Music Fundamentals

Music Fundamentals and Creative Keyboard classes reach the young child during his or her vital development years, ages 4 - 8.

Between those ages, children enjoy being part of a group, want to experience and imitate anything new, are forming their basic attitudes about music and are experiencing as much as 80% of their ear development. So: we emphasize creativity, musical explorations, and the joy of making music.  We vary activities; singing, ear training, rhythm, movement and note reading, and use many instruments: keyboard, recorder, guitar and Orff instruments, among others.  We limit classes to eight students, include parents in every class, and weave education seamlessly with play.  Music Fundamentals is generally a two-year program for children ages 4-6 and a one-year program for those older than 6.

On completing Music Fundamentals courses, students progress to the two-year Creative Keyboard course, which includes all facets of musicianship: repertoire study, ear training, improvisation, transposition, sight reading, technical development, composition, ensemble playing, theory, and music history. We emphasize the keyboard, but guitars, recorders, Orff instruments, and the voice are also used. Practice begins in Creative Keyboard. Parents take part in one class each month (and are welcome at all). 

Activities in all Music Fundamentals and Creative Keyboard classes are very carefully sequenced so students can join only at the beginning of the school year.