SEMO MUSIC ACADEMY TEACHES STUDENTS OF ALL AGES

The Southeast Missouri Music Academy, founded as the Music Preparatory Program in 1985, is a nonprofit organization that offers music lessons to students throughout the region.

Most of the lessons are private, providing instruction on all orchestra instruments, piano, organ and voice.

Most of the classes are for school-age students in first through 12th grades.

Special classes also are available to adults and pre-school students. The pre-school class, called Music, Movement and More, is for children ages 4-5, and is an exploration of creative music that uses instruments specially designed for early childhood musical studies.

Most students at the academy will give recitals.

The academy currently has 141 students enrolled, and 28 teachers. Classes are offered at Southeast Missouri State University, which allows the academy to use its facilities.

Tuition ranges from $60-180 per semester. The fee for the adult piano class is $70.

The director of the academy is Becky Fulgham. She can be reached at 651-2378.