Community Music Center of Houston: Honoring Black History and Inspiring Future Musicians

Founding and Evolution of CMCH

• 💡 Founded in 1979 by Ron Scales at Willowbend Avenue Baptist Church, the Community Music Center of Houston (CMCH) initially focused on spirituals.
• 🚀 Tweed Smith, a vocal performer and educator, joined forces with Ron Scales, expanding the center's offerings from a string quartet to the Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra.
• 🎭 Ron Scales, a musician with a love for vaudeville, incorporated humorous skits and songs like "Your Feet's Too Big" and "Open the Door, Richard" to engage audiences.

Personal Journeys and Mentorship

• 🌟 Tweed Smith discovered CMCH in 1992 after returning from New York, seeking an outlet for her music and connecting with prominent artists like Ruth Brown and Jewel Brown.
• 🤝 The center emphasizes mentorship, with instructors committed to training youth and fostering connections within the community.
• 🎤 Smith, a former member of the world-renowned group War, highlights the importance of live music and supporting local musicians.

Community Impact and Black History

• 🎤 CMCH provided a practice space for a young Beyoncé and her group "Girls Time" (formerly "Girl's Tyme"), and later collaborated with her for the Star-Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl in 2004.
• 🎻 The center actively works to showcase Black classical musicians, challenging stereotypes and highlighting Black artists in genres beyond jazz, such as classical saxophone and harp.
• 🎨 Music is presented as a vital part of education, enhancing cognitive skills like division and addition, and coloring the world with emotion and story.

Nurturing Young Talent

• 🎶 CMCH offers ongoing music lessons, a two-week summer music camp around Juneteenth, and encourages children to actively participate in making music, not just consuming it.
• 🗣️ The center emphasizes that everyone has a "song in their heart" and encourages participation through a "hum section" for those who may be hesitant to sing.
• 🏆 Many students have gone on to become professional musicians or pursue music-related careers, including a former vocal student who is now the Treasurer of Harris County.

Preserving Legacy and Future Vision

• 🏠 CMCH is working to establish a new space at 3020 Holman Street, which will serve as a vital example of preserving Black history in Houston.
• 🌟 The center believes music provides a crucial advantage in life, offering discipline, focus, and a way to uplift individuals through challenging times.
• 🎵 CMCH offers instruction in a wide range of instruments, including violin, piano, voice, and saxophone, with a focus on personalized care for each student's development.