Community Music Lessons

Music lessons for learners of all levels

Founded in 1968, the Community Music Lessons program provides college students with valuable experience teaching applied music lessons. Lessons are provided by undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the School of Music who are overseen by individual faculty members, an experienced graduate coordinator, and a staff supervisor. Lessons are taught on campus in the Humanities Building on the UW–Madison campus.

We offer lessons for all instrumental and voice areas per instructor availability. We are currently only offering lessons for students ages 8 and up. Music instructors are matched with university and community learners interested in beginning or continuing study of an instrument or voice in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Flexible scheduling and performance opportunities with the CML program are an example of the Wisconsin Idea in practice.

Please contact Community Music Lessons Coordinator Madison Barrett at cml@music.wisc.edu with any questions.

Registration information

Tuition and Fees

2024-25 Tuition Rates

Ten lesson package closes October 7, 2024
Five lesson package closes November 11, 2024
Last day of CML lessons is December 13, 2024
CML Recital: December 15, 2024 at 2 pm

Undergraduate Instructor:
Five 30-minute lessons = $150
Ten 30-minute lessons = $280
Five 60-minute lessons: $250
Ten 60-minute lessons: $480

Graduate Instructor:
Five 30-minute lessons = $185
Ten 30-minute lessons = $350
Five 60-minute lessons: $300
Ten 60-minute lessons: $580

Optional: Practice room fees for access to the Humanities practice rooms outside of lesson hours: $125/semester
(see “Practice Room Information for CML Participants” tab for details). To ensure the safety and well-being of our youth participants, and in accordance with Office of Youth Protection policy, CML students under the age of 18 are not permitted access to practice rooms outside of scheduled lesson times with their instructor.

Payment Policy

We accept Visa and MasterCard. We do not accept payments in cash. To pay with a check, please contact the CML coordinator before registering.

Tuition must be paid in full at the time of registration. No lessons may be given without advance receipt of payment (lesson fee.)

Cancellation policy

Cancellations two weeks from the time of registration are offered a full refund, minus a $20 service fee. Cancellations after that time may be eligible for a future credit.

Lesson Policies

Lesson Policies
Please keep these policies for reference. Participation in the CML program indicates agreement with the following:

Students must have already reached the age of 8 on or before the first lesson.
An excused absence must be reported at least 24 hours before the lesson. Subsequent missed lessons will not be rescheduled or refunded.
Food and drink are not allowed in practice rooms or in any room with a piano.
Community Music Lessons are one-on-one experiences. Student instructors have been background checked and have undergone trainings to work with youth. A parent/guardian is welcome, but not required, to attend.

Practice Room Information for CML Students

For adult students who have added the optional practice room access, practice rooms are open during these times:

Monday through Friday, 8 am to 11 am and 4 pm to 11 pm.
Saturday, 8 am to 11 pm
Sunday, 10 am to 11 pm

To ensure the safety and well-being of our youth participants, and in accordance with Office of Youth Protection policy, CML students under the age of 18 are not permitted access to practice rooms outside of scheduled lesson times with their instructor.

Information for Lesson Providers

If you would like to give lessons, click to download these documents:

Instructor Overview
Music Instructor Application
Music Instructor Policies – Updated 9/2024

Links for current Lesson Providers:

Contact Information

Coordinator: Madison Barrett
Office: Room 4510, Humanities Building
Email: cml@music.wisc.edu

Meet our instructors

Leonardo Arturo Quintero

Graduate Level—Guitar (all kinds), ukulele, electric bass, cuatro

Chantel Davis

Chantel Davis received their Bachelor of Music and Performer’s Certificate in violin performance
from Northern Illinois University with Mathias Tacke and their Master of Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Cordula Merks and Kay Stern. This fall, Chantel is beginning their Doctor of Musical Arts program at the University of Wisconsin, Madison at the School of Music with Dawn Dongeun Wohn and as part of the Rabin String Quartet,
the graduate quartet in residence.

Angelo Emrich

Angelo Emrich is a composer and pianist currently pursuing his Master’s degree at UW
Madison. He received his Bachelor’s degree in composition at the University of Iowa, where he
also studied piano. He especially enjoys Baroque-transitional and Early Classical repertoire and
often incorporates piano and keyboard into his own music. Angelo has been playing piano since
around age seven and became more closely involved with it as a teenager, as he found it to be a
helpful tool for expressing musical ideas. Angelo believes in the importance of understanding the
musician as an individual, and he hopes to help students find their unique and optimal ways of
learning in an enjoyable and safe space.

Kevin Friermood

Kevin is a euphonium instrumentalist and current master’s student at UW-Madison. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Applied Music at Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana where he performed in a wide variety of ensembles on campus. During his undergrad, he had the opportunity to perform as part of several intercollegiate honors bands, including national and regional ensembles.

Alex Gallatin

Alex Gallatin is a Wisconsin based violinist who is active both as a teacher and performer. As a teacher, he is known for his encouraging and flexible approach to help students achieve balanced and high-level musicianship. As a performer, he has played a wide range of musical styles including plenty of classical, pop, mariachi, jazz, and metal music. Alex loves to share the joys of music with others through both thoughtful lessons and exciting performances. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in violin performance from UW–Madison.

Moss Grady

Moss Grady has been playing the violin for ten years, and the viola for seven. Moss loves to make music and to help others find their own talents and passions within the art. As a recipient of the UW-Madison Summer Music Clinic Tuition Remission Award, Moss is currently in their second year pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in viola performance at UW-Madison, as well as a second degree in Spanish. Moss enjoys playing viola in the UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra and working on stage crew for the school of music.

Riley Smith

Riley Smith, a native of Michigan, was introduced to the classical guitar at a young age and he quicky became enamored with the instrument. While in Michigan, Riley studied privately with Dr. Brad DeRoche. In 2016, Riley began his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under the tutelage of René Izquierdo. Riley received his MM from Columbus State University studying with Dr. Andrew Zohn. In 2022, Riley taught at Carver Elementary and Arts Magnet School as a full time guitar instructor. He is currently pursuing a DMA in guitar performance from the University of Wisconsin Madison, Studying under Javier Calderon.

Sachie Ueshima

Sachie Ueshima, soprano, a native of Japan, is currently pursuing her DMA in voice at University of Wisconsin Madison studying with Dr. Julia Rottmayer. She most recently performed Violetta in Verdi’s La traviata with University Opera at UW-Madison. She was also seen as Krystyna Zywulska in Heggie’s Two Remain (Out of Darkness) with University Opera which was awarded first place in the National Opera Association Opera Production Competition in 2021-2022. Sachie was one of the winners of the UW-Madison Concerto Competition in 2021 which she performed Berg’s Sieben frühe Lieder with UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra.

William Volmar

William Volmar is a classically trained baritone pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Having started his journey in music with piano lessons at the age of thirteen, William hopes to share his passion for voice and piano alike, helping his students explore the endless opportunities that music provides.

Lian Xue

Lian Xue started playing the piano at the age of five. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree with Professor Christopher Taylor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in piano performance and minoring in early music. She studied harpsichord with Professor John Chappell Stowe and Professor Jason Moy. She holds her master’s degree at the Hartt School-University of Hartford with the Hartt School Talent Award under the direction of Dr. Margreet Francis. She also worked as a graduate assistant for the String Department during 2018–2020. In addition she has played at several music festivals, including the Obidos International Festival, Interharmony International Music Festival, Madison Early Music Festival, Madison Bach Musicians Chamber Music Workshop, and Helen Taylor Johannesen International Piano Festival.

Jing Zhang

Jing Zhang is a Mezzo-Soprano. She started playing piano when she was five years old until high school. Now Jing is currently pursuing Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She receives her Performance Diploma in Opera Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2020. Jing is passionate about making her music lessons a fun and safe space for her students to learn.

Mead Witter School of Music