570 Central Avenue
New Providence, NJ, 07974
General
Founded by Judith Wharton in May 1985, the Suburban Community Music Center (SCMC) serves more than 1,100 students, age 3 months through adult, drawn from 55 communities in 5 northern New Jersey counties. The Center’s mission is to inspire people to achieve musical excellence and to use their inherent creative ability to its fullest potential. SCMC’s 48 talented artist-educators provide: lessons in piano, voice, guitar, recorder, and all orchestral instruments; group instruction for all ages including a Musikgarten® program for the very young child; an extensive Suzuki program in violin, viola, cello and guitar; and a Music Therapy program and comprehensive musicianship program. Student and faculty recitals, a “Meet the Orchestra” concert series for young children, master classes, performance classes, a certificate program and other special opportunities add to the stimulating atmosphere. Outreach programs include the Great Music Lecture Series, a 6-week music appreciation program serving more than 200 and offered at a reduced rate to senior citizens, early childhood music classes for underprivileged children in daycare centers in Elizabeth and Morristown, and group music therapy sessions for patients at Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside.