WCMS is a vibrant regional hub for world-class music education and programming. Each year, we serve more than 900 students from over 30 towns-students of all ages, interests, and skill levels. Our approach is individualized, intentional, and immersive. We believe that a comprehensive approach develops strong musical competencies, and cultivates life skills such as mindfulness, confidence, persistence, and achievement. We care deeply about expert instruction and quality programming, and work hard to establish supportive and inspiring relationships.
Follow us
Services
The mission of Winchester Community Music School is to provide outstanding and diverse musical education and performance, accessible to all, in Winchester, neighboring communities, and beyond. Winchester Community Music School began in the spring of 1981 as a pilot program for 30 students with three teachers.
Help share your love of music by donating to our Annual Fund campaign. Your gift to WCMS will help our school remain viable while continuing to bring music to our shared community. WCMS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We have earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar by sharing our key metrics and highlighting the difference we are making.
Visit our Home for Music, a beautiful fully-remodeled Tudor-style mansion at 407 Highland Avenue in Winchester, and find out why WCMS attracts music lovers from more than 30 communities in Greater Boston and New Hampshire. Inside the School many features support WCMS's exceptional programs for the community and musical instruction to its more than 850 students. Two performance spaces, including Nichols Hall, a professional concert hall for student and faculty performances and other musical events.
For remote lessons and classes, day and time availability is similar to our regular hours listed below, but varies by teacher. Please call WCMS to verify the status of classes during times of inclement weather or other emergencies. Please note that WCMS does not follow the weather cancellation decisions of the Winchester Public Schools. Follow South Border Road until you come to the Five-Way intersection (first traffic light).
Reviews (10)
Jin J.
Nov 02, 2019
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.
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.
Hey H.
Oct 28, 2019
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.
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.
Jiayu L.
Oct 28, 2019
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.
Baylor R.
Oct 27, 2019
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!
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!
Emily K.
Oct 27, 2019
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.
Deepa B.
Oct 12, 2019
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.
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.
Maria M.
Dec 15, 2015
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.
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.
Doug New
Feb 22, 2014
Zack P.
Nov 14, 2013
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.
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.
Karen M.
Jul 09, 2011
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.
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.
