Dear Customers,
I am thrilled to announce the opening of my group keyboard classroom! It has been my dream to offer group keyboard classes for years, and students are already enrolling. Some of you may be wondering what this is all about...does it work? Can you teach several at once? The answer is yes! During college, I completed a teaching internship with Elaine Gallo of Contemporary Keyboard Studios in Falls Church, VA. I also taught several of her classes as my "final exam." I also studied composition with the late Frank Loch of Reston, VA, founder of Symphonic Music Systems, a group keyboard studio based on the concept of using multiple keyboards to sound like an orchestra! Frank also composed for his student keyboard ensembles and even had his orchestral works recorded by the London Symphony and Abbey Road Studios.
Influenced by these two entrepreneurs, my group classes will be a synthesis of these two approaches. Through years of planning, I have developed a group approach to keyboard learning that will offer more than just piano lessons. These classes will be available in September 2009, and registration is now open. The group classes will include
- ensemble music with multiple instruments (yes, play with others!)
- ear-training (and learning to write what you hear in your imagination)
- reading traditional music notation and lead sheets (chord charts)
- playing popular and jazz music (not just classical!)
- collaborative composition
- music-theory computer games
Perhaps you're thinking that one-on-one lessons are better, or maybe you're skeptical that your child will progress in a group setting. Although I hear this criticism often, I'll tell you why group lessons can work too. Here's why:
- Music is about togetherness, not being alone all the time! Too much focus on one's self for years results in self-deprecating adults who think they are never good enough! Why not offer the band and orchestra experience for keyboard players! Playing with others takes the focus off oneself and puts the emphasis on teamwork.
- There is strength in numbers, and knowing you're not alone in your struggles to read notes and perform can help strengthen your resolve and confidence.
- Group classes rotate activities frequently, a bonus for kids with short attention spans due to their young age. Activity rotation is also good for ADD and ADHD kids.
- Students who play together develop strong listening skills and teamwork.
- Students who play together develop strong rhythm skills because they have to stay with the group!
- Students who play together become good sight-readers because they have to keep up with the group. They learn to leave behind mistakes instead of obsessing about them and having a full-blown panic attack at every missed note.
- Some students just aren't as disciplined as others, and a little gentle peer pressure at the group lesson is just what the less motivated student needs.
- Traditional half-hour lessons don't always allow time to explore musical experimentation, improvisation, and composition.
- Traditional private lessons don't teach kids to write music. Group lessons are long enough to reserve time for the ear training and improvisation activities needed to get kids comfortable composing and writing notation.
- Electronic keyboards teach kids about orchestration! Through keyboard sounds, my students will learn about other instruments, what they sound like, how they work together in a group, and how to compose for them.
- Finally, kids and adults love technology! We'll show students how to connect keyboards to computers and "play in" their compositions via MIDI connection.
And what about the price? The price will be less, and yet you are getting more time. For my first season of group lessons, I'm offering a low introductory rate of $100 per month. Here's what you'll receive:
- 37 school year classes (September - May)
- end-of-year party/recital the first week in June
If this isn't enough to persuade you to try our group classes, consider the fact that Mrs. Baker is a seasoned performer as well as a veteran teacher of ten years! She is enthusiastic and passionate about her teaching, and this translates into fun lessons and a teacher who is always looking for new ideas and ways to improve her teaching.
If you are already enrolled in our private lessons, I'm not asking you to switch to group classes. You are certainly welcome to continue your private lessons, and you can even enroll in both private and group lessons if there is an appropriate class at your level.
If you are a more serious, self-disciplined student who is beyond level 2 method books, then private lessons are a good idea. But if you're not as self-disciplined, or enjoy the socialization with other keyboard players, then group classes may be more motivating and enjoyable for you.
Whichever option you choose, I am looking forward to seeing you at lessons in the Fall!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Warren-Baker
Owner and Teacher
