Music for Children ages 2-12
Class Schedules and Concepts:
Piano Experience for Young Beginners
We will be exploring rhythm, movement and simple melodies through the piano. The class is designed to be fun and educational and the material learned can be applied to any later method. Weekly, private 30 minute lessons are included in this class and will be arranged the first week of the class.
Ages 3 - 12.
Portable Keyboard Class
This class is designed to inspire the person who owns a portable keyboard and wants to play many styles of popular music on their own keyboard unit. Several classes will familiarize students with basic chords and melodic styles. Modern Midi technology will be discussed.
Ear Training and Dictation
For those who would like to improve their aural and sight reading abilities. The course will cover elementary pitch matching and rhythmic dictation of two three and four part harmony. Sight singing will be included.
Children's Choir I
Choral singing for children to develop proper vocal techniques, music literacy skills, involvement with literature from all periods of music, performance etiquette, and the joy of making music together.
Ages 3 - 7
Children's Choir II
Choral singing for children to develop proper vocal technique, music literacy skills, involvement with literature from all periods of music, performance etiquette, and the joy of making music together.
Ages 9 - 15
Beginners Recorder Ensemble
Learn how to play a recorder in solo, duet and quartet formats. Play music from the Renaissance through the 20th century in two to four parts. This group will reinforce a students ability to participate in musical groups of any kind.
What Makes Popular Music Work?
Students will be encouraged to create original compositions using chordal and melodic formulas derived from various styles of popular music. The student will also develop an understanding of how the present forms of popular music evolved as an extension of several musical forms of the common practice period. Familiarity with reading music and experience with an instrument is necessary.
Music, Language and Movement
For children ages 3-6, this class works with body movements, the singing voice, and dramatic speech found in folk games and nursery rhymes, Simple percussion is also used, The class stretches and expands the children's awareness through repeated and expanded experiences in these media.
Self Expressions through Musical Improvisation
Musical improvisation can help each of us explore ourselves and how we might connect with each other and the world around us. Bring instruments that you want to play or that you play already, no previous improvisational experience is needed.
Music Theory and Musicianship for Children
Fundamental analytical techniques, ear training, sight singing and keyboard applications will be included. Exploration of the language of music in a shared learning environment will make this fun and valuable.
Ages 5 - 10
Music, Language and Movement
For children ages 3-6, this class works with body movements, the singing voice, and dramatic speech found in folk games and nursery rhymes, Simple percussion is also used, The class stretches and expands the children's awareness through repeated and expanded experiences in these media.
Creative Music History for Children
A general survey of the Fine Arts from Hellenic Greece to the present day. This class will emphasize hands on activities for each class Understanding of music history will be emphasized through the use of visual aids, musical puzzles, games and poems to encourage children 7 - 12 to learn the origins of music.
For ages 7 -12.
Music Laboratory
Participants in this class will be involved with a hands- on exploration of the exciting world of sound. basic acoustical principles will be explored and experimented with through the examination of various musical instruments both existing and fabricated by the class. The goal of this class is to develop a thrust for knowing why things sound the way they do and to encourage an inventive and creative spirit.
For ages 7 - 12.
Self Expressions through Musical Improvisation
Musical improvisation can help each of us explore ourselves and how we might connect with each other and the world around us. Bring instruments that you want to play or that you play already, no previous improvisational experience is needed.
Music Theory and Musicianship for Children
Fundamental analytical techniques, ear training, sight singing and keyboard applications will be included. Exploration of the language of music in a shared learning environment will make this fun and valuable.
Ages 5 - 10
Music Theory for Beginners
Learn some basic vocabulary and guiding principles of Western Music from a practical folk music based perspective. This course will be useful for beginners of all instruments. Emphasis will be on learning to hear scales, modes, chord changes and understanding diatonic and chromatic scales. Music manuscript paper will be needed for assignments. Bring a cassette recorder to tape each class.
Ages 11 and up
Exploring Electronic Music
This course will follow the development of electronic music from its origins to today's hi-tech synthesizer keyboards. Basic concepts of electronic sound production will be explained through the use of live and recorded examples. The students will be able to listen to electronic music with a new level of understanding and appreciation and will acquire a basic knowledge of practical synthesizer techniques.
Anyone Can Compose Music
Students will be encouraged to create original compositions using students own melodic and chordal formulas. Various styles of popular music will help emphasize each person's individual musical experience and will give a fundamental knowledge on how to write, publish and market music, Some ability to read music is necessary. Either singing or ability to play a musical instrument is necessary. bring instrument, manuscript paper and pencil to first class.
Classic Rock
Classic Rock and Psychedelic Music of the 60's and 70's. An in depth review of the formative years in modern music. Students will study different composers histories and styles. Analysis of their written music and lyrics will help in assimilating each composers individuality. Guest composers, biographical videos an records will enhance this historic musical review.
Creative Choral Expression
For those individuals who thought they could only sing in the shower, here is your chance to sing in a mixed choir. Ability to read music is not necessary. Pitch, rhythm and harmony will be taught with emphasis on the individuals musical experience. Compositions will be arranged to fit the abilities of the class.
Sound Sense: An Introduction to Classical Music
This course is designed as a listeners beginning step in gaining an appreciation of classical music. Pieces from the musical literature will be used to demonstrate many of the terms an phrases used in describing and talking about music. We will take some to the basic elements of music, such as melody, rhythm, harmony, and counterpoint, and examine the role they play in the understanding of music. Examples will be chosen from all periods, including the music of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert. The primary aim of the course is to come closer to understanding how music makes sense.
Classical Music
This is a listening and appreciation course designed for music lovers who want to acquire more in-depth understanding of classical music. Masterpieces representative of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic Periods, as well as the 20th Century, will be considered: which will include the music of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven. Schubert and others, There will be an exploration of the fundamental principles of classical composition, although no previous musical knowledge is assumed. Also, the performer's role in interpretation will be discussed. The primary aim of the course is to encourage active listening.
How to Read Music
This course employs a unique hands-on approach which demystifies the musical page. A simple solfege model will be developed and then applied to more complex notation. Basics will be reviewed and integrated. While access to a keyboard is helpful for practice, it is not essential. Mastery of course material will enable the participant to read music for introductory instrumental or voice study, folk music, hymn tunes etc...
The Recording Studio (see also Modern Musician Classes )
Ever listen to your favorite album and wonder what went on behind the scenes to produce those amazing sounds? Recording engineers today have a lot of tricks up their sleeves- and a wide variety of effects devices that let them produce the `sound that they want. This course will give students hands on experience in a modern 8-track studio so that they can learn to perform their own studio compositions. If you play an instrument, bring it along to the second class so we can record it! Students will finish the course with a cassette demo of two songs each.