Winchester Community Music School

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.