First Steps at the Keyboard is a two-year course for the young pianist ages five through eight. Using the Peery Habits Piano Curriculum, each group class contains assignments in three categories:Muscular, Practical and Musical. Events include student recital and private evaluations.
Eurhythmics utilizes the natural desire for movement all children possess. Students are furnished with not just an understanding of music and knowledge of its written language, but a thorough sense and feeling for it. Among other benefits, the study of music through movement cultivates inner hearing and gives children a holistic understanding of musical elements such as pulse, meter, rhythm pattern, phrasing and form. This grounding in the basic language of music leads to a distinct advantage when learning a musical instrument.
Open to all students enrolled in the musicianship curriculum with permission of the department chair. Composition assignments are performed and discussed in class. Formal performances are presented in recital.
Level V: Sight singing with modes and remote modulation in 20th century idioms, polyrhythms, quintuplets, meters with unequal beats, tempo modulation, leading tone seventh chords, augmented sixth chords, Neapolitan chords, all intervals in a non-tonal context, fugue.
Level III: Sight singing material to include seventh chords, rhythmic patterns of two against three, inversions of triads and dominant seventh chords, non-tonal use of thirds, theme & variations and rondo form. Level IV: Sight singing with secondary dominants and chromatic non-harmonic tones, small subdivisions of the beat, changing meters, inversions of dominant 7th chords, secondary dominants, modulation, non-tonal use of sixths, sonata and concerto form.
Level I: Sight singing and conducting using diatonic melodies in simple and compound time. Students study all major and minor keys, the intervals in those keys, chord progressions, rhythmic design and phrasing. Level II: Sight singing using skips in all diatonic triads, syncopation, harmonic cycles of thirds and fifths, dominant 7th and V7 chords, non-tonal use of seconds, fourths and fifths; binary and ternary form.
Instrumental experience and ability to read music required. No previous music theory or ear-training experience required. Also appropriate for current Preparatory Division musicianship students.
Interview May be Required
Students will improve their general musicianship skills and lay solid groundwork for exploring music in other programs. Three class levels are offered, grouped by age and experience.
Interview Required
with submission of one previously composed work
Students explore chamber music composition, from conceiving an idea to sketching, workshopping and completing a final score. Chamber music students and guest artists perform composition students’ work in a culminating concert.
At least three years private instruction recommended. No previous ensemble experience required.
Audition Required
Young string players and pianists grow immensely in this course, which features intensive chamber ensemble instruction and a final concert including all students. Ensembles vary according to instrumentation and ability, though most pianists are assigned to a piano duo. Piano enrollment is limited to 12 students.
The perfect training program for the young stage performer–now in its eleventh year! A collaboration with Lamplighters Music Theatre.
Audition Required, Accompanist Provided
Explore the Topsy-Turvy world of rollicking pirates, damsels in distress and modern major generals! Lamplighters Music Theatre artistic staff directs daily classes in singing, acting and stage movement. Students present a fully-staged and costumed performance of Gilbert & Sullivan scenes.