YOUNG MUSICIANS The Young Musicians Department provides the foundation for the Conservatory's comprehensive music curriculum. The YM classes support our belief that every child is born with music aptitude and that early musical experiences, when presented in fun and musically sound ways, can have a profound effect upon each child's future musical endeavors. The YM classes are designed for children to experience success in the classroom and for classroom musical experiences to be integrated naturally and joyfully into the child's every day life.

 

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Classes

Students are placed in a class based on their age or grade as of September 1st and are required to enroll for the entire school year. A parent or caregiver is required to attend with the child in the infants through YM level 6 classes. In these classes, parents learn how children develop musically and how to encourage musical experiences at home in ways that enhance and reinforce what is learned in class.

YM Infants (newborn - 11 months)

Together with a caregiver, infants enjoy songs, dances, rhymes and playing small percussion instruments appropriate for this age. Through these playful activities babies absorb the content of musical language: melody, tonality, pulse, rhythm, meter and timbre. Music is a powerful force for emotional development as babies bond with their caregivers.

YM 1

In a playful and creative musical setting, toddlers naturally internalize the elements of music. As they listen, sing, dance, move and play a variety of small percussion instruments, they demonstrate that they are absorbing musical content. Beat competence, singing and rhythmic responses become visible. Puppets, stories and colorful props stimulate the child's musical imagination.

YM 2

Toddlers' emerging musicality is evident as they begin singing parts of songs and as they demonstrate conscious responses to rhythms, timbres and the expressive qualities of the music they are hearing. Toddlers sing, dance and learn to play a variety of small percussion instruments in meaningful and musical ways.

YM 3

A longer class length is introduced and reflects the child's growing attention span and ability to focus on musical activities. Singing, dancing, playing percussion instruments, colorful props, stories and movement activities foster the child's emerging independence and musical imagination as children develop concentration, coordination and a positive sense of themselves as musicians.

YM 4

These classes engage children in activities that strengthen their emerging understanding of music as a language. Children learn to recognize melodic and rhythmic patterns through singing, chanting, dancing and creating, and will have opportunities to play a wide variety of pitched and unpitched percussion instruments.

YM 5

Singing, rhyming, creative movement and folk dancing complement the beginnings of rhythmic notation and identifying melodic patterns. Ensemble training and creative improvisation begins as children sing and play together using a wide variety of pitched and unpitched percussion instruments.

Performing for an audience is introduced.

YM 6 (new kindergarteners and continuing first graders)

In the primary grades, the transition from experience-centered to knowledge-centered learning accelerates. Reading and writing musical notation continues and is reinforced through singing, rhyming, movement and folk dancing. Ensemble training and creative improvisation builds on the previous level as children learn more rhythms and melodies that are incorporated into their ensemble playing. Students will perform several times a year.

Introduction to YM Ensemble (new first graders and continuing second graders)

The recorder is introduced at this level, helping build stronger music reading and writing skills. Practice at home is required. Singing, rhyming, dancing, improvisation and learning composed pieces for recorders and a wide variety of percussion instruments strengthen ensemble skills. This class is an excellent alternative or complement to private instrument study. Students will perform several times a year.

YM Ensemble I

Prerequisite: Introduction to YM Ensemble

Children build more advanced skills in recorder playing, ensemble playing and improvisation. Children use their music reading, writing and notation skills as well as their improvisation skills to create their own music and to interpret composed pieces. This class is an excellent alternative or complement to private instrument study. Students will perform several times a year.

YM Ensemble II

Prerequisite: YM Ensemble I

Students who have enrolled in YM Ensemble I may progress to YM Ensemble II with instructor's recommendation.