Has your child been playing an instrument or singing for a year or longer? Is he or she an intermediate or advanced level student committed to improving? Joining an ensemble this year will help expand a student's ability to play with others and perform! In addition, students who play with others learn to work well in a group, work towards a common goal and are inspired to practice more, improve faster and get more enjoyment from music while having fun.
ROCK ENSEMBLE - students learn repertoire from the great popular bands of the 60's and 70's "classic rock" era including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and more. Students will learn to improvise over basic structures, learn popular rock riffs and chord progressions and how to arrange songs in a small band format. Guitar, piano, bass, drums, vocals and horns welcome.
JAZZ ENSEMBLE - students learn repertoire from the jazz greats including Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and more. Students will learn jazz rhythms, how to improvise on blues and jazz riffs and how to listen and play together while learning the history of this great American music. All instruments welcome.
STRING ENSEMBLE - students learn pieces of the great classical literature inclduing Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and others. Students will learn the dynamics, phrasing and nuances of this timeless musical language. Violins, violas and cellos comprise the string ensemble.
Ensembles practice together for an hour a week under the direction of our university trained staff. We are committed to giving our student ensembles as many opportunities to perform as possible, so in addition to playing at our Winter and Spring recitals each year our ensemble students will play at appropriate venues throughout the year.