Harper's CE Community Music Center (CMC) is open to all ages and skill levels, No matter your experience, interest or instrument, CMC's accomplished instructors, some of Chicago's finest professional musicians, are ready to help you pursue your music.
View the CMC brochure above or see the CE course schedule.
Explore with: Intro to Jazz, American Music Styles, Fundamentals of Music Theory and more.
Learn to play and sing with: Kinderpiano for five-year-olds, Group Guitar for Children ages 7-10, or Group Guitar, Class Voice, or Jazz Improv Combo for adults.
Record, mix and edit music with: our Sound Recording courses and Certificate
Step up your music careers with: Modern and Commercial Music Business classes.
Perform with ensembles, including: Steel Bands, String Orchestra and Festival Chorus.
Start with the basics in Kinderpiano, Piano Prep or Group Guitar for Children. Plus, you can take take private lessons on a variety of instruments. If you aren't sure if private lessons are right for you, begin with a trial lesson.
KinderPiano
Kinderpiano is a program of piano instruction for five year old beginners, consisting of one 30 minute private lesson per week and one 30 minute group lesson per week. A parent is required to be present at all lessons and supervise practice at home. Parents attend orientation classes at the beginning and end of the 15 week session. Students learn solo pieces and piano technique in their private lessons and music reading and rhythmic comprehension in their group classes. For more information, call 847.925.6659.
Preparatory Piano
The Community Music Center believes the ideal environment for piano students is a combination of group and private instruction. Group lessons offer students peer reinforcement, social interaction, ensemble experience and group activities. Private lessons give students the necessary individual attention for technical development, and interpretive and expressive insights. By combining these two approaches, students receive a comprehensive 15-week curriculum. Students will participate in one 30-minute private lesson and one 50-minute group lesson each week. For more information call 847.925.6000, ext 7236. Ages 6-14.
Group Guitar for Children
This class teaches the beginning basics of guitar playing to children ages 7-10. Students learn to read melodies and chords to play familiar tunes. Guitars and instructional materials are provided. Classes take place at Harper’s Northeast Center in Prospect Heights.
Unless otherwise noted in course descriptions, all CMC classes and lessons are taught at Harper’s main campus in the Music Instruction Center (Building P), a space shared with the College’s Music Department. Teaching studios are equipped with excellently maintained grand and studio pianos, while our computer music lab has over 20 Macintosh computers, Korg synthesizers and an LCD system for clear teacher demonstrations.
Students who participate in group and private lessons have numerous opportunities to perform and grow and musicians:
Annual Piano Ensemble Recital showcases our Preparatory Piano Program students in a May “monster concert,” of their group lessons pieces. Chamber Music Ensembles perform at Harper events and in the community.
Monthly Student Recitals help students develop confidence and poise.
Piano Festival is a non-competitive event for students to perform for an outside adjudicator and receive a rating and certificate.
Semester Progress Reports to parents note students’ successes and areas for improvement.
Technique Olympics: Our piano athletes participate in a series of events to earn gold, silver and bronze medals for their accomplishments in scales, arpeggios and other technical areas.
We want your voice. Join the Festival Chorus, a non-audition community ensemble. We welcome vocalists who love to sing, like a little challenge and want to have fun. We rehearse on Monday evenings during the fall and spring semester, sing a repertoire of classical, pop, and Broadway, and perform two concerts a year (December and May) accompanied by a professional orchestra. Call 847.925.6659 to learn more.
If you play any bowed stringed instrument, are aged 18 years or younger, and can improvise on a favorite piece of music, then we challenge you to a day of exciting competition and musical masterpieces. The fourth annual String Groove® Improvising Contest will take place Saturday, April 13, 12-3 p.m. Find out if you qualify and how to take part.
Test drive our private lessons before you commit to them with a free, 30-minute trial private lesson. Then, continue learning with our eight and 16 week lessons. Trial lessons are available in piano, voice and most instruments for ages six to adult, all skill levels. Choose a lesson time between October 8 and 13. Call 847.925.6659 for more information.
Private Lessons
CMC’s highly trained professional musician instructors offer lessons for piano, strings, guitar, winds, brass, folk instruments, percussion and voice for students at all levels.
Lessons are scheduled once a week for 30, 45 and 60 minutes for 8 or 16 weeks:
30 min/week: for 16 weeks $537 for 8 weeks $286
45 min/week: for 16 weeks $806 for 8 weeks $404
60 min/week: for 16 weeks $994 for 8 weeks $537
If you are applying for Private Lessons for the first time, we will evaluate you so we can match you with an instructor according to your skill level. If you are a new student, complete our Private Lesson Application Form or call CMC for more information at 847.925.6659.
Learn to sing or play a musical instrument. If cost is a concern, tuition assistance is available for fall and spring semesters for students in grades 1–12, based on financial need. For more information or to apply, call 847.925.6659. If you would like to contribute to a CMC Scholarship, call 847.925.6490. Visit our Tuition Assistance page for more information, and to apply.
