Community Music School

The Community Music School, the life long Dream of TSO's MaestroFrancis Wada, became a reality in the Fall of2002. The newest addition to the ThayerSymphony Orchestras offerings, CMS has made great strides in its mandate toreach out at every opportunity to the people who make up the region of central New England.

CMS currently boasts over 23 regularfaculty members from a diverse background in traditional and contemporarygenres of performance. Many of our facultyhas experience in other facets of the music and entertainment industry whichmakes our ability to reach a wider variety of interests and tastes possible.

In addition to offering private andgroup instruction on strings, Suzuki violin, keyboard, woodwind and brasswind,percussion and voice CMS is proud to offer a music theory/ear-training course,unique piano classes for the very young, a Jazz Improvisation course, MusicTherapy for infants, children and adults of all functioning levels WITH Marybeth Gunning,MT-BC, board certified music therapist. In addition, we offer Orff-Schulwerk group classfor children in grades K-4. These groups provide music literacy education as well as a performancecomponent (both instrumental and vocal) in a group atmosphere, using a well-respected and widelyused method developed by the composer and educator Carl Orff. These programs make it possible for CMS toeducate and inspire folks of every age group and demographic from infant toadult who make up Central Massachusetts. Our students are afforded many opportunitiesto perform regularly in recitals and other public performances benefiting theircommunity often in collaboration with other regionalorganizations.

Why participate in all that CMS hasto offer? There are a host of tangibleand intangible reasons for entering your child or yourself into a CMSprogram. Both government and privatelyfunded studies have established the benefits of a musical and arts embeddededucation. Better academic performance,better focus level and all around improved maturity levels are some of the manytangible benefits to CMS participation.But what about the intangible benefits like learning to lead throughexample. The ability to think on one'sfeet. The ability to use creativity toproblem solve is key in the contemporary career world. Many people are discovering the benefits ofmusic during the stages of mental and physical recovery due to a trauma. The list is endless.

Whatever your reason the faculty andstaff of the Community Music School are committed to bringing to you the verybest experience in music and the performing arts. Each faculty member is unique and supportive,and there is always an atmosphere of creativity and energy in our studiosunmatched by any other performing arts school.

I am confident you'll agree with methat the Community Music School is the place to let your creativity runwild. Come join in all the fun!

Toshimasa Francis Wada

Artistic Director TSO/CMS

Please select from the menu to the left to find specific information about The Community Music School

Community Music School of Thayer Symphony Orchestra
14 Monument Square, Fourth Floor
Leominster, MA 01453
Phone: (978) 466-1800
Fax: (978) 840-1000
cms@thayersymphony.org