On-Site Programs ...
BabySTEPS™: Early Childhood Music Education
In BabySTEPS™ (Starting Together the Educational Process) our nationally replicated early childhood program, parent/caregivers join their babies and toddlers in a joyful setting of singing, movement games, and playing rhythm instruments. Each class level builds skills that the parent/caregiver experiences and models and, when ready, the child imitates. This sequential curriculum allows each child to build music skills in early childhood to advanced levels in grade school and high school.
Twinkle Tots™ (6 months to 18 months)
Parent/caregivers and a highly trained teacher provide babies and toddlers with a joyful, age-appropriate music environment. Children in this age group readily absorb their surrounding environment and soon smile and respond to the music they hear each week. Through the weekly class and an accompanying CD for home use, Twinkle Tots establishes the first step in the babies' enjoyment and response to music. Additionally, the program provides a repertoire of enjoyable songs and music activities to be used at home.
Learning Explorers™ I (1-1/2 years old to 2-1/2 years old)
Songs, rhymes, movement, and rhythm instruments are used to enjoy and explore music with toddlers and their parents/caregivers, sequentially building on the Twinkle Tots curriculum. Dramatization of songs through whole body movement aids in language development, sensory awareness, and gross motor skills in a playful, age-appropriate setting. Orff-based song and rhyme repertoire are seasonally based, and a CD of songs and rhymes accompany the curriculum to enjoy at home.
Learning Explorers™ II (2-1/2 years old to 3-1/2 years old)
Building on skills developed in Learning Explorers™ I, this class provides parents/caregivers and their children a wide variety of music and movement activities. The class structure is similar to Learning Explorers I, but the instructors emphasize more independence with previously learned Orff skills and also introduce more advanced activities and use of the Orff xylophones. Song and rhyme repertoire are seasonally based, and a CD of songs and rhymes accompany the curriculum to enjoy and home.
Steppin' Into Orff™ (3-1/2 years old to 4-1/2 years old)
To sequentially bridge the gap between BabySTEPS™ and other curricula, Steppin' encourages children to perform activities more independently as their parents/caregivers transition to the mentoring role in our Orff and Suzuki programs. The curriculum includes singing, movement, and rhythmic activities, and also introduces improvisation with the use of rhythm instruments and xylophones.
Orff Instruction
The Orff approach employs the child's body to explore melody and rhythm. Through movement, clapping, and singing, skills learned sequentially are transferred to rhythm instruments and an orchestra of xylophones. This curriculum acts as a springboard to note-reading and theory. Musicianship follows the Orff sequence which furthers the musical development of our students, enabling them to achieve musical literacy and enjoy music for a lifetime. When the child is ready, the note-reading skills learned in the Orff classes are transferred to the private instrument lessons. Parents/caregivers attend the Orff class to learn the skills, take notes of the concepts being taught, and join in the music-making, filling the room with music.
Suzuki-Instrument Instruction
We provide Suzuki instruction in violin, viola, cello, flute, piano, guitar, and voice. Weekly instruction consists of a private lesson and group instrumental class. In private lessons students learn technique through gradual skill development and memorization of compositions. Group classes provide the opportunity to share music with peers, review repertoire and acquire ensemble skills.
Youth (4 years old to 8 years old)
Both Suzuki and traditional instruction is offered for children 4 years old through adult in voice, violin, viola, cello, guitar, flute, and piano. Children younger than 4 years old are welcome to observe lessons and meet with one of our Suzuki-certified teachers to assess their individual readiness to begin Suzuki instruction at a younger age.
Tweens and Teens (8 years old to 18 years old)
Students of any age can learn to play an instrument. Our skilled faculty members provide Suzuki and traditional instrumental and voice instruction and Musicianship for teens and adults during weekly lessons and classes. We also offer Composition and Chamber Music for students who are on a conservatory track to pursue music as a profession.
Musicianship and Composition
Our Musicianship courses are designed to provide students with the knowledge necessary to read and thoroughly understand printed music. Students are taken through a comprehensive path of information focusing on music theory. This course also introduces students to various elements of music history, composers, orchestral instrumentation and musical genres. Our Composition course is designed to offer students an opportunity to take the knowledge from our Musicianship courses and apply it to the elements of music composition. Students are introduced to various forms and styles and assigned to write and harmonize a melody or create a short work in the style of a particular musical era or composer. This course is designed to provide students a creative avenue in which they can utilize their knowledge of music theory and history.
Chamber Music
Chamber music classes provide students the opportunity to study ensemble pieces with students who play a variety of other instruments. This component offers additional performance opportunities and enhances music reading skills.
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