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Atlanta Music High School 
for students grades 6-8 (prep), 9-12

In 2017, CMC Atlanta teamed up with AdvancEd/SACS accredited Capstone Academy to create Atlanta Music High School. Prior to AMHS, there simply was not a private conservatory option for Atlanta teens to pursue rigorous academic and deep immersion in pre-professional musical training. Many students had to compromise either their academic pursuits or passionate pursuit of musical creativity, or they’d leave Atlanta to board at expensive out of state high schools like Interlochen Arts Academy or the North Carolina School of the Arts.

At the core of meeting the AMHS mission are musical studies that fall into three categories. First, AMHS students enroll in private lessons, usually called applied music in academic settings.

These are one on one sessions with highly skilled and devoted teachers. Second, AMHS students enroll in any number of music theory, musicianship, composition, and history classes designed to cultivate musical skills and conceptual understanding. These courses meet several times a week and are taught by experts within the fields of study. Third, AMHS students enroll in performance ensembles such as small chamber ensembles, jazz combos and rock/folk bands, depending on interests. Each student’s course load and AMHS schedule is designed upon enrollment through consultation with the student and parent(s) based on the student’s goals, interests, and availability. The schedule also has to be sensitive to the student’s academic course plan.

At the founding, joint AMHS/Capstone enrollment was one of the few institutional options available to AMHS students for completing academic coursework. In keeping with the model they developed over many years at their first campus, Rivers Academy in Alpharetta, the coursework for earning a diploma from Capstone Academy is completed on a condensed weekday schedule. Classes meet Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays during the school year from 8 am to 12:30 pm at the Atlanta campus on Cliff Valley Way, NE. The condensed academic schedule frees up Mondays, Fridays, and afternoons midweek for students to immerse themselves in their AMHS lessons, classes, rehearsals, and personal practice.

Allocating enough time for disciplined musical training and practice is essential when pursuing true excellence. The pandemic introduced many students, parents, and institutions to alternative educational schedules, and for many, helped clarify the goals of secondary education. AMHS students can complete their academic coursework at Capstone Academy, as originally conceived, but there are a number of other options that also allow the student to complete accredited academic coursework and still attend AMHS lessons, classes, and rehearsals during part or all of the traditional school day hours. These other options include synchronous and/or asynchronous online studies, and in person schools with nontraditional or condensed schedules. One online option, for example, is the state run Georgia Virtual School. Other in person options include Rivers Academy in Alpharetta and William & Reed Academy in Johns Creek. There are also AMHS students who are otherwise home schooled.

Atlanta Music High is open to students grades 9-12.  We also offer a parallel Music High Prep Program for student grades 5-8 who wish to be immersed in musical practice and performance.   

For more information, to schedule a tour, and to arrange for an interview and placement audition, please call (404) 614-0466.

AMHS & GAP Elements

  • Studio Lessons
  • Comprehensive Musicianship Program
  • Performance and Music Projects
  • Intern & Externships
Piano lessons include performance opportunities
Studio Lessons 
private lessons for students of all ages and skill levels

Whether your interests are Classical, Jazz, Blues, Rock, or American Folk & Roots music, traditional or experimental approaches, lessons with our faculty provide the means and the motivation for developing musical skills and understanding.  When you arrive, if not before, we match you with the desired resource-- a great teacher-- and pair you up in an inspiring setting.

Options include:

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Comprehensive Musicianship Program 
music theory, musicianship skills, history, composition & more

The Comprehensive Musicianship Program (or CMP) Courses and Workshops provide essential support for CMC Atlanta students. Time spent one-on-one or in small group classes taught by music theory, harmony, composition and improvisation specialists works in tandem with private lessons to foster musical understanding, skills, and ultimately, the framework for performance and creation. 

CMP Overview

For each of our AMHS and GAP students, we develop a unique curriculum that meets the students needs and interests.

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Performance Program  
Chamber Music, Rock or Roots Band, Jazz Combo

While some students study music with no performances in mind, most people take lessons and classes with the goal of developing the skills and confidence to play for others, either friends and family members or an appreciative audience, small or large.  After all, who wants to be alone hour after hour in a practice room, taking lessons week after week, with no end, no purpose, no clear goals in sight?

Drawing on Studio Lesson and CMP Course & Workshop training, AMHS and Gap students form small ensembles of all kinds--

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Music Practicum 
Internship and Outreach Opportunities

AMHS and GAP students are encouraged to work with CMC Atlanta faculty and administrators to take on an internship or externship.  These arrangements are designed to meet the student's short and long term goals, and they can be either administrative or instructional in nature.  

Internships are sometimes, but not always, available as an element of GAP and upper level; AMHS enrollment.  

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  • Why AMHS? +

    A creative musical output requires an approach that immerses the student in a community of practicing musicians and encourages the student to engage in a crucial set of activities with teachers and peers in a disciplined and ongoing way.  The educational or (perhaps, put better) human goal of cultivating musical artistry and understanding drive the curriculum and schedule for individual students and the AMHS community.  Because of the condensed academic schedule, the AMHS experience also provides balance and harmony between traditional academics and passionate pursuit of musical skills and authentic artistic personal expression. We think this balance and harmony are crucial for student happiness and success.

     

  • Who is eligible? +

    Since AMHS curriculum and schedules are designed on an individual basis, AMHS is suitable for students falling on a continuum from some experience to Pre-Professional levels of training.  Since the program immerses the student in music performance, music education, and music outreach experiences, students who enroll should be passionate about music and in most cases have had at least a foundational education, whether formal or informal.   

    Students are divided by interest and skill level, so we are able to accommodate diverse skill levels without undermining the experience for advanced students or putting a less experienced student in an unnecessarily intimidating situation.

    Atlanta Music High School is open to 9th-12th grade students.  Atlanta Music High Prep is open to students grades 6-8.

     

  • Where? +

    AMHS is based primarily at CMC Little 5 Points; however, elements of AMHS (private lessons, rehearsals, personal practice space, or internships) can potentially be arranged at any of the four CMC Atlanta locations for interested students:

    • CMC Brookhaven 1934 Cliff Valley Way NE, Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30329 
    • CMC Little 5 Points 1127 Colquitt Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307
    • CMC Decatur 189 Sams St, Suite B, Decatur, GA 30030
    • CMC Dunwoody  5518 Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd Dunwoody, GA 30038

    We also use a variety of community resources and local performance venues, as needed 

  • When? +

    AMHS offers coursework year round:

    • Fall Term: August - December
    • Winter Term: January - May
    • Optional Summer Term: June - July

    Although we operate on a traditional academic term cycle, students may register and begin at any time pending an audition/interview.  

    Once a student enrolls at AMHS, we plan directly with the student and family to create an individually crafted schedule that accommodates the student's interests, goals, and academic coursework, regardless if the stduent is cross enrolled at Capstone Academy, another public or private school, or home schooled.    

     

  • What style of music? +

    We offer training in

    • Classical Music
    • Jazz Music
    • Rock and Pop Music, and
    • American Folk & Roots Music

     

    Traditional and experimental approaches within these fields are supported.

    Students are not limited to a single genre or style.  All students are taught to read and understand music using the terminology and conceptual frameworks used by professional musicians in these different styles.   

  • How much? +

    Term tuition, music training only:

    • August-December, $4900 paid in full or monthly installments
    • January-May, $4900 paid in full or in monthly installments
    • optional June-July Summer Term, $1200 paid in full or in monthly installments

    Please note: there is an annual registration/enrollment fee of $350 per student; other fees and restrictions may apply. Tuition rates are subject to change with 60 days notice.  

    Tuition will be discounted for students who would like to enroll at AMHS, but would like to continue private lessons with an approved teacher who is not a member of the CMC Atlanta faculty.

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