Begin a Musical Journey at Eastman Community Music School

     Growing up in Rochester, I always recognized Eastman School of Music as synonymous with musical excellence — whether at the hands of the cream-of-the-crop students (soon-to-be first chairs of the Boston Symphony or future members of the MET) or the world-class artists who include Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre as a stop on their national tours.

     Equally impactful in Rochester, and perhaps even more directly, is the Eastman Community Music School (ECMS), founded in 1921 by George Eastman himself, ECMS was created to serve the community’s musical needs and educational desires.

ECMS provides educational opportunities for infants through seniors, as well as hundreds of performances each year.

Currently undergoing a pivotal transformation via a $2.8 million renovation, Eastman’s Messinger Hall is experiencing acoustical and aesthetic upgrades and the creation of new spaces, including more classrooms, a keyboard lab, 24 teaching studios, percussion studios, and designated family waiting lounges.

This renovation, to be completed this fall, will raise the quality of ECMS’s facilities to that of its teaching and performances. It also will simultaneously secure Eastman as a downtown destination and key source for all forms of musical education and entertainment.

“The school was designed as enrichment for the community,” said ECMS Associate Dean Petar Kodzas.

The scores of parents who have been sending their children through the various programs agree.

“ECMS staff and faculty are wonderful,” said parent Steven Lau. “They make sure the kids truly understand the material and feel prepared.”

His daughter Isabella has studied at ECMS for six years and graduated with an Honors’ diploma from the program in June. She will continue her music education as an incoming freshman studying trombone at Eastman School of Music this fall.

“All the teachers were open to any and all questions and cared about her, as an individual and as a student,” Lau said.

As a parent, I personally loved watching my five-year-old participate in early childhood music classes called “Music Makers.” It’s both adorable and invigorating to watch your child light up when he masters a new song and can perform it himself, not to mention the awe-inducing moment at the end of each lesson when he got to “take a bow.”

A trained classical singer myself, taking voice lessons through ECMS has taken my voice and skills to new heights, thanks to a top-notch teacher whose students are currently on Broadway and in various opera companies.

With lessons offered during the day or evening, seven days a week, open to students of all ages and levels, and supported by generous scholarship funds, ECMS is truly Rochester’s premier community music school.

“Eastman Community Music School nurtures creativity but also nurtures a feeling of empowerment, which is very important no matter the field — science, math, music, and so on,” said parent Donald Carpenter, whose daughter Abby is a dual diploma student at ECMS. “It’s a great opportunity to introduce the kids to world-class education that exists right in our own community.”

Ever evolving, ECMS has two new programs launching this fall. The first, “Rock Band” is designed for students in grades 7 to 12. In this program, one section will focus on rock music from the 1960s through the present, while a second section focused on teaching classically trained young musicians about improvisation in rock and blues styles as well as playing by ear.

ECMS is also launching “Bridges” this fall, introducing children in kindergarten and first grade to the joy of making music. Bridges are sampler classes designed to allow young kids to try out a different instrument during each nine-week session to find the right fit. Options include guitar/ukulele, harp, singing, piano, percussion, and strings. Instruments are provided by ECMS.

Perhaps you’re not sure about your kiddo learning an instrument such as piano at a young age? Well, as my little guy said when I told him I had signed him up, “So mommy, I get to play real songs instead of just the ones I make up? Cool!”

At Eastman Community Music School imagination and teaching combine to create a special musical journey. Fall classes start in September. Learn more at esm.rochester.edu/community/

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Learn about more performing arts opportunities in the Rochester area here.