Group Piano Classes for Children entering grades 1 through 8
When most people think about learning to play the piano, they think about private lessons - a sometimes stressful 30 minutes alone with an adult focused solely on piano playing skills. When children learn to play a band or orchestra instrument, they learn in a group setting, learning as much from their peers as they do from the teacher. Pittsburgh Early Childhood Music and Movement piano classes will use the group approach to give children a solid foundation to be able to move on to private piano lessons when they're ready - we'll provide a fun, developmentally appropriate musical experience that will encourage your child to do the best that s/he can, learning all the while.
This class for beginners will focus on musicianship as well as basic keyboard skills. We'll cover keyboard geography, moving to the beat, basic rhythm, and note reading skills. We'll also do some singing, since the voice is our first instrument and everything that we do on an instrument follows the voice. Classes will consist of three to seven students, grouped according to age (see registration form for specific groupings). Children need to have a piano or keyboard at home to practice during the week. If you don't have a keyboard, information about purchasing one will be provided at the first class. All classes are for beginning students!
Creative Movement for children ages 5 - 7
Creative movement classes are a wonderful next step for the child who loves to move to music! This class will focus on music and movement as it relates to the expression of ideas and emotions in music. Children will learn basic dance vocabulary and will use their imagination to communicate through dance. We can accommodate up to 12 children per class.
Dress code for dancers:
Girls need a black leotard with black footless tights and pink ballet shoes.
Boys need to wear sweatpants or shorts and a white tee shirt.
World Music Drumming
In this introduction to world music drumming, students will explore rhythm in a variety of interesting ways. In a group of up to 15 students, we'll learn basic drumming techniques, drum ensemble pieces, and the basics of participating in a drum circle. We'll also spend some time improvising and creating our own drum ensemble piece. Students will learn how to listen to others, respect for others, and the value of cooperative teamwork within the context of the drum circle. Students will be grouped according to age (see registration page for specific groupings). No previous instrumental experience is necessary for this class - beginners through intermediate drummers are welcome! You do not need to have a drum at home to take this class.
Hula Hoops
This is another great class for children who love to move! Students will learn the basics of hula hooping and will explore a variety of techniques to get their bodies and hoops moving. Up to 10 beginning to intermediate students will be welcome in a class, grouped by age (see registration page for specific groupings).
Our instructor, Stefanie Moser, will craft a hoop specifically for your child. After you register, we'll contact you for some measurements so that the hoop can be the right size for optimum use. We'll also ask you for your child's favorite color so that the decorations on the hoop can reflect your child's preference. While most classes will last 45 minutes, the first class meeting will be 55 minutes long to allow children time to finish decorating their hoops to fully personalize them. The hoop that you take home from the first class will be considerably more substantial than those than you can purchase in a discount store. A materials fee of $15 is payable to the instructor at the first class meeting.
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All of these classes will meet for 6 consecutive weeks for the summer session, beginning July 11. The fall session will begin in late September.
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