COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC
The Meredith College Community School of Music (CSOM) offers musical opportunities to community members of all ages and levels.
This includes students who might wish to pursue careers in music, those who might wish to develop competent levels of skills to become life-long music enthusiasts, those who will simply play or sing to fulfill their own personal needs, or who might become important members of society’s concert audience.
Registrations for the 2024-25 academic school year closed on August 9th, 2024. Late registrations are now open through August 21st.
Community School of Music (CSOM) Mission Statement:
If you are interested in improving your musical knowledge and skills, our Community School of Music (CSOM) offers a wide variety of individual and ensemble musical learning and performance opportunities.
Catalogue
Registration & Forms
Prospective students in the Community School of Music should complete our Inquiry form. From there, available teachers will reach out to schedule a sample lesson, interview, and, if necessary, an Audition. Interviews and auditions should occur the semester before beginning lessons.
Current students wishing to continue their lessons must register for fall and/or summer lessons each year. Annual registrations should include a Registration Form, Vehicle Registration Form, and payment. Returning students can pay for their tuition online with their student ID following these instructions.
New students must make initial payment by check, cashier’s check, or money order to set up their account. Meredith Accounting will provide a link to pay online that will allow credit cards for payments. You will receive a paper bill from the Meredith Accounting Department, by mail three times during the school year. Your deposit along with your registration form serves as your first payment.
The three bills will arrive in the middle of the fall semester, and at the beginning and middle of the spring semester. Students whose accounts with outstanding balances after May 1 will NOT be permitted to register for summer lessons or the next academic year until the balance is paid in full.
Pay by check, cashier’s check, or money order: Make checks out to Meredith College and include the student’s account number on the memo line. Checks, cashier’s checks, and money orders can be turned into the dropbox outside of the music office (104 Wainwright Music Building) or mailed to:
Meredith College Accounting Office 3800 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27607-5298
Bank Card (debit or credit): Returning students can pay online via card after making an initial deposit and receiving a student ID number. Online payments are processed through the Meredith Accounting Department and require a student ID number, which can be found on your billing statement. Follow these steps to make an online payment.
Private Lessons
Private lessons are offered in piano, organ, voice, flute, cello, traditional and Suzuki violin, viola, and guitar, as well as theory and composition. Meredith welcomes students of all ages and backgrounds and encourages the fullest development of the potential inherent in each individual. Students register for 30-, 45- or 60-minute lessons, taught by Meredith faculty members. The individual attention offered by private study is an important part of musical development.
Suzuki Program
Violinist and teacher Shinichi Suzuki developed what is known today as the “Suzuki Method” after he realized the implications of the fact that children all over world learn to speak their native tongue effortlessly. He began to apply the basic concepts of language development to the learning of music and named his method Talent Education. Suzuki believed that “musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed. Any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is unlimited.” Here at Meredith College we have adopted Suzuki’s philosophy that every child can learn to play a musical instrument. Some key components to the success of this approach include:
The early years of development are most crucial for learning muscle coordination and training the ear. We recommend that you get your child listening to music as early as possible and we recommend that children start formal lessons at age three or four. Although starting musical training at an early age is beneficial, we believe that you are never too old to begin.
Parents are required to attend lessons and serve as their child’s at home teacher. This may sound like a daunting task, but the instructors at Meredith College will help you to learn the basics of your child’s instrument.
Just as your child learned how to speak by listening to thousands of words daily, your child can learn music by listening every day. Repetition is essential to learning how to play an instrument. Children learn and store music in the same way that they store words.
It is through constant praise and encouragement that this method is most successful. Although Suzuki believed that every child can learn and develop, he believed that every child learns at their own rate. Breaking down learning into small steps that can be mastered by the child helps build their confidence.
Children will have private and group lessons. The group lessons are to help reinforce techniques learned in private lessons and to build a sense of community within the program. It is important for students to be around other young violinists in order to stay motivated.
We believe that it is important to develop nice playing posture and refine your child’s musical ear before we introduce note reading. This way, instead of focusing on how to read music, they first learn how to create a beautiful tone that will bring them joy for the rest of their playing career.
We no longer offer Suzuki guitar lessons for children ages four and older due to staffing changes. We hope to offer them again in the future. However, we do offer individual traditional guitar lessons. For more information about tradition Guitar lessons please use the Inquiry form link found on the first page of web site.
Ensemble Music Lessons
Register for group classes using the CSOM 2024-2025 Registration Form links to sign up for group classes. Selections are listed under the Group Classes and Fees section of the registration form.
This class will serve the student who has had some prior instruction in playing the violin, viola, cello or bass and is able to perform Grade 2/3 level literature. Previous ensemble experiences is helpful but not required. Areas of focus will include study of standard literature at the Grade 2/3 level with emphasis on playing in tune, group bowing techniques for string players, balance, blend, and ensemble playing techniques. Outcome would be a public performance at the end of each semester. Class will meet on Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. in Jones Hall 121. Contact Luanne Roth at llroth@meredith.edu for more information.
Flutastix is a new flute choir collaboration between Meredith College and Raleigh Area Flute Association (RAFA). Rehearsals are Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For details and audition information, please contact Dr. Carla Copeland-Burns at cecopelandburns@meredith.ed
- Conducted by David M. Harris, Director of the Raleigh Ringers.
- Open to participants 13 years old and up with basic music reading skills.
- The ensemble will be open to Meredith College students and community members.
- Music and gloves are included in the registration fee of $125 per semester.
- The participants will help do the set-up and breakdown each week.
- The group will be limited to 15 participants
- Rehearsals will be on Wednesday afternoons (4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.) in room 106 of the Wainwright Music Building in the Jones Chapel.
- Rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 with an introductory meeting, to polish the bells, and to prepare for rehearsals (you will be notified by the instructor via email if this date changes).
- The semester will end with a public concert (date to be determined by the participants). In future semesters, we may entertain participation in handbell festivals and community events. Concert Black performance attire will be required.
- Use the online registration form link found on the bottom of this page to join his ensemble.
For more information, please contact Dave Harris at dmharris@meredith.edu.
At this time the Mixed Community Choir is not being offered during the 2024-2025 Academic year. We hope to get enough interest to offer it again soon. Please check back. We will put up an announcement here if the situation changes.
The mixed chorus is a mixed voice ensemble designed for adults who love to sing and wish to sing with other non-professional adults. No auditions are required. Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons at Meredith College during the fall and spring semesters. The group performs a free public performance at the end of each semester. Participants are required to register and pay a fee of $150 each to participate. Contact Mark Woodcock at mawoodcock@meredith.edu with questions.
Music Camps
Community School of Music Summer camps are enrolling students for Summer 2024. If you do not see dates and information for a camp you are interested in, please check back before May to see what will be offered. Our instructors are finalizing their plans now.
Music Theatre Vocal Boot Camp and the Woodwinds Boot Camp will not be offered for Summer 2024.
We hope to see you this summer!
