Concord Conservatory of MusicConcord Conservatory of Music
“I think of music as a calling rather than a choice,” says CCM Percussion Instructor Mike Connors. “So when a student shows up at my studio, hopefully it’s because they already have a spark of interest. It’s my job to turn that spark into a flame. If I can do that, students basically teach themselves. I just serve as a guide to help them stay on a productive path. But everyone’s journey is different.”
Mike’s journey began in Providence, Rhode Island, where music was a part of the community for as long as he can remember. “People in my family and neighborhood played all the time,” he says. “It seemed like a natural thing to do.”
Mike started on guitar, but had a life-altering moment at age 12. “Someone left a drum set at our house,” he says. “I was completely hooked.”
The Voice of Experience
Although Mike eventually studied drumming at Berklee College of Music, where he learned from jazz legends Joe Hunt and Alan Dawson, he essentially taught himself in the beginning. “I set up a boom box next to the drums and tried to figure out the parts to songs that came on the radio,” he says.
Those lessons were invaluable. “I think of being a musician as a trade,” Mike explains. “You learn through experience. Once you have some command of the fundamentals, you have to be out playing with people and learning on the gig. Being on a bandstand night after night is how I got my playing together.”
He also advises young musicians not to box themselves into a particular genre. “As a teenager I would take any gig I could get,” Mike says. “I would play with blues bands, country bands, polka bands, jazz bands, reggae bands — anything! There were thousands of small breakthrough moments that occurred over thousands of gigs — and some very hard-learned lessons.”
Mike’s goal as a teacher is to make the journey for his students a little easier, but still lead them to the same destination. “There are basic things every student needs to learn, like good technique, how to read music, how to play in time, how to develop their ear, and so on,” he says. “But once a student has some mastery of the basic language of music and has learned to channel their creativity, hopefully they arrive at their own voice.”
Just as he found his own voice growing up among a community of musicians in Providence. “Teaching at CCM allows me to do something for this community and be engaged with young musicians like I was.”
Inspiring Creativity
As you might guess, given his background, Mike is a proponent of learning music by ear and playing it by feel. As an instructor, he breaks a song’s rhythm down piece by piece, just as he did in his boom box days, and then has his students reassemble them. In this way, students learn that listening is an important skill that they need to develop in order to get the right feel for a specific rhythm.
He stresses again, however, that it’s critical for students to take those solo lessons and apply them in an ensemble setting. “Being an active performer is critical,” says Mike, whose own performing credits include tours with the avant-pop group Combustible Edison, Bryan Ferry, and The Lillith Fair with Brenda Kahn, as well as several national Broadway tours and appearances with various jazz, folk, rock, and world ensembles.
Performing, Mike says, “is how you grow as a musician. It’s essential to challenge yourself and push the limits of what you can do.”
He demands no less of himself. “Exercising my creativity as a performer helps me be more creative as a teacher,” he says. “I need to find ways to be inspired so I can inspire others.”
Looking to make the most of your summer with some unforgettable live local music experiences? We’ve got you covered. Read on to discover fantastic local music events that you won’t want to miss. Get ready to enjoy great tunes, vibrant atmospheres, and memorable moments all summer long.
Summer Music Offerings Across the Region:
Remember to check individual venue websites for the most up-to-date information, including any changes due to weather or other circumstances, and for details on tickets or reservations where applicable. Enjoy the summer music!
Building the Future: $200K Grant for CCM Music Center
We are thrilled to announce that CCM has received the maximum $200,000 Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF) grant! This significant award will support the purchase of the property at 15 Junction Square Drive in West Concord, which will become the future home of the CCM Music Center.
The Cultural Facilities Fund, an initiative of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, is a vital program that invests in the acquisition, design, and development of nonprofit cultural facilities across the Commonwealth. This grant not only strengthens our ability to provide exceptional music education and experiences but also contributes to the economic vitality and cultural landscape of West Concord and Massachusetts as a whole. Special thank you to Massachusetts Cultural Council and Mass Development for making this possible. We are incredibly grateful for this support as we move forward with establishing a dedicated space for our community!
June’s Musical Highlights at CCM
This past June was a vibrant month for the Concord Conservatory of Music and the wider community, filled with diverse musical celebrations. Kicking off the month, on Saturday, June 7th, CCM students brought live music in a beautiful setting to the Concord Museum Garden Tour, enchanting attendees with a perfect blend of art and nature. The following day, Sunday, June 8th, CCM and Newbury Court adult students gathered for a special springtime Adult Soirée at Newbury Court, offering an intimate opportunity to perform, socialize, and enjoy refreshments. The musical festivities culminated on Saturday, June 14th, with the highly anticipated West Concord Porchfest, where talented CCM faculty and student groups joined other fantastic local musicians, transforming the neighborhood into a lively open-air concert venue.
Garden Tour Performances at the Concord Museum
West Concord Porchfest
Annual Adult Soirée
The Okee Dokee Brothers Return to CCM on September 19
Get ready for an evening of unforgettable family fun! We are thrilled to announce that The Okee Dokee Brothers are returning to the Concord Conservatory of Music’s Concert and Speaker Series! This beloved family concert promises to be a highlight, filled with their signature blend of bluegrass-inspired folk music that celebrates the outdoors and inspires adventure. It’s the perfect opportunity for families to create lasting memories together through the power of music. Tickets are now available!
2025/2026 Concert and Speaker Series Lineup so far!
Yelena Beriyeva, Piano Inspirations
Friday, October 24, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Award winning pianist and CCM faculty member Yelena Beriyeva will perform Brahms’ introspective and penultimate piano work Klavierstücke, dedicated to Clara Schumann, followed by Debussy’s Estampes (“Prints”) inspired by sounds of the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Musical Storytelling with Schumaan – *FAMILY SERIES!*
Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11:00 am
CCM piano faculty member Kitty Cheung-Evans retells Robert Schumann’s Kindersezen, “Scenes from Childhood” and prompts listeners to create their own stories in this participatory event.
Matt Flinner and Joe K. Walsh
Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Known for their mastery of tone and tasteful musical approach, this mandolin duo brings profound voices and diversity of texture to the acoustic and bluegrass worlds, with Matt Flinner on the banjo and mandolin and Joe Walsh switching between mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, mandocello.
Stay tuned for our upcoming 2025/ 2026 concerts and lectures! If you haven’t already, sign up today for our newsletter to receive updates on upcoming concerts.
We’re grateful to our sponsors!
We invite all music enthusiasts and businesses to sponsor our Concert & Lecture Series. If you’re interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Elaine Lawrence at Elawrence@ConcordConservatory.org. We would love to discuss how you can be part of this exciting series.
Be the Reason Someone Experiences Music This Summer
Imagine the joy of a child learning their first instrument, the spark in a senior’s eye as they reconnect with cherished memories through music, or the strength in the voice of someone with Parkinson’s finding their melody.
You can make these moments possible with a gift to CCM.
By making your very first gift to CCM, you have the opportunity to:
What do Fidelity, Raytheon, and State Street have in common?
They have matching gift programs.
Won’t you please consider giving the gift of music today?
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