As an adult learner, I highly recommend WCMS. I retired over a year ago and decided to learn the piano. I devoted nine months to self study and after nearly six months of making very little progress, I decided that I needed a teacher. Initially, Laura focused on helping me correct the technical errors that prevented my progress and, before the semester ended, I saw that I was making real progress. I should note that I only stayed at WCMS for that one semester. Thanks to Laura, I saw enough improvement and enjoyed the experience enough to matriculate in the Associates in Music at Bunker Hill Community College. Had I not done that, I would have continued at WCMS and gotten a good workout, too (I took the train to Wedgemere). read more

I recently enrolled at a music school in Winchester hoping to improve my guitar skills. Unfortunately, my experience was a total letdown. The instructors seemed disinterested, the facilities were run down, and the classes felt disorganized. I left feeling frustrated and like I hadn't learned anything new. Definitely not worth the time and money Unfunniest thing I've ever seen holy crap you should be ashamed to show your face at school tomorrow. read more

I can't say enough about WCMS. Located in a large mansion in Winchester, WCMS offers lessons in just about every instrument. One of the pitfalls of learning music is that you do a lot of working alone and then perform once at the end in front of strangers, so it can be kind of isolating. Not here, here they take the word "community" very seriously and really try to be a supportive place for learning music. In addition to the usual private lessons, they offer occasional workshops, and they even teach composition! There's a chamber music and ensemble program, where you can audition and they will place you with a group suited to your level, age, and interest. If rock and roll or jazz is your thing they will put you with a band although I think classical is their strong suit. They also have voice ensembles. The groups perform at the local Farmers Markets and malls at Christmas. In the summer they have week long camps for kids. The staff are efficient and warm, it's not a snobby place. They definitely subscribe to the idea that music is for enjoying and playing and that you don't have to be a prodigy or win a competition to get pleasure and worthwhile satisfaction from it. But the atmosphere definitely puts you on your mettle, surrounded by so much talent is very motivating and inspiring. For very small kids I recommend the charming Eiko Ishizuka who teaches a Dalcroze Eurythmics class for small groups of kids around age 4 to get them accustomed to music in a supportive environment combining movement, rhythm and melody. There's also a parent/child class for younger kids. They sponsor frequent public concerts where the teachers perform, a nice way to hear incredible music for free--just subscribe to their email list to learn more. They even have a music appreciation class for adults in the evenings where you can fill in your gaps in knowledge about opera or what have you. If you need to rent an instrument they have a relationship with Johnson Strings of Newton, which delivers and sizes rental instruments once or twice a year as they do in public schools. You can take advantage of that service even if you're not a student at the school. Prices are competitive. This is a nonprofit organization, and they do have some financial aid. There isn't any public transportation to the door, it's a long uphill half-mile or so from the commuter rail or 134 bus stop in Winchester Center. read more

My daughter started her Suzuki piano program this year. The teachers, Heather (group) and Yoshiko(private), both are professional and nice. Heather know how to get my daughter to be involved in the group class. My daughter is shy and not confident as other kids. Heather gives time for her to warm up, intrigues her interest and encourage her when any progross she makes. Group class has 5 kids, and kids are all different, Heather can get all of them to be involved and enjoy the music. Yoshiko is also patient and knows well about teaching. My daughter just refused to play/do anything for her first private class. But from the second one, she started to communicate with Yoshiko and show the things she learned already from other place. Suzuki is not just a piano class, but also about learning how to learn. We are happy did the change and joined Wcms Suzuki program so far. read more

What a great place. I go to WCMS regularly and know many adult students and parents of school-age music students but have never heard a complaint. It's in a warm and inviting setting in a beautifully restored home filled with gorgeous woodwork. The teachers are wonderful, and when you enter you can hear the muted sounds of piano, violin, and cello coming from beyond the studio doors upstairs. Downstairs are rock, electric, and group/ensemble lessons. On the main level there are spacious waiting areas and a performance hall for recitals. The School also presents numerous performances for the community including free faculty recitals throughout the year featuring classical music, and a faculty rock band that does covers of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and U2 at a local theater auditorium. The faculty are very gifted musicians. If you're looking for high quality instruction in a great location that's well-run and very welcoming, I highly recommend it. read more

I was very surprised to read the negative comments on WCMS, and Ms. Heather Bissel in particular. Heather has been the private teacher of my five-year old son for over a year in WCMS' Suzuki piano program. I have nothing but highest regard to say about Heather as a teacher and a person and we feel that WCMS is a community we belong to. My son just finished his Suzuki Book 1 and can play over 20 songs beautifully, at least to our ears. He always enjoys Heather's class as Heather is able to make the complicated piece look simple to him, balance right amount of encouragement with technical requirements appropriate to his age, and most importantly mix fun into practice that can be hard for a five-year old. My son also had a number of recital opportunities in the past year where he learned from other kids while sharing his music as well. In short we feel fortunate to have Heather as our son's piano teacher and to be part of WCMS community as well. read more

My daughter has just finished her solo performance of Suzuki book 1. When we started piano lessons a year ago, she was very anxious and hesitant about performing in front of other people. However, after some gentle encouragement from Ms. Heather Bissell and Ms. Yoshiko Kline, she rarely misses a performance opportunity. They are awesome teachers, always very accommodating and patient with both the children and parents. This program not only taught my daughter how to play the piano and enjoy music, it has built her self confidence and has become more active in community activities, within and outside WCMS. read more

My daughter started Suzuki this fall with Heather being her private lesson teacher and Yoshiko as her group class teacher. She is so happy and we're absolutely satisfied with the program's rationale and teaching methods. The schedule was challenging due to the limited time spot availability with Heather. Heather has been so accommodating and holding her teaching ethics to the highest standard. My daughter has never been so motivated practicing piano on her own at home. We always had to make her play before starting Suzuki Program. Heather truly cares about students and parents' needs. She communicated immediately once another time spot was available. We're now having a schedule that works for us better. Thanks Heather! Look forward to having more piano lessons with Heather and group classes with Yoshiko!! read more

My son started Suzuki piano program with Ms. Heather (private) and Ms. Yoshiko (group) last year. We have had great experience. Both teachers are very dedicated, kind, have high standards and yet try to make it fun. I don't recall Ms. Heather ever comparing my child with other kids. My son enjoys attending both the private and group classes. read more

We have had a great experience with the Suzuki piano program at WCMS. Ms. Bissell is an incredibly dedicated director. She is always creating opportunities for the students to grow musically through group classes, performances, and camps in addition to private lessons. She has taught my two older children for the past several years. She tailors the teaching to each child's interests and personalities. read more

Gem for music lovers - children and adults. My son has thoroughly enjoyed his time at Winchester Community Music School. He has been attending the school since he was three, as part of their early childhood program, and has progressed into private lessons (percussion) - he is now 10 years old. This school is a gem and is a wonderful resource for children and adults regardless of skill level - all you need to bring is a love of music. While the name of the school includes "Winchester", it is an easy drive from the surrounding communities, including Medford, Arlington, Stoneham, Cambridge and Woburn. read more

My daughter took the Suzuki Piano lessons at Winchester Community Music School for one and a half years. The director of that program, Heather Bissell is not a good teacher for young children. She is not patient with yound kids and she discourages kids by comparing them with other children and by passing comments like "oh.. I know you hate to playing at this pace like this other girl". She is awful. We liked Ms. Yoshiko very much. Ms. Yoshiko is very organized, patient, kind, and very encouraging. Ms. Bissell is the opposite of all of that. When my daughter had Ms. Yoshiko for both the private and the group lessons, she was very excited to attend classed and also very happy to practice at home. When she had Ms. Bissell, she hated piano lessons. The first semester, we had Ms. Bissell and we thought of dropping piano lessons. The second semester we had Ms. Yoshiko, my started started enjoying playing piano. The third semester, Ms. Bissell decided to move my daughter from Ms. Yoshiko to her class. I expressed my concern to her clearly but still she wouldnt change her decision and the third semester was a waste of my time and money. Well, both the first and the third semester were simply a waste of our time and money. Please stay away from Ms. Bissell. read more

My daughter started at WCMS when she was 4 in the melodica class. She has worked her way up through group piano, and continues to love playing. That is all I ever hoped for, and it is why I rate this school as successful. My daughter will never be a concert pianist. She doesn't aspire to that, but she loves to play, and her teacher has inspired her to want to play. She has taken time to get to know my daughter over the years, and gives her pieces that appeal to her, and that are appropriate for her skill level, while always moving her forward in developing skills for more complex pieces. I never have to beg, bribe, force my daughter to practice. She just does it, because she has developed a love for playing. I attribute this to her excellent piano teacher, and the wonderful people at WCMS. She has also done the summer vocal ensemble (Broadway Babies) for two summers, and I really cannot say enough about it. It has made her a more confident singer, and more comfortable in her school chorus during the year. Overall, just a great place. read more

I feel I need to address a review that has come to my attention via a colleague at WCMS. I'd hate for this single negative review to have any impact on the programing at WCMS, my colleagues or the Suzuki Department. I've been there for 10 years, and I'm saddened to hear about a parent making accusations about the Suzuki Piano Program and its director at the school. We have currently about 27 students, and 54 parents in that program that are thriving as part of a greater musical community and happy. At WCMS we treat everyone with the utmost care and respect and we work very hard to find programming that matches the individual. I'm disappointed that this person did not extend us the same courtesy. It is obvious, in hindsight, that the program was not a good fit for this family, and if I recall, this student missed about 80% of all her classes during the year and half. In regards to comparing students, group classes are always meant to create a safe, supportive atmosphere for learning, and my colleagues and I take this very seriously. Parents are often very quick to compare their child with other children, and in the new "global community created on social media" today, this has only worsened. We work side by side with our parents of "Generation Z" to address this everyday. In the end, we did everything we could to accommodate this family, and they went through three teachers before leaving the school; both Suzuki and traditional. Unfortunately, to slander someone on social media instead of approaching them with their feelings about the program, is sadly a sign of the times. We value feedback about our programing; be it good or bad, and would have been happy to hear her concerns and address them further if she had given us the chance. I'm sorry it didn't work out for them. read more

The faculty at the Winchester Community Music School are top notch. My children have all taken lessons there on multiple different instruments. I have taken lessons there as well. My experience has been that the faculty really listen when you play and provide excellent instruction to help you grow your ability. They are very patient and make the lessons a lot of fun. The lessons are always something that we look forward to attending. read more

I am a parent who believes strongly that a child's exposure to music education during their developmental years significantly and positively impacts their overall education and who they become as an adult. I had two kids who attended WCMS for instruction in flute and clarinet for years. Their experiences with WCMS -- and mine -- were ones that will remain with them for life. The quality of the instructors, the programs, and the facility are outstanding! I am happy that their early instruction at WCMS has led them to take up additional instruments and to continue their playing simply for the enjoyment of playing. read more