varies based on individual client need. Length of assessment will not exceed three sessions and will be negotiated after the first assessment session.

    Fees for professional assessment services for purposes other than intake into the MTC will be negotiated between the professional MT-BC and the client, parent or guardian.

  • Sessions

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    Student-led music therapy sessions range from 30–50 minutes in length depending upon the needs of the client.

  • Music Therapy Student Resources

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