August 13, 2021

Dear families,

I hope you have been having a nice summer, and enjoying some newfound freedoms as we move (hopefully) closer to the end of the pandemic.

It has been quite a year and a half, and I am beyond grateful that the Music Center can continue to serve families in JP, Roslindale and the Boston area. We were able to successfully pivot our offerings during the pandemic to include on-line and outdoor options over the course of the past year+. We are looking forward to being able to offer indoor and outdoor group class options in the fall, and to moving our private piano lessons back in-person this September.

I have some exciting news to share! I have taken a job as Coordinator of Classes for Young Children at Brookline Music School (just on the other side of the pond), and am keeping CMCJP running in JP & Roslindale this year and beyond. The hope is that we will move toward a more extensive collaboration with BMS over the course of the coming year.

CMCJP will continue to offer many classes for children birth-4 years (and their adults) in JP & Roslindale, plus our private piano lessons at the Brewery.

Many programs for children 3+ are offered at BMS. All of these programs are outlined in our Fall newsletter, or you can visit BMS’s website for more information.

CMCJP has always been a “one-room schoolhouse.” This has made lots of sense for us on many levels, and has given me the opportunity to remain closely involved in all that has gone on at the Center. While this has been a great thing throughout the past years, our single space has limited the number of programs we’ve been able to offer children 3 years+. By partnering with Brookline Music School, we will be able to provide a richer variety of programs which can take children from birth through learning an instrument of their choice, in a way that fully supports their music development at every stage.

A bit about Brookline Music School: This non-profit school has served the Brookline community since 1924 (I actually began my teaching career there many years ago!) They offer private lessons on practically every instrument you can think of (and voice). Additionally, this school has strong roots in ‘MLT’ (Music Learning Theory). With this research-based teaching method, music is broken down into its simplest parts (or ‘syntax’) and presented so that children grow to be able to decode it (just as we learn language). The ‘language’ of music is fully learned before any formal instruction begins, which gives children the gift of being able to participate in, and enjoy, music to the fullest. I am very excited to begin incorporating more MLT practices into our Family classes this year.

What can you expect at CMCJP this year? We will continue to provide fun and engaging Family music classes (with indoor and outdoor options available), and the quality piano lessons our students have come to expect. Additionally, you’ll have access to a rich variety of group programming for kids 3+ over at BMS, plus their private lessons offered on many instruments.
Click here for BMS’s website
Click here for CMCJP’s website

Please reach out to Christy at JamaicaPlainMusic@gmail.com with any questions you might have. We look forward to making more music with you this year, and wish you a healthy and happy fall.

With gratitude,

Christy Zarlengo
Director, Children’s Music Center of Jamaica Plain
Coordinator of Classes for Young Children, Brookline Music School