Hello from the BKCM Vocal Department! Our voice faculty is composed of expert vocalists and technicians with a wide range of professional experience. Instruction is offered in many musical styles for levels beginner to advanced and we are here to help you on your unique singing journey. 

Focusing on a wide variety of genres and styles, ranging from musical theatre and opera to pop, rock, jazz and spoken word, private voice lessons will build solid vocal technique and encourage habits that will help keep your voice healthy and strong. Students gain skills such as reading notes, matching pitch, harmonizing and interpreting songs. Students also have the opportunity to prepare for performances and recitals with a live accompanist. Students who are preparing for auditions and concerts work towards building a solid repertoire and performance skills. 

Private lessons in Voice are generally suitable for students ages 9 and up. Your voice teacher can also help you apply your singing skills in one of our many age appropriate ensembles for singers of all ages.

Voice Department Chair:
Christine Cornell (christine.cornell@bkcm.org)

VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO, BASS, HARP

Welcome to the bowed string department. Under the guidance of experienced teachers whose expertise ranges from classical to bluegrass to jazz, our teachers take a gentle approach to the fundamentals of string playing, such as bow technique, posture and body awareness so that students may achieve excellence in pitch and tone. In the early years, teachers and caregivers work together to assure that the proper technique is being practiced at home and that a suitable practice routine is established.

Bowed String Department Chair:
Johnna Wu (johnna.wu@bkcm.org)

Buying or Renting an Instrument

It’s important to play on a quality instrument to get the most out of your learning experience. We recommend renting or buying an instrument from these shops:

• Johnson Strings
• Shar Music Instruments
• Flushing Violin Shop

Playing in an Ensemble

BKCM offers three levels of string orchestras, Beginner String Ensemble and Praeludium Strings, for the beginner reader, and Sinfonia Strings, for the more advanced reader, open to all students by audition. Students perform a variety of repertoire including everything from classical to pop and improvisation. Students expand their sight-reading skills, while developing the ability to follow a conductor, and play together. Students are encouraged to practice ensemble repertoire with their private lesson teacher.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR, ELECTRIC GUITAR, ELECTRIC BASS, BANJO, UKULELE

Hello from the plucked string wing of the Community Music School. From rock, pop, country, folk and blues to classical and jazz, students learn the relationship of the guitar to their body and how to properly coordinate their left and right hands. Students also learn how to properly care for and tune the guitar, pick melodies and strum chords. As students advance they begin to read and interpret standard notation and tablature as well as advanced chords and finger patterns. Students refine their tone quality, improve their sight-reading and learn how to improvise solos and build chords and patterns for any style of music. 

Our faculty can accommodate those who want to learn the basics and play simple songs to those preparing for college auditions, from shredding Metallica to Bach preludes, from bluegrass technique to jazz improvisation and whatever else you desire to learn. In addition to acoustic and electric guitar, our faculty teach students on a variety of guitar-like instruments, including ukulele, banjo and electric bass.

FRENCH HORN, TRUMPET, TROMBONE, TUBA, BASSOON, CLARINET, FLUTE, OBOE, SAXOPHONE

Hello from the Winds and Brass Department at the Community Music School!  Our supportive and expert faculty offer individual lessons on these instruments for all skill levels and musical styles. From learning your first notes, preparing for an audition or recital, or learning for your own enrichment, we are here to help you with your musical goals.  Brass and Woodwind lessons are generally suitable for students ages 10 and up. Students develop their sound by studying breath control, articulation and building a healthy embouchure. We encourage our brass and wind students to take advantage of our plentiful ensemble offerings geared towards building a strong sound. This program also provides support to students who are enrolled in a school band program or are looking to audition for a specialized music school.

Wind & Brass Department Chair:
Pablo Masis (pablo.masis@bkcm.org)

Renting or Purchasing an Instrument

It’s important to have a good working instrument. In general we recommend name brand instruments such as Yamaha, Bach, Eastman or Jupiter. Ebay and Facebook Marketplace can be good places to check. You can email our brass and woodwinds department chair with any questions on an instrument. Here is a resource for renting instruments suitable for beginners through advanced. To purchase brass and woodwinds in person we recommend Josh Landress Brass, Dillon’s Music (NJ) and NYC Woodwind

Joining an Ensemble

We have lots of ensembles to choose from as brass and wind students at BKCM. Check out all of our Brass and Woodwind ensembles as well as our jazz and ensemble programs.

Welcome to the Drum and Percussion Department. Our percussion students jam on familiar songs and rhythms, including rock and roll, classical, jazz, contemporary music as well as a myriad of percussion styles from around the globe. Students learn drum notation, rhythmic studies, limb independence and stick technique. Students prepare and perform for recitals with a live ensemble, giving them a real-world experience as a drummer.