PRIVATE/GROUP MUSIC LESSON INFORMATION
Rootead in Youth 269-720-9200 https://rootead.org/, info@rootead.org
Youth opportunities in music for children ages 2 - 18.
Crescendo Academy of Music 269-345-6664 https://www.crescendoacademy.com/
Private & group lessons for various instruments and voice. Lessons take place in the bottom level of the Epic Center (downtown Kalamazoo).
Marshall Music 269-321-0415 http://www.marshallmusicweb.com
Private lessons for various instruments and voice take place at the store (by the mall in Portage).
The Suzuki Academy of Kalamazoo 269-353-2871 https://www.suzukiacademykalamazoo.org/
Private and group lessons for violin, viola, cello, guitar, ukulele, mandolin, piano, and percussion. Located on Quail Run Drive in Kalamazoo.
Thompson Tutoring 269-329-0730 http://coreythompsontutoring.com/private-music-lessons/ Private lessons for various instruments and voice. Instructors come to your home for lessons
Code Studio Strings 269-716-7622 www.codestudiostrings.com
Private violin and viola lessons in Portage home studio.
WMU’s School of Music 269-387-4667 https://wmich.edu/music/hire
WMU has a great music school. The link includes contact information for Graduate and Undergraduate music majors that give lessons in various instruments and voice.
Kalamazoo Area Music Teachers Association https://www.kamta.org/memberteachers
Many private piano teachers listed as well as a few other instruments.
Kalamazoo Music School 269-350-4311 https://kalamazoomusicschool.com/
Private and group lessons for various instruments and voice. The studio is located in downtown Kalamazoo.
Wendy Wheeler wendyjwheel@gmail.com
Wendy is in the Portage area and teaches private voice and piano lessons. She has helped with Portage West’s musical.
Sara L. Emerson 734-576-1183 sara.soprano@gmail.com , www.saralemerson.com
Sara gives private voice lessons in the Kalamazoo/Portage area.
*Mrs. Crosman does not give private lessons due to school and family commitments. However, if you have questions, you may email her at: tcrosman@portageps.org
MUSIC ENSEMBLES FOR KIDS
Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus www.kalamazoochildrenschorus.org
Auditions are in April for the next year’s choirs. The format for auditions is a group audition for elementary students. Students can participate as young as Grade 3, which means the earliest they can audition is April of their second grade year. Students can continue in the choirs throughout high school. There is a participation fee for the chorus, but many scholarships are available, and no child has ever been turned away due to financial hardship. If you are interested, consider taking your child to one of their concerts.
Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestras www.kalamazoojuniorsymphony.com
Several levels of orchestras, starting with those for students with at least one year of private lessons. There is a minimal registration fee and an annual fundraising expectation, which covers all other costs. If you are interested, consider taking your child to one of their concerts.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
-Planning Ahead: All students are required to take music in 6th Grade. Students will choose between Choir, Band, or Orchestra. Detailed information will be shared in 5th grade about these choices. However, elementary students should know that they need to have had 2 years of private piano lessons in order to play Percussion (drums, etc.) in 6th Grade Band. Therefore, students should start piano lessons by 4th grade at the latest to meet this requirement. This is the only instrument that requires prior experience. Students will have the opportunity to try for percussion in 7th grade, after they have had a year of experience learning another instrument.
-There is some debate on when is the right time to start private voice lessons with children. Some people advise to wait until after adolescence when the voice is more mature and not changing. However, if the instructor has experience working with children, it will likely be just fine. They can work on learning repertoire, breathing, singing in tune, etc. without getting into a lot of technique, which may need to wait until the voice matures. A great alternative to private lessons would be to join the Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus. (See above)
