Community Engagement
Eastern Michigan University's School of Music & Dance not only provides an excellent education to our students, we also connect with the community around us through a variety of musical and educational outlets. Learn more about our community initiatives below.
Community Music Academy: Early Childhood Education
The Early Childhood Education classes, which are part of EMU's Community Music Academy, 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.
EMU's Community Music Academy (CMA) offers non-credit music lessons and classes in piano. We provide an environment that encourages students to realize their musical aptitude in a nurturing and supportive environment. All instruction is supervised and/or provided by professional faculty, many of whom are members of the University faculty. The Academy uses a curriculum that is unique in its focus on teaching music in a way that is similar to the way we learn language.
For more information, visit the Community Music Academy.
Ballet performance for K-12 students
Each year, EMU Dance brings dozens of K-12 students to Ypsilanti's historic Pease Auditorium, which is located on our beautiful campus, to experience a ballet performance in collaboration with the EMU Symphony Orchestra.
High School Honors Band
Open by band director nomination to talented student instrumentalists in gr. 9-12, EMU Bands hosts this 2-day event in November, which includes sectionals with applied faculty and culminates in a concert at Pease Auditorium. More information under High School Opportunities on the EMU Bands page.
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 or 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. Music For All Concert Band Festival
Great Lakes Concert Band Festival
The Great Lakes Concert Band Festival at Eastern Michigan University, which takes place annually in March offers high school concert bands an opportunity to showcase their musicianship in a non-competitive environment. Bands present concerts free of repertoire restrictions for an audience of their peers, friends, families, and a panel of world class music educators. Students receive recorded commentaries on their performance from the panelists, followed by an educational clinic with one of the guest conductors. The Great Lakes Concert Band Festival ensembles will perform a 20 minute concert in the beautiful Pease Auditorium, followed by a 30 minute clinic. Performing bands will be limited to 12 on a first come first serve basis. Learn more and pre-register at the festival website.
Marching Band - High School Band Day
High school marching bands from throughout Michigan join the EMU Marching band for a football game experience. They participate in a massed band halftime rehearsal and performance at Rynearson Stadium. Invitational Choral Festival
Thank you for your interest in attending the EMU Invitation Choral Festival! Our festival is a multi -day residency with special guest, Dr. Morten Lauridsen. This spring, our festival will take place on Saturday, April 6-9, 2020 and our final performance on the final day will begin at 7:30 p.m.
This event is open to SATB choirs throughout Michigan and Ohio. All attending singers will combine to make a large Festival Chorus and will spend the day learning from our outstanding guest clinician, Morten Lauridsen.
In addition, we will invite several of the most accomplished High School choral ensembles to give a solo performance on the Pease Auditorium Stage. Each participating ensemble will receive a private master-class with Dr. Brandon Johnson and will join the EMU Festival Honor Choir for a day of music making with our festival conductor.
Participants will check in from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. the historic Pease Auditorium on the main campus of Eastern Michigan University - Ypsilanti, MI.
EMU/St. Joe's Noontime Recital Series
The EMU/ St. Joe's Noontime Recital Series was established in 2012, and concerts occur twice each semester at noon, usually on the first Tuesday of October, November, March and April. EMU student musicians perform solos and chamber music in the main lobby of St. Joe's Hospital. Various people stop to listen, including St. Joe's Doctors/Nurses/staff, patients, and visitors. Some stay for the entire program, and other times they listen for a piece or two.The EMU/St. Joe's Noontime Recital Series is presented in coordination with the Healing Arts Program at St. Joe's Hospital.