Community Music School Musicianship Guide
Your teacher will work with you to establish a suitable practice routine based on your age, experience and musical goals. Learning an instrument is very individualized, depending on the type of music you want to play and Our Community Music School Musicianship Guide provides an outline of the things you will encounter over time depending on your age and experience. We encourage students to discuss this musicianship guide with their teacher. Parent involvement in the early years is highly recommended and beneficial for a young musician’s musical development.
Community Music School Calendar
The Community Music School Annual and Semester Calendar is where you can find all holidays, make-up days and other important dates across all of BKCM. Please note that all school age students who are registered for private lessons, are registered on our annual calendar.
Purchasing or Renting an Instrument
Here is a guide for purchasing or renting an instrument for your lessons. All students are required to have their own instrument for practice at home. Strings, Guitar, Woodwind and Brass students are required to bring their instrument to BKCM for their lesson each week.
CMS Student Music Shares
Our CMS Student Music Shares are opportunities for private lesson students from across the community music school program to come together and share what they are working on in a low stakes environment. It’s a great opportunity to brush up on a piece you already know well, or present something you are planning to perform in a future event. These events are designed just for students to attend and are directed by the CMS Department Chairs. Please talk with your teacher if you are interested in joining a CMS Music Share. Please note these are drop-off events for students that are school age or adults. (Recommended for ages 8 and up)
- October 25th, 6-7 pm
- November 7th, 6-7 pm
- December 13th, 6-7 pm
CMS Recitals
Recitals are an integral part of the experience at the Community Music School. We encourage all CMS Students–no matter what level they are–to participate in recitals. Students who are not ready to perform are encouraged to attend and support their fellow musicians. Student recitals at BKCM are designed to be intimate, joyous and safe experiences that foster community and growth. Preparing to perform in a recital can be self-motivating and the recital is an event that many students look forward to. You and your teacher will choose the repertoire you are going to perform well in advance of the recital.
There are two recital seasons for all private lesson students.
Winter Recital Season: January 9 – February 7
Spring Recital Season: May 15 – June 20
Your teacher will send you the date and time for your recital. If you are unable to attend the designated recital with your teacher, you may be able to sign up for a makeup recital, provided there is space available.
Student Growth
Each week your private lesson teacher will set short term and long term goals as well practice suggestions to match your age, level and experience. Your growth report will capture growth in four areas.
Participation: What performance, playing and listening opportunities are you participating in?
Musical Skills: What musical skills are continuing to be reinforced? What are some new skills that you are developing?
Repertoire: What repertoire have you been working on this year? What are some examples of repertoire you are continuing to refine?
Growth and Practice: What foundational skills are we hoping to grow? What practice supports do we need to grow these skills?
Frequently Asked Questions
Annually registered students are allowed one makeup lesson per school year. If you know you will be absent in advance, please call the registration desk at 718-622-3300 or email to registrar@bkcm.org explaining the date you will be absent. Requests for makeup lessons must be given to the registrars 24 hours in advance. Click here to see all CMS Policies. Only the registration team can schedule a makeup lesson for you on an assigned makeup day.
It’s great to let your teacher know that you will be absent, however only the registration reschedules your excused absence. If you know you will be absent in advance, please call the registration desk at 718-622-3300 or email to registrar@bkcm.org explaining the date you will be absent. Requests for makeup lessons must be given to the registrars 24 hours in advance. Click Here to see all CMS Policies. Only the registration team can schedule a makeup lesson for you on an assigned makeup day.
The BKCM database only permits one email address per family to communicate with students. You can change the email address BKCM has on file by updating your account at bkcm.asapconnected.com or by contacting the registration team at registrar@bkcm.org. If you need information forwarded to multiple addresses, we suggest using a mail forwarding feature from your personal email provider.
Your private lesson teacher and group class teacher sets the curriculum. We encourage you to do one or more of the following:
- Let the teacher know that you would like to attend a lesson.
- Arrange to speak with the teacher at the beginning or end of a lesson for a few minutes. Please note that this must occur during your lesson and is considered part of the instructional time.
- Check your student’s notebook to see what assignments and tasks are being given each week.
***If you would like to speak with your teacher and are unable to attend a lesson, please contact the community music school admin team at cmsadmin@bkcm.org and they will set up a time to discuss the progress with you and your teacher. Please note, that the community music school faculty is not available for consultation, outside of teaching hours.
From time to time, our faculty may be absent for a professional or personal reason. In the event that a teacher is absent, the Community Music School will provide a highly qualified substitute for your lesson, class or ensemble. Your regular teacher is responsible for finding the substitute and communicating all the details about what you are working on. There are no refunds or credits provided when a substitute teacher is in place.
In the event that a teacher is absent and there is no substitute available, the appropriate refund will be issued.
- Speak with your teacher for suggestions on practice techniques.
- Set a routine that works for you, your goals and your level.
Please visit our Instrument Purchase & Rental Guide for more information on your instrument.