Spotlight on Group Lessons
Improvement #1: Multi-Level Group lessons
We are excited to have larger classes that include a wider range of skill levels in our group lessons on Saturdays. These multi-level classes will provide our students with more opportunities for growth by learning from each other.
Why are bigger class sizes better? All of our students already have the smallest class size that there is - private lessons! Group lessons are an opportunity to learn skills that can’t be learned in private lessons. More people in a class means more fun and more participation from all (think safety in numbers!).
What is a Multi-level Class? Simply put, a multi-level class is a class that includes a range of abilities in one class. This does not mean that 3-year-olds are in a class with 17-year-olds. It means that these carefully considered classes now include a wider variety of learned repertoire.
How will my child benefit from this style of learning? More advanced students will have the chance to review their pieces in dynamic, new ways, while less advanced students benefit from seeing and hearing a more experienced player up close and aspire to their level of tone, vibrato, and musicianship. For instance, Rachel Handlin will have her students working on the notoriously difficult 2nd position for review pieces, while the less advanced students will work on other skills in those pieces. Group lessons are the perfect place to reinforce this type of difficult skill development because it is more fun with others. All students will become more aware of new possibilities!
Improvement #2: New Class: Musicianship through Singing
Greetings and welcome to our new season at the Music Academy. My name is Amy Jensen and I am thrilled to be on staff as a piano instructor and the director of the new musicianship class through singing on Saturday mornings. I come to you with 34 years of experience in the public and private schools as a choral director, general music teacher and piano instructor. The time I spent with students in those years was very rewarding and it was difficult to move on into retirement. The Music Academy provides a perfect place for me to continue helping students become musicians and to bring a variety of music through all possible venues to the students of our world today. It is my goal to teach and assist students in the areas of reading and analyzing music, composition, improvisation, digital music creation, music business, audition/performance, choral music technique and piano.
Finally, it is my objective to enrich the lives of our young people through the exploration of all genres of music and to understand, respect and appreciate music as a part of human existence and it's positive impact on the quality of the human life.