About the Athens Community Music School
Founded in 1979, the Athens Community Music School (ACMS) is truly community-wide in mission and in scope as it is the principal source of organized and qualified music instruction in southeast Ohio and portions of West Virginia. We offer individual private lessons in piano, woodwind, brass, percussion, and stringed instruments as well as voice. We offer group instruction in a variety of areas based on factors including availability of qualified instructors, sequence of instruction, and interest of participants.
Goals for the Athens Community Music School
Our goals were developed with a focus on providing rewarding and enriching musical experiences.
- To hire and retain highly qualified instructors to provide exceptional instruction.
- To offer group classes to children and adults on a variety of topics to help fill-in gaps in musical training or present opportunities to discover new musical experiences.
- To sponsor and support the Athens Children’s Chorus.
- To sponsor and support the Athens String Orchestra(s).
- To work with the Music Therapy department in order to enable community access to music therapy services.
- To provide performance opportunities for participants each semester in settings such as, but not limited to, recitals and concerts on and/or off campus.
- To provide substantive written feedback to students annually via written progress reports.
- To provide need-based financial assistance to all who qualify in the form of tuition reduction.
To develop ideas for additional musical enrichment opportunities for students and the broader community based on demonstrated interest and need.
Policies for Lessons, Classes, and Ensembles
ACMS policies have been established to ensure that students and teachers have productive and rewarding musical experiences.
- Promptness, preparation, and readiness at lessons, classes, and rehearsals are expected.
- A make-up lesson will be given only for reasons of illness or family emergency and only when adequate notification is received. Please contact instructors for their specific studio policy regarding make-up lessons.
- Lessons and/or classes missed by teachers will be rescheduled.
- ACMS students will have the opportunity to evaluate their teachers annually.
- Payment is required prior to the beginning of instruction. Those who are on payment plans must pay promptly or services will be cancelled.
- All payments are final. The Director reserves the right to award or deny refunds on an individual basis.
Parking Information
We are located in the North Green area on the campus of ĂŰčÖĘÓƵ in Glidden Hall.
Directions to the Glidden Hall School of Music
After US-33 E joins US-50W in Athens, take the exit for OH-682 N. Turn right at the traffic circle onto Richland Avenue
over the Hocking River and get in the left lane. Proceed past the football stadium and continue straight up a small hill.
Bear right on President Street. Turn left on S Court Street and then make the first right on E Union Street. Go through
the light past College Street and take the first left between the green #143 and building #36 on the map. Follow Health
Center Drive to the front of Glidden Hall which is building #40 on the map.
Parking
There are limited metered spots in front of the school in Lot #37 and in the Visitor Garage Parking in Jefferson (building
#46). If you cannot find parking in the metered lots, there is metered parking available on E Union and College Streets as
well. These meters have a 2-hour time limit. Also, there is metered parking at the city parking garage (#28). The city
garage has an 8-hour limit. The meters accept change or payment through an app that can be installed on most mobile
devices.
Lots #40, 41, 43, and 44 are available with no parking permit after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.
History of ACMS
- 1979 - Founded by J. Marilyn Remonko as the “Preparatory Division” of the ĂŰčÖĘÓƵ School of Music
- 1979-80 - Private lessons only
- 1980-81- Private lessons and percussion ensemble
- 1982 - Children’s Chorus, Patricia Yeago, director
- 1983 - Name changed to Athens Community Music School
- 1983-89 - Adult classes offered: banjo, guitar, piano, voice (piano & voice continued until 1997)
- 1983-85 - Pre-school music classes, Dr. Dorothy Bryant, instructor
- 1984 - Advisory Board established
- 1985-95 - Children’s Concert Band, Dr. Dorothy Bryant, director
- 1986 - Scholarship Program established
- 1987 - Athens Children’s Chorus (ACC) established, Marsha Reilly, director
- 1988 - “Albert & Tiberius” – children’s opera
- 1989 - “Scarecrow” – children’s opera
- 1990 - “Solar” – children’s opera
- 1991 - “Jonah” – children’s opera
- 1992 - “Sail Away” – musical written by ACC members with accompaniment by ACMS Percussion Ensemble and Concert Band
- 1992-95 - Hosts Young Band Festival
- 1993 - “Hamelin Town” – children’s opera
- 1994 - Children’s Chorus Festival & ACMS Music Festival
- 1995 - “Scarecrow” – children’s opera; Children’s Chorus Festival
- 1996 - Children’s Chorus Festival & ACMS Music Festival
- 1996-00 - Suzuki Strings; Chamber Ensembles
- 1997 - “Clowns” – children’s opera; Children’s Chorus Festival
- 1997-05 - Youth Jazz Ensemble, Professor Ernie Bastin, director
- 1998 - Children’s Chorus Festival & ACMS Music Festival
- 1999 - Melanie Horne becomes director of the Athens Children’s Chorus
- 1999 - Children’s Chorus Festival & ACMS Music Festival/Chorus Reunion
- 2001 - KidSing! classes begin; taught by Melanie Horne
- 2003 - Athens Children's Chorus performs with OU Women's Chorale and Singing Men of Ohio
- 2005 - Marilyn Remonko retires; Elizabeth Braun becomes director