Beginning Guitar
Are you interested in jamming to your favorite country or rock artist? How about some solos with Blues legends? Or would you like to accompany other musicians in your family? Join our group beginner guitar classes to learn how to play and learn about guitar history and styles. No experience is required! We’ll work on strumming patterns, fingerpicking, basic open chords, how to read tabs and music, how to tune your instrument, how to improvise and last but not least we will learn to play popular songs in different genres!
Students must provide their own instrument, if you are in need of a rental, we can assist in setting that up through SHAR Music.
- Ages: Adults and Youth 14+
- Price: $160
- Start Date: August 29th
- End Date: December 12th
- Thursdays 6:00-6:50 pm
Onur Alakavuklar, Instructor
Dr. Onur Alakavuklar is a guitarist and music educator. Onur Alakavuklar holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Guitar Performance with a Jazz-emphasized minor in Music Education from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Onur has claimed prizes in chamber music competitions and has performed with The Atlanta Opera, Indiana University Philharmonic Orchestra, and various chamber music groups internationally. He has performed in Musical Theater bands, Jazz Bands and had solo recitals in Europe, Asia, and U.S.A.
Ukulele Ensemble
We’ll work on strumming patterns, fingerpicking, basic open chords, how to read tabs and music, how to tune your instrument, how to improvise and last but not least we will learn to play popular songs in different genres! Students will be able to use CMS ukuleles during their class – no instrument required.
- Ages: Adults and Youth 14+
- Price: $160
- Start Date: August 29th
- End Date: December 12th
- Thursdays 5:00-5:50 pm
Onur Alakavuklar, Instructor
Dr. Onur Alakavuklar is a guitarist and music educator. Onur Alakavuklar holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Guitar Performance with a Jazz-emphasized minor in Music Education from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Onur has claimed prizes in chamber music competitions and has performed with The Atlanta Opera, Indiana University Philharmonic Orchestra, and various chamber music groups internationally. He has performed in Musical Theater bands, Jazz Bands and had solo recitals in Europe, Asia, and U.S.A.
Jackson Youth Symphony Orchestra
Auditions: September 8th. Membership in the JYSO is open to musicians of high school age and younger from the Jackson area, and is based on auditions held at the beginning of each season. JYSO members are encouraged to be leaders in their high school’s musical ensembles.
- Ages: 12-18
- Price: $200
- Start Date: September 15th
- End Date: May 4th
- Sundays 2:00-4:00 pm
Jed Fritzemeier, Instructor
Since 2019, Jed has been the Director of the Community Music School and Director of Music Education for the Jackson Symphony Orchestra. A performing bassist, Jed plays with the orchestra in addition to free-lancing throughout the area. He was a public school orchestra teacher for 34 years finishing his career for the Chelsea School District, Chelsea, Mi. Jed was Teacher of the Year for the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association and the Michigan American String Teachers Association in 2008. In addition to the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, his performance credits include the Michigan Opera Theater, Toledo Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Racine Symphony, Racine, Wisconsin, South Dakota Symphony, Sioux Falls, South Dakota and various festival orchestras, jazz ensembles, rock bands, polka bands since he was 15 years old.
Junior Strings
This intermediate String Team group is intended for 3rd and 4th-year string players who will advance their skills through ensemble-style instruction. The goal of the class is to prepare students to join the Jackson Youth Symphony Orchestra or their school’s performance groups. This ensemble will perform in at least 2 concerts per year.Students who have not taken String Team are welcome to audition for entry. Please contact the CMS Office to arrange an audition time.
- Ages: 10-14
- Price: $400
- Start Date: August 26th
- End Date: May 2nd
- Thursdays 5:30-7:00 pm
Paul Moodie, Instructor
Paul Moodie studied Music Education at Adrian College and Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Music Education degree from MSU and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Governors State University in Illinois. With 30 years of experience directing orchestras and teaching music in Kankakee Public Schools, Kankakee, IL, he also served as the Music Director for the production of “Quilters” (1987) at Mid-Michigan College in Harrison, MI. As a violinist, he has performed with the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra, Kankakee Valley String Ensemble, and Kankakee Valley Theater, and as a violist, he has played with the Traverse City Symphony and Midland Symphony. In his free time, Paul enjoys cooking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, golf, martial arts, repairing stringed instruments, and rehabbing houses. Paul is married and has two adult children.
Pop/Rock Piano for Beginners
No previous music experience is needed. We will explore the common chords found in Pop and Rock music. We will also explore music from today’s top pop billboard charts as well as the music of the Beatles, Imagine Dragons, Journey, and others.
- Ages: 10-18
- Price: $400
- Start Date: August 27th
- End Date: April 29th
- Tuesdays 6:30-7:00 pm
Marie Vavro-Clise, Instructor
Marie Vavro-Clise has a Bachelor of Science in Music from the University of Michigan. She has performed with the Detroit Opera Theater as well as performed in several countries in Europe. She enjoys teaching voice and piano to children and adults of all musical abilities.
String Team
Inspired by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s “Power of Dreams” string programs, the CMS String Team program provides affordable group violin classes to local Jackson elementary and middle schools. Students must provide their own instrument, if you are in need of a rental, we can assist in setting that up through SHAR Music.
- Ages: 9-12
- Price: $400
- First Year String Team: September 30th – April 30th, Mons & Weds, 4:30-5:15 pm
- First Year String Team: October 1st – May 1st, Tues & Thurs, 4:30-5:15 pm
- Second Year String Team: September 30th – April 30th, Mons & Weds, 4:30-5:15 pm
Mark Mathias, First Year String Team Instructor
Mark Mathias, double bass, studied with Lawrence Hurst at the University of Michigan obtaining a Bachelor of Music Performance degree in 1974. He also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Music Education from Eastern Michigan University and has taught violin, viola, violincello, double bass, and music technology in the Jackson Public Schools for over 20 years. He attended the Interlochen Arts Academy and, in addition to membership in the Jackson Symphony Orchestra for 23 years, has performed with the Flint Symphony, Lansing Symphony, and the Toledo Symphony.
