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Impact

festive painted mural

Adaptive Music Program

  • AMP is believed to be the only specialized accessible music education program in the country that delivers its services primarily in public schools where participation barriers like transportation and tuition have been removed.
  • AMP is currently serving more than 600 students.
  • In a 2024 survey of Springfield Public Schools classroom staff, respondents agreed with these statements as follows:
    • I have seen young people better able to express their thoughts and feelings because of their involvement with AMP: 88.3%
    • I have seen young people deepen their social connections with classmates and staff because of their involvement with AMP: 91.8%
    • I have seen a reduction in feelings of stress or anxiety from the young people who have been involved in AMP: 91.8%
    • My students are known, respected, and valued for who they are by their AMP Teaching Artist: 96.7%
    • I have seen an increased sense of confidence in the young people who have been involved in AMP: 98.3%
    • I have seen young people positively impacted by exposing them to music from a variety of cultures during AMP instruction: 98.3%

Our Values

Equity & Excellence

CMSS is dedicated to inclusion and social change through the arts, and celebrates all cultures and traditions. We create quality programs and instruction to help all students achieve their highest potential. We are committed to providing financial aid to support under-served segments of our community.

Creativity & Community

We value the pursuit of lifelong learning, and we believe in the power of music to inspire achievement and create connections that strengthen individuals and create positive, systemic change in our communities.

Access to the Arts

Central to our mission is our financial aid and scholarship program. Over the past 40 years, CMSS has raised and awarded more than $1.7 million in financial aid and scholarships. We are proud of this commitment to young people in our community and grateful for the support of generous individuals and organizations who make this financial assistance possible. Of our 2,200 students served annually on-site and in our community partnerships, approximately 70% receive music education for free or at a reduced cost. Please consider helping us provide music and arts education to our community by making a donation today in support of CMSS’ financial aid and scholarships.

Unified Teaching Values

A lesson with each and every one of CMSS faculty looks different in its own beautiful way. The opens in a new windowCMSS Unified Teaching Values allow us to name what it means to be a faculty member, what future students can expect from all CMSS faculty, and what past and present students have loved since 1983.

Partnership Principles

CMSS’ partnership principles are designed to support our organizational equity goal of expanding CMSS’s role as a place of creative expression that unites and builds trust among communities.  CMSS is committed to challenging injustice and prioritizing equity and inclusion in all of our relationships, communications and programs. Click here to read our partnership principles.

Strategic Plan

We are proud to share our opens in a new window2023-2027 Strategic Plan.

Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that we reside on the traditional land of the Eastern Algonquian peoples, including the Pocumtuc, Agawam, Nipmuc, and Nonotuck, and Community Music School of Springfield honors with respect the land and its stewards throughout the generations. As a school of music, we would like to recognize that music (song, flute, drum, and dance) is at the heart of Indigenous community life in this region and beyond, and that within these communities, there are oral traditions in place wherein music and dance is passed on from generation to generation. We acknowledge the inequity and racism on which the United States is built, we celebrate Native American heritage, and commit to educating about those who fought for justice throughout history.

You can commit to current action by supporting the Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda at http://maindigenousagenda.org/

 

Our Building

CMSS is housed in a landmark 1933 Art Deco building in the heart of downtown Springfield. We currently have more than 33,000 sq. ft. of studios, classrooms, offices and performance areas on five floors. Major renovations in 2008 and 2009 enabled the creation of the Prelude Preschool of the Arts and other programmatic expansions. Our concert hall, Robyn Newhouse Hall, is highlighted by a spectacular 1933 mural of the American urban landscape by Carroll Bill. During almost any given week you can hear a variety of concerts showcasing young artists, distinguished visiting musicians, or student or faculty performances in a range of musical styles. This beautiful concert hall is available for outside organizations seeking a venue for meetings and special events.

CMSS contributes to a healthier planet by using renewable energy:

Geothermal HVAC: Geothermal HVAC systems use heat transfers between the air and the ground to provide heating and cooling.

Solar Panels: Solar energy is one of the cleanest forms of renewable energy coming straight from our beautiful sun and into CMSS!

Awards and Affiliations

Community Music School of Springfield is a proud member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education and the Springfield Cultural Partnership. CMSS is honored to have been chosen as the recipient of the 2021 Arts |Learning Champions of Arts Advocacy Award, the 2015 Yale University Distinguished Music Education Partner Award, the New England Public Radio 2015 Outstanding Arts Organization in the Pioneer Valley award, and the Massachusetts Association of School Committees 2015 Outstanding School Partner award. CMSS Programs are funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

CMSS Perform-A-Thon