Community Music Lessons

Music lessons for learners of all levels

Summer 2023 lesson registration is now open. The Summer Session begins June 5 and runs through August 18.

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 Mosse Humanities Building.

Registration information

Summer 2023 lesson registration is now open. The Summer Session begins June 5 and runs through August 18.

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

We offer lessons for all ages for all instrumental and voice areas per instructor availability. We are currently only offering lessons for students ages 8 and up this spring semester. 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.

Loading…

Registration

Summer 2023 lesson registration is now open. The Summer Session begins June 5 and runs through August 18.

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

Tuition and Fees

2022-23 Tuition Rates

Undergraduate Instructor:
Five 30-minute lessons = $145
Ten 30-minute lessons = $220
5 60-minute lessons: $250/package
10 60-minute lessons: $450/package

Graduate Instructor:
Five 30-minute lessons = $170
Ten 30-minute lessons = $260
5 60-minute lessons: $300/package
10 60-minute lessons: $550/package

For the 2022/23 academic year, Community Music Lessons is offering a Three Lesson Supplemental Package to accommodate those who wish to have lessons after the first five or ten lesson packages.

Undergraduate Instructor Three Lesson Supplemental Package:
Three 30 min lessons = $85
Three 45 min lessons = $115

Graduate Instructor Three Lesson Supplemental Package:
Three 30 min lessons = $100
Three 45 min lessons = $135

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)

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.

Lesson Policies

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

Minimum age for CML participation is 8 years old. Students must have already reached the age of 8 on or before the first lesson. We are currently only offering lessons for students 18 and over for the summer session.
Students are allowed one excused absence for which a make-up lesson will be scheduled by the teacher. An excused absence must be reported at least 24 hours before the lesson. Subsequent missed lessons will not be rescheduled or refunded.
Students and Instructors are expected to arrive on time. Instructors are required to wait no longer than 10 minutes past the beginning of the scheduled lesson time. Missed lessons due to tardiness will not be refunded.
Religious holiday conflicts should be resolved on an individual basis with the Instructor.
Eating, drinking, and gum-chewing are not allowed in practice rooms or in any room with a piano.
CML recommends that parents with children under the age of 18 accompany their son and/or daughter in the practice room in which the lesson is taking place. If a parent prefers to not be in the practice room, we ask that the parent remain outside of the practice room in the hallway in which the lesson is taking place or in the lobby if it is within earshot of the lesson. Before each lesson, a parent or guardian is required to initial a form that each instructor will have with them, stating that they were present either in the practice room or in the hallway for the lesson. This policy is intended to protect both students and instructors.
Community Music Lessons offers one-on-one lesson instruction (one student to one teacher).

Practice Room Information for CML Participants

During the academic year, practice rooms are open to CML participants 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

Instructors

CML prides itself on offering a wide variety of instruments for private study, though not all areas are available for instruction each semester. Instructor availability is first come, first serve.

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 9/3/2021

Links for current Lesson Providers:

Contact Information

Coordinator: Shelby Miller
Office: Room 4510, Humanities Building
Email: cml@music.wisc.edu

Meet our instructors

Alex Gallatin

Alex Gallatin is a Wisconsin based violinist who is highly sought after in the greater Madison area for his teaching. He believes in a flexible and encouraging approach to lessons, as every student has different needs on their way to balanced and high-level musicianship. Alex has also established himself as a performer through his sensitive musicality and formidable technique. Alex received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in violin performance from UW–Milwaukee, then his Master of Music degree from UW–Madison, and he is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from UW–Madison.

Adam Nissenbaum

Adam Nissenbaum is a bass and tenor trombonist from Tucson, Arizona and a master’s student studying Music Performance at UW-Madison. He is a regular performer, playing with the Beltline Bones trombone quartet, the university’s Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, and giving frequent solo recitals. Between performances, Adam works to create opportunities for equitable music education for all.

Jess Grady

Jess Grady has been playing the violin for ten years, and the viola for seven. Jess 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, Jess 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. Jess enjoys playing viola in the UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra and working on stage crew for the school of music.

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.

Leonardo Arturo Quintero

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.

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.

Xinzhe Ning

Currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at UW–Madison with Professor Dawn Wohn, violinist Xinzhe Ning started her first lessons at the age of five. In 2021, she received her Master of Music degree at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she has served as the Associate Concertmaster of the university symphony orchestra. Xinzhe is passionate about teaching and orchestral playing, she believes that every student has a chance to explore and enjoy music in their own ways.

Mead Witter School of Music

Music lessons for learners of all levels

Registration information

Meet our instructors

Alex Gallatin

Adam Nissenbaum

Jess Grady

Jing Zhang

Leonardo Arturo Quintero

William Volmar

Kevin Friermood

Xinzhe Ning

Popular

Resources

Contact Us