Raising Communities of Musicians

MSU's Eric "RicStar" Winter Music Therapy Camp, named in honor of 12-year old Eric Winter, a nine-year music therapy client diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, who passed away on February 16, 2003

For the MSU College of Music faculty and students, seeing children grow in their ability to express themselves creatively through music is the reward for the work they do in several communities throughout Michigan.

In East Lansing, the Community Music School (CMS) spreads musical expertise and enjoyment through private lessons, choirs, early childhood classes, youth and senior bands, adult classes, summer camps, and music therapy services. But Rhonda Buckley, director of the CMS and associate dean for outreach and engagement in the College of Music, has an ambitious vision to expand these opportunities into greater Lansing and Detroit.

That vision is becoming a reality through two partnerships. Joining with the Cristo Rey Community Center in Lansing, a multicultural agency offering family and health services to mostly low-income residents, MSU music faculty and students are connecting with the community by offering concerts and private lessons.

The Detroit Public School Partnership is a multidimensional endeavor, involving coaching, mentoring, and performing for Detroit youth in the public schools. The College of Music also presented a series of workshops at Cornerstone Schools in Detroit, providing both entertainment and instruction.

For more information, visit music.msu.edu/cms/.