CMS-Detroit

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER

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IS SU E V I Spr i ng 2014

The key to student success at the MSU Community Music School-Detroit is quite literally, keys. The Sponsor a Key program invites the public to support music education by becoming a key contributor with a gift of $250 or more. Thus far, 88 keys have been sponsored by generous donors who can choose to receive an actual piano key signed by a student (don't worry, no functioning pianos were harmed!). This vital support enables CMS-D to keep tuition extremely affordable for families (averaging $5 per week), as well as offer additional financial aid to those youth who would not otherwise be able to participate. 89% of students at CMS-D qualify for some level of tuition support, a statistic that underscores current economic circumstances across metro Detroit. One deserving student is Jameer, age 14. He loves music more than just about anything. Generous supporters made it possible for Jameer, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, to enjoy one-on-one music therapy with Dr. Jody Conradi-Stark. Jameer blossomed. Today, he plays

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GIVE TO CMS-DETROIT BY CALLING (517) 353-9872

We have nothing against canoes, but summer camps at CMS-Detroit are all about making music! And nothing fires a kid's imagination quite like creating and performing music with their peers. This year's camps will excite young minds with sessions such as songwriting, jazz improvisation, sight-singing/ear training, musical entrepreneurship and more.

The kids will also tour Detroit’s famed United Sound Systems Recording Studios and walk in some famous musical footsteps. Plus record the official AMP Camp song! The Aspiring Musicians Program (AMP) Camp is for kids ages 9 to 17 with at least one year's experience on winds, brass, strings, percussion, piano or guitar instruments (June 23 to 27).

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percussion in the Aspiring Musicians Program, as well as performs regularly in CMS-D recitals and concerts.

His mom, Brigitte, says music at CMS-D changed Jameer’s life. Before, he didn't really enjoy school much. Now he has his sights set on majoring in music at college and is writing his own beats. CMS-D is hoping to find underwriting for another full set of piano keys in 2014. Gifts of all sizes can help support deserving students achieve their musical goals and learn new life skills. By the way, Jameer is ready and willing to autograph more piano keys!

Campers got a surprise visit from Detroit's own Martha Reeves last year!

From the Executive Director Rhonda Buckley

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS APRIL 30 Adult Piano Recital, 6:30pm

MAY 6 Adult & Teen Piano Recital, 6pm Adult Strings Recital, 7pm

7 New Horizons Bands, “Our Community in Concert” with CMS-D Gospel Choir, Detroit School of Arts, 7pm Spartan Teen Jazz, Carr Center, 7 pm

10 AMP I, II, III Recitals, 9 am & 10:30 am Music & Dance Therapy Recital, 11am to 1 pm

13 Adult Guitar & Bass Recital, 6 pm 14 CMS-D Gospel Choir Recital, 7 pm

JUNE 3 Start of Adult Summer classes 16-20 CMS-Detroit Rock Camp 20 Rock Camp Concert at The Magic Stick, 7 pm 23-27 Aspiring Musicians Camp 27 AMP Camp Concert, location TBD, 3 pm JULY 1-16 Adult Summer classes resume AUGUST 5 Fall registration begins SEPT. 9 First week of classes!

Newsletter by Woodward Consulting LLC

Even the most humble of musical instruments can have a great story behind it. Michael Bryce, CMS-D AMP guitar and Pre-AMP instructor, played violin as a child. Thinking he might take it up again as an adult, his mother bought a battered instrument at DuMouchelle's, the Detroit auction house on Jefferson. The violin sat unused and in disrepair, however, until Bryce learned an old guitar student of his, Jonathan Atwater, had taken a few introductory violin lessons at a local shop using a rented instrument. Atwater was looking for an alternative to renting. Atwater (who happens to be extremely handy) had decided he wanted to take up an instrument that could be played in an ensemble setting. He also wanted an option that could be easily carried on his business travels. Bryce gave Atwater the “unloved” violin and the DIY craftsman took three years returning it to its current playable condition. "He restored it beautifully,” says Bryce. “It was a thrill to hear it finally speak after all these years.”

This spring, if you pop into any of our teaching studios at CMS-Detroit, you'll see a poster called Music & Life Skills. We developed this colorful graphic recently to help our students make the connection between what they are learning in music class, and how these skills will enable them to succeed in college and careers. It should come as no surprise that college prep is a major theme for us. Through music, we increase our students’ knowledge of the world around them, and teach them to be independent thinkers and higher-level problem solvers. Learning to be entrepreneurial means learning to show imagination, initiative and readiness to undertake new projects. That is what our students do every time they tackle a new piece of music or perform for an audience! Music is at the heart of everything we do, and it is the creative energy of music that drives our kids to achieve. If you would like to support our students and their amazing accomplishments, please consider giving to our Spring "Sponsor a Key" Campaign. Visit www.givingtomsu.edu.

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Left: Bryce, Atwater and the triplets. Below: Before and after shots of the restored violin.

Atwater's subsequent discovery of the CMS-D Adult Strings class fit in perfectly with his goal of playing in an ensemble. Meanwhile, Atwater and his wife Debbie had also been looking for a music program for their 7-year-old triplets Ian, Evan and Emily. He was delighted to discover the class being taught by Bryce, his former classical guitar teacher! Needless to say, the kids are having a blast. Given four Atwater family members are now enrolled in music lessons, should we expect a string quartet?

Thank you!

Gospel Choir Student Soars!

The Outer Vibe will present MSU Rock Camp (June 16 to 20) for students ages 12 to 18 with experience on guitar, bass, drum set, piano, brass and vocalists.

Students will form their own bands based on musical interests and skill level, and spend the week gearing up for a LIVE performance at the Magic Stick, one of Detroit’s top live music venues on June 20. Register now for camps online at www.cms.msu.edu/detroit or call (313) 578-9716. Tuition is $200.

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The Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan (CFSEM) has awarded $50,000 in support of the Aspiring Musicians Program (AMP). AMP offers beginning and intermediate instrumental music lessons to children in grades 5 through 12 (ages 9 to 17) in small group settings. The subsidized lessons average $5 a week and families can also borrow instruments at no charge. Additional tuition assistance is available based on financial need. "We worked closely with an Advisory Board comprised of many of Detroit's most respected music educators." said Executive Director Rhonda Buckley.

"We asked them how we could make the biggest impact on musical opportunities for

area youth, and they helped us craft this program that has been so well received by our families."

"AMP is designed to get more kids started on an instrument, so that they can participate in school and other programs throughout their educational journey."

Nearly 600 children have participated in the program since its inception.

Kelley Hayosh sparkles when she talks about how much she enjoys singing in Gospel Choir class at CMS-Detroit.

A resident of St. Clair Shores, Kelley is a dedicated student who inspires others with her vocal chops, her enthusiasm, and her unwavering spirituality.

“This program is really, really meaningful to me,” she says. “I had been looking for a place to sing gospel music for a long time, and I was ecstatic to find out about this opportunity.”

Although Kelley has been singing her whole life and performed with other regional choirs, she says there is something special about this group.

"The people here are powerful," she explains. "No one judges anyone. Everyone is uplifted by everyone else.”

Kelley also has high praise for choir director Jessica Clements. "Jessica is amazing, for both her talent and her love

of God. Her whole focus is to get us to come together as a people, to praise God, to praise Detroit and to inspire others.”

"We have some shy people in the choir, but Jessica has really brought them out and made them feel proud. I can’t say enough about her."

Another special moment occurred for

Kelley at the choir's recent recital in December."My parents came. My dad is not an overly emotional guy, but he was in tears. It was really amazing."

What are her favorite songs to sing? She is hard pressed to narrow it down, but lists “Souled Out” by Hezekiah Walker and songs by Kirk Franklin such as “Stomp” and “He Never Fails.”

Kelly says her main goal in life is to be a singer. It is her passion. "Not everyone can be Cece Winans," she says, "but I'll keep training and striving. If I am feeling down, I know the music will lift me up."

Supports AMP

Above: Kelley and her fellow choir members rehearse under the direction of Jessica Clements.

Total # of students Number of youth enrolled # of retirees # of adult students mentoring younger students

Former band directors

Inaugural season of the

Ain't no mountain high enough for New Horizons Bands

Toddlers are busy little human beings. In fact, their brains are growing new synapses at Olympic speed as they gain understanding of the world around them. At this time of life, music is an especially powerful teaching and healing tool. Music can help the very young grasp academic and social concepts in a hands-on and joyful way. Through the generosity of PNC Foundation, CMS-D music therapist Dr. Jody Conradi- Stark and dance therapist Karen Barsy provide specialized Music & Movement programs for preschoolers and their parents or guardians.

32 weekly sessions took place in 2013-14 at Detroit Parent Network centers at Bennett and Priest Elementary Schools in Southwest Detroit, as well as at Peggy's Place, transitional housing operated by Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS). "We use music and movement to engage children in positive self-expression," says Dr. Conradi- Stark. "Many of our Southwest Detroit families speak only Spanish or Arabic, so we supply language immersion and an introduction to local school culture for parent and child." "Our COTS children have been through trauma," she explains, "so we work on normalizing activities, helping them feel safe and stable through interaction." Families each receive a CD and toy instruments so they can continue to learn through music at home.

Music Therapy thanks to PNC Foundation!

Ain’t no mountain high enough for the ambitious musicians of New Horizons Intermediate Band (NHB).

This group of passionate players in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s may have only learned to play their instruments a few years ago, but they are already gigging around town -- to the delight of the community at St. Patrick’s Senior Center.

Located on Parsons Street in Detroit, St. Pat’s is “home away from home” for over 2,000 older adults throughout the year.

They were the perfect audience for a second annual appearance by the spunky CMS-Detroit ensemble led by NHB Director Pamela Michael on February 25 ,2014.

The group played ten selections across a variety of genres including marches, popular music, Renaissance music and traditional songs like “We Shall Overcome” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

“We talked about the history of each piece, and gave a demonstration of each of the instruments (flute, clarinet, alto and tenor saxophones, trumpet, baritone and percussion),” says Michael. “They were absolutely interested in all of it, and just really really enjoyed themselves.”

When the band played “Rock Around the Clock,” hands were clapping and feet were stomping! It was so much fun, the band is now

eager to do more performances for the community.

"It’s amazing to me to hear how much confidence these musicians have now," says Michael. "And many of them are just surprised that they are able to do this!"

The New Horizons Band movement is all about trying something new, excelling at it – and having fun, whether you are in your 50’s, 60’s, 70’s or older.

The mission of NHB is to encourage people of all ages and skill levels to learn, or return, to the joy of playing an instrument.

BIG TEN NETWORK NEWS STORY!

Flutes: Nancy Harris* Beth Dzodin-Fuchs Yvonne Doe Trumpets: James Branch* Tamara Davie

Clarinets: Tom Sweeney Cassandra Pettaway Loretta Ryder* Percussion: Carlton Foreman*

Alto Sax: Madora McCampbell Larry Pride* Tenor Sax: Odis Buffington

Baritone: Betty Erni Tuba: Joe Sales

Adult programs at CMS-D include beginning and advanced New Horizons Bands, NHB Jazz and String ensembles, as well as group piano, guitar and bass classes.

Call (313) 578-9716 for more information on how to join.

Above: Photo courtesy of Lucille Tesfamariam.

CMS-Detroit is getting 15 minutes of fame... on the Big Ten Network (BTN)! The cable network chose to feature the music school in a short vignette that can also be seen on the "CMSDetroit" YouTube channel. BTN reaches an estimated 100 million households in the U.S. and Canada. We're so proud to share news about our students and faculty!

*denotes section leader Beth and Yvonne