Class Descriptions
Recreational Rhythm Classes
Music and Movement
With the goal of socialization through music, our members sing, dance, play, learn and move to songs from different cultures. Academic concepts such as: counting, shapes, animals and listening are presented through fun singing games.
Recreational Rhythm
We teach the basics of rhythm in a fun and positive environment and also encourage our members to experiment with different sounds and instruments – keyboard, clavinova, guitar, marimba, Beamz laser technology, and other percussion instruments.
The Music Lab
We allow our members to experiment with different instruments, sounds and rhythms. Creativity, improvisation, use of percussion instruments and some singing are encouraged in this positive, creative and innovative environment.
Band Classes
Introduction to Band
Our members learn the various parts that contribute to making a band and get an opportunity to explore each part. Following this exploration, our members are assigned a part and with the aid of recorded music, perform as a band.
Band Technique
In this class our members use live music to create their sound. Keyboardists, guitarists, vocalists, and percussionists work together to produce a cover of a popular hit. Our members are challenged to use their knowledge from other classes to support their creative collaboration.
Composition Class
Introduction to Song Composition
Our members engage in the songwriting process starting with a theme and lyric composition. As the lyrics are completed, various song structures are presented to allow our members to select the genre, tempo, and instrument choice. Opportunity to record and/or perform their original song is provided.
Guitar Classes
Guitar and Rhythm
We focus on the enjoyment of music through warm-up exercises, reading and understanding basic music notation, music theory, and playing alone and in collaboration with classmates. We encourage creativity, improvisation and the learning and playing of various chords, notes and rhythms.
Introduction to Guitar
Our members are introduced to the guitar and it's various parts through instruction of basic melodies and chords. Tablature notation and reading chord charts is introduced with emphasis placed on correct hand position, fingering, and strumming patterns.
Keyboard Classes
Keyboard and Rhythm
Rhythm is at the core of this class and explored through sound, rap, percussion instruments, and the keyboard. Our members will learn to identify on the keyboard the difference between black/white keys, as well as, begin to locate keys by name. Additionally, our members will play both individually and in collaboration with their classmates.
Introduction to Keyboard
Our members learn hand position, fingering, and basic melodies to build their keyboarding abilities. Group collaboration/learning is enhanced with the opportunity to work on individual song choices. Basic music notation, rhythm, theory, and interval relationships are discussed.
Keyboard Technique
Building on knowledge learned in Introduction to Keyboard, our members engage in technique etudes, complex melodies, and increased theory knowledge. Members are also encouraged to play with two hands simultaneously as they are physically able.
Keyboard Lab
We work in small groups to supplement the larger Introduction to Keyboard and Keyboard Technique classes working on hand position, proper fingering, music theory and practicing songs that we learning in class.
Percussion Classes
Introduction to Percussion
Using hand percussion, our members learn core rhythms and are encouraged to play in unison. Improvisation is used to increase our member's ability to play various percussion parts while recorded music is utilized to explore various percussion styles.
Percussion Technique
Our members learn various percussion rhythms to be played simultaneously. Our members engage in more complex rhythms, increased music theory and exploration of different percussion instruments. Each semester various styles are explored. Past semesters have included Latin Percussion, rock rhythms, drum line cadences, and snare drum exercises.
Voice Classes
Introduction to Voice
This class is open to all members who enjoy singing and working within a group regardless of prior experience. Solo performances are also encouraged. Vocal techniques, including proper breathing are used to help improve tone, volume, and pitch. Choreographed movement is also encouraged.
Voice Technique
Our classes are geared towards ensemble singing where solos are imbedded within the ensemble. Using songs both familiar and unfamiliar, our members increase their knowledge related to rhythm, tempo changes, pitch control, harmony, and other advanced vocal techniques.
Voice Lab
We work in small groups to supplement the larger voice classes, working on voice technique, rhythm and in some cases, choreography.