Elementary Ages

Elementary Music A - Fundamentals (ages 4-6)

Students in this class are introduced to the building blocks of music through interactive games, singing, simple percussion instruments, nursery rhymes, and movement.  Age appropriate vocal techniques and ear training are also cultivated each week.  The Ementary Music class performs each semester for their parents on the last day of class. Parents are welcome to attend with their child, however, younger siblings can cause a distraction, so please be respectful.

Elementary Music B - Instruments (ages 7-10) 

The Elementary Music class is very similar to what is taught in the classroom in the public school system in grades 3-5. This fun class includes movement, improvisation, games for reading and composing music, rhythmic activities, choir basics with group singing games, and basic instrument instruction using recorders, hand bells, bucket drums and more. Students will learn how to read music while they play as well as play by ear, and will learn to play with multiple parts happening at once. Students learn a lot of music in a short amount of time, all while having a great time! Elementary Music students perform for their parents each semester on the last day of class. Parents are welcome to attend with their child, however, younger siblings can cause a distraction, so please be respectful.

Elementary Ukulele 1 (ages 7-10) 

In this class we apply techniques we learn from Edwin Gordin’s “Music Learning Theory” for ukulele. Techniques such as breathing, moving, rhythm chanting, singing, and playing instruments involve understanding how music is structured, including concepts like notes, scales, chords, and key signatures. By understanding these concepts, ukulele players can improve their understanding of how music works, facilitating both learning and playing. This knowledge can also help with reading music, improvising, and understanding song structures. We provide the music and instruments needed for class, though we encourage you to have a soprano ukulele at home for your student to practice. We will perform in the Parent Showcase and even a few community performances throughout the course of the year.

Elementary Ukulele 2 (ages 7-10) 

In this class we build on the techniques we learn from Elementary Ukulele 1 class continuing to apply Edwin Gordin’s “Music Learning Theory” for ukulele. Students interested in attending this class are invited to attend a special Demo Day Jam Session where we will assess how well we can switch from the 2-4 chords we learned last year. This class will be structured similarly to Elementary Ukulele 1, but we move at a faster pace, and we will learn finger picking techniques as well as chord strumming. We will perform in the Parent Showcase and even a few community performances throughout the course of the year.

Students will need to attend a group evaluation at the open house to be correctly placed in this class.

Elementary Choir (ages 8-11) 

In this class we will develop sound and healthy vocal techniques, train our ears to hear and hold chords,  and develop our brains to think musically. We will use exercises developed from Edwin Gordon’s Music Learning Theory such as breathing, moving, rhythm chanting, and part-singing. By understanding these concepts, singers can improve their understanding of how music works. This knowledge can also help with reading music, improvising, and understanding song structures. We will perform in the Parent Showcase and even a few community performances throughout the course of the year.