• 30-minute ($918.00),
• 45-minute ($1317.50), or
• 60-minute ($1768.00)

Or share a lesson with a friend or family member. ($660/34 weeks)

Or try the BMS Sampler of three 30-minute lessons in an instrument of your choice, including voice. $100 includes the registration fee. (For new students only)

Private, individualized instruction is available at BMS in these instruments and fields:

• Piano
• Electronic keyboard
• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• Double bass
• Guitar
• Flute
• Clarinet
• Oboe
• English horn
• Bassoon
• Saxophone
• Recorder
• Trumpet
• Cornet
• French horn
• Trombone
• Baritone horn
• Voice
• Percussion
• Theory
• Composition

Lessons for College Credit

BMS offers lessons for credit at Berkshire Community College (Pittsfield) and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (North Adams). High school, college, and adult students who desire college credit can register as BCC or MCLA students, paying tuition at BMS with waived tuition from the colleges. Private lessons earn three credit hours per 15-week semester. Payment in full is required at time of registration.

Fee: $581.25/45-minute lessons + $25 registration fee;
$780/60-minute lessons + $25 registration fee

Drum Camp: July 12-16, 9:30 am – noon
Grades 2 – 8
Led by Otha Day
Learn the history of drumming, make your own percussion instruments, create a drum circle, listen to
recordings, and more.
Minimum enrollment: 8. Fee: $150; $30 materials fee.

Cabaret Master Class: July 16 – 17; August 13 – 14, 10 am – 4 pm. (30 minute lunch break).
For adult experienced to advanced cabaret singers.
with Sherri James Buxton
Minimum enrollment: 5. Fee: $250.

Nature’s Music: July 19 – 23, 10 am – 11 am; repeat August 9 – 13
Ages 6 months – 5 years.
with Tari Wheeler Roosa
Parents and children are led on an exploration of the natural world through music, movement, storytelling and instruments. Designed for families with young children and siblings.
Minimum enrollment: 5. Fee: $60.

Opera Adventures: July 26 – 30, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Ages 7 – 12
with Carolina Carry
Explore the fantastic opera world of Ariadne Auf Naxos by Strauss, where the comic and the tragic collide. Learn about all the arts and artists that come together to create a production. Build a set, act out scenes, and learn melodies. Friday, meet singers and attend a closed rehearsal at Tanglewood Music Center and learn about the orchestra.
Minimum enrollment: 5. Fee: $150; $30 materials fee.

String Camp:
July 26 – 30, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm (Mon-Thur) 9:30 am to noon (Friday). Closing performance at 11:30 am
Ages 6 – 12
Coaches include Bing Liu, Ouisa Fohrhaltz, Beth Craig, Norman Thibodeau, and Jennifer Laurin.
Young students meet in groups to work on tone production, proper positions and postures, intonation and bowing, theory and sight singing. Small chamber groups will be formed. In the afternoon all players assemble to create chamber orchestra.
Minimum enrollment: 8. Fee: $275.

Music Through Art/Art Through Music: August 2 – 6, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Ages 6 – 12
with Carolina Carry and Pam Koehler
Have you ever wondered how a beautiful landscape sounds or thought of painting a symphony? What kind of collage could you make with the sounds of cellos, flutes, violins, and percussions? How can you compose a song with paints? How does a red sound or a yellow feel? In this class explore relationships between art and music and what happens when these two disciplines intersect.
Minimum enrollment: 5. Fee: $150; $30 materials fee.

Private lessons: Please call for available times and fees.

BMS Orchestra with Norman Thibodeau, coach/conductor – Community musicians are invited to join BMS students to perform expanded chamber repertoire. Members of the Stockbridge Sinfonia who participate for free serve as section mentors. Students are encouraged to consult their teachers to determine their readiness for this ensemble. Ages 10 – adult.

Tuesdays, 5:15 – 6:45 pm;
Fee: $60 BMS students; $100 Non BMS students/10 weeks.
1st term: starting October 5
2nd term: starting February 1

The orchestra is supported in part by the Gia Cox Caird Scholarship Fund

Jazz Ensemble with Bill Chapman – Learn the art of jazz! Sessions will include theory, ear training, solo improvisation, and ensemble playing.

Mondays, 4:30 – 5:45 pm
Fee: $200
1st term: starting September 27
10 weeks
2nd term: starting February 27

Berkshire Music School Ensembles – Professionally coached ensembles! Weekly sessions starting September 27
Fee: $180. Choice of fifteen 60-minute, or ten 90-minute sessions.

Flute Choir – For mid-level to advanced players of all ages on piccolo, c flute, alto & bass flute; with Sharon Powers.

String Ensemble – Both adult and student levels, from beginner to advanced; with Bing Liu.

Mixed Notes – Combination of unique instruments, for mid-level players of all ages; with various BMS faculty. Create your own combination, or form a family band.

Nature’s Music: July 19 – 23, 10 am – 11 am; repeat August 9 – 13
Ages 6 months – 5 years.
with Tari Wheeler Roosa
Parents and children are led on an exploration of the natural world through music, movement, storytelling and instruments. Designed for families with young children and siblings.
Minimum enrollment: 5. Fee: $60.

Opera Adventures: July 26 – 30, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Ages 7 – 12
with Carolina Carry
Explore the fantastic opera world of Ariadne Auf Naxos by Strauss, where the comic and the tragic collide. Learn about all the arts and artists that come together to create a production. Build a set, act out scenes, and learn melodies. Friday, meet singers and attend a closed rehearsal at Tanglewood Music Center and learn about the orchestra.
Minimum enrollment: 5. Fee: $150; $30 materials fee.

String Camp:
July 26 – 30, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm (Mon-Thur) 9:30 am to noon (Friday). Closing performance at 11:30 am
Ages 6 – 12
Coaches include Bing Liu, Ouisa Fohrhaltz, Beth Craig, Norman Thibodeau, and Jennifer Laurin.
Young students meet in groups to work on tone production, proper positions and postures, intonation and bowing, theory and sight singing. Small chamber groups will be formed. In the afternoon all players assemble to create chamber orchestra.
Minimum enrollment: 8. Fee: $275.

Music Through Art/Art Through Music:
August 2 – 6, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Ages 6 – 12
with Carolina Carry and Pam Koehler
Have you ever wondered how a beautiful landscape sounds or thought of painting a symphony? What kind of collage could you make with the sounds of cellos, flutes, violins, and percussions? How can you compose a song with paints? How does a red sound or a yellow feel? In this class explore relationships between art and music and what happens when these two disciplines intersect.
Minimum enrollment: 5. Fee: $150; $30 materials fee.

Private lessons: Please call for available times and fees.

Fall 2010 Sessions

Introduction to Suzuki
with Tari Wheeler Roosa
Designed for those considering a Suzuki instrumental program. 1st term focuses on rhythm; 2nd term introduces melody.
Ages 4 to 7 years
Parent attends all classes.

Saturdays, 9:15 – 10:00 am,
Starting September 25
15 weeks
$120 + $25 materials fee
2nd term: starting January 29

Suzuki Lessons with Amy Renak, Tari Wheeler Roosa, Alice Spatz, and Bing Liu.

Suzuki lessons at BMS

Suzuki is the world-renowned method for learning an instrument at a very early age. The program consists of a combination of private and group lessons. Smaller size violins, cellos, double basses, flutes, and guitars are available for rent from BMS. For piano you must have a keyboard at home. We strongly urge parents and children to enroll in the Introduction to Suzuki course either concurrently with or prior to enrolling for Suzuki instruction.

Call BMS for fees and schedules: 413-442-1411

Music for Infants, Toddlers & Preschoolers
with Tari Wheeler Roosa
These programs increase children’s awareness of rhythm and their ability to sing and move creatively to music. Parent attends all classes.

Starting September 25
15 weeks
$90
2nd term: starting January 29

Music for Infants & ToddlersAges 3 mos. to 2 yrs.
Saturdays, 10:15 – 11:00 am

Music for Preschoolers
Ages 2 to 4 yrs
Saturdays, 11:15 am – 12:00

Kids Choirs
with Carolina Carry
& Chris Oberfield

KinderChoir I
For Pre-School children ages 3.5 to 5, the class aims at instilling a love of music through songs, movement, & musical games. Children will discover & use their voices as well as learn fundamental music concepts through nursery rhymes, singing & playing of pitched & un-pitched rhythm instruments.

Mondays, 10 – 10:45 am. Limit 8
Starting September 27
$175
25 weeks

KinderChoir II
This class is a preparatory choir class designed for children in Kindergarten & First Grade. The aim of the class is to develop the children’s singing skills as well as their sense of rhythm & their general musicality through a wide variety of songs, rounds, dances & musical activities.

Thursdays, 4 – 4:45 pm. Limit 10
Starting September 30
$175
25 weeks

Kindred Spirits A BMS choir for girls from second grade through high school. Members will sing in harmony from a wide variety of choral repertoire. While no previous musical experience is necessary, an informal audition demonstrating some basic singing skills will be held. Members of Kindred Spirits have the option to take private or semi private voice lessons from the instructor at the private lesson fee.

Thursdays, 5 – 6 pm
Starting September 30
$285
25 weeks
plus four (required) music theory and sight reading workshops Fridays, November 5, 12, & March 4, 11

NEW!
Boys Glee Club
with Doug Schmolze

Enroll your young male singer in an encouraging and fun exposure to group singing in this new Glee Club!
Ages 6 – 12
4 introductory sessions:
Tuesdays, 4 – 4:45 pm
November 2, 9, 16, 23
$30
10 weeks
2nd term: starting March 1

Top

• Flute, guitar – $180
• Violin, viola, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, sax, French horn – $230
• Double bass, bassoon, cello – $260

Friday & Saturday July 16 & 17, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm; repeats August 13 & 14.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Fee: $250

Fall Cabaret Sessions Begin September 27
Students are coached on phrasing, style, technique, stage presence and performance. They learn how to choose appropriate music and keys. Both levels will present a cabaret the last week of class.

Level I/II
Made up of adults with varying degrees of experience and ability. Designed for new students.
Mondays 6:00 – 7:30 pm. Limit 10
Fee: $300
10 weeks

Level III
Prerequisites are the completion of Level I/II and the passing of a vocal audition. Performance opportunities available.
Mondays 7:45-9:30 pm. Limit 8:
Fee: $350
10 weeks

2nd term: starting February 28

Sherri James Buxton first appeared professional at the age of seventeen as The Girl in an off Broadway production of The Fantastiks. She has performed on Broadway and in summer stock at The Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and Kansas City Starlight. Sherri has appeared in numerous nightclubs and cabarets including Dangerfield’s and Playstreet in New York City.

As a jazz singer, Sherri took part in the International workshop, “Jazz in July”, where she performed with Sheila Jordan and Billy Taylor. She has also appeared at the Pittsfield Jazz Festival and her jazz group, the Sherri James Buxton Trio, was the main attraction in the Cranwell Resort “Music Room” supper club for several years

In the Berkshires, Sherri has performed at several local venues including The Colonial Theatre, Asters, Cranwell Resort and Castle Street Café. She is on the voice faculty at the Berkshire Music School where she teaches the very successful Adult Cabaret Workshops, and has performed with her Cabaret-To-Go group. She is also an on the Colonial Theatre Education Committee. Cabaret-To-Go consists of the advanced Adult Cabaret Workshop members. Cabaret-To-Go has provided entertainment at several local venues including The Colonial Theatre, Ventfort Hall, Arrowhead, The Norman Rockwell Museum, Pittsfield’s Third Thursdays and The Clark, as well as on WAMC radio. Cabaret-To-Go is approaching its eighth year.

Sherri is a music specialist for the Central Berkshire Regional School District and is on the Colonial Theatre Education Committee. Her article, “Look What These Kids Can Do: Teaching Music to Children with Autism” was published in the summer edition of “Massachusetts Music News”.

Bob Shepherd has had a lifetime of experience in solo, small jazz groups and big band formats and is a first-call vocal accompanist in western New England, specializing in the Great American Songbook. He has been pianist with the Adult Cabaret program since 2004. Bob owns a sound recording studio where he performs voiceovers and works closely with vocalists as he creates showcase CD’s backed by his full-band settings.