What's included
1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
This is an introduction to music theory for students who have some experience singing or playing any instrument and want to explore the theory of music they play and hear around the world. We will learn about aspects of music theory, integrating what we hear, how we play, and what we see written. Some weeks we may focus on the music of one composer, other weeks we may start with a question like "why are there twelve notes in an octave" and still other weeks we'll be moving to rhythmic patterns and learning about how different cultures think about rhythm. Music from non-Western cultures will be introduced and studied as well, exposing the students to new ways to think about and learn music. Part music theory, part ethnomusicology, and part music history, this will be an opportunity to go deeper than students generally have time for in their private or group music lessons, and will encourage musical exploration and engagement on a personal level. This is an ongoing course that students can join at any point. I will use slides, scores, songs and excerpts to listen to as we learn and explore together. A key feature of this course is exploring ways to describe music meaningfully, and considering how we connect to it personally. Our weeks will be organized around musical ideas and concepts which will guide our class for that week: Week 1: Intervals: The distance between notes Week 2: A shift in harmony: Early harmony and Machaut Week 3: Counterpoint: The art of one note against another Week 4: The Musical Phrase Week 5: The Twelve Bar Blues Week 6: The music of Franz Lizst Week 7: Where did we get 'clefs' and our written musical notation system? Week 8: Scales, Modes, and collections of notes Further weeks will be decided on as a class, based on questions brought up in the course of these first few weeks. I will show written examples of the subject to be studied, demonstrate them, and make use of videos and slides to help in explaining. Every week students will have opportunities to direct the conversation, ask questions, and play the music for themselves, depending on their instrument.
Learning Goals
Students in this class will learn about different kinds of music, from classical to jazz to music theory in other cultures. They will have immediately-applicable skills to their instruments in this hands-on and engaging overview of the basics of how we understand musical structures.
Other Details
Supply List
Students should have access to their instruments for every class. Students are welcome to bring the music they are studying in their music lessons for a chance for the group to study it together in relation to the topics covered that day.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Language from Oberlin College and Conservatory
Bachelor's Degree in Music from Oberlin College and Conservatory
Bachelor’s of Music in Performance, Oberlin Conservatory, USA
Diplôme de Perfectionnement, Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Versailles, France
15+ years working, performing, and teaching piano, general music, choir, and organ all over the world
As a professional musician and a mom, I put a high value on exposing children to music in fun, uplifting, and creative ways. I particularly enjoy introducing music in ways that support and affirm a student's own innate musical understanding, and help bring that out from the start. I believe in whole child education, understanding that a learner brings their whole self to the lesson, and that my role is to affirm and support their WHOLE self. My ACE Educator workshops focused on different ways to engage the whole child-whether cultural, emotional/SEL, neurodiversity, or other difference, I care about your learner having the best possible introduction to music.
My own musical training included studies overseas, where exposure to a different culture surrounding musical education broadened my own training and goals in teaching beginning students to play. Although I have an affinity for starting students off right as beginners, I have worked with music students of all ages and levels, and value the changing needs and goals when helping intermediate or advanced musicians grow and hone their skills. When I'm not making music and teaching, I'm probably knitting and designing unique knitwear and clothes to wear and gift :-) I also enjoy pottery, painting, and sewing, to name a few things.
Studio policies:
All my classes are currently autoposting recordings. If there's ever a safety reason for a recording to not be posted, you will not be able to view it. If you miss a class, you are encouraged to watch these recordings. I follow all of Outschool's policies regarding refunds and make-up classes.
If you are taking private classes with me, I will always wait at least 20 minutes before closing the section. I otherwise follow the same refund and absence policies as set forth by Outschool: students must be logged in by 10 minutes after the start of class. Given the nature of the classes I teach, I will not teach to an empty classroom, but practice videos will be available when the class listing calls for it.
Many parents are curious about where to start their learners. Here's a quick rundown/sample course of studies:
Younger beginners 3-5:
Ready for Piano->Introduction to Piano and Music Book A, Book B, Then begin Book 1
5-7 Year Olds: Start directly in Book B
Older beginners (8 and up): Beginning Piano Lessons, Book 1. For those who prefer an ongoing course offering, I now offer a class called Piano Level 1, where we cover some of the same materials in Beginning Piano Lessons, but with more abstract concepts of music theory and improvisation. It still includes a lot of fun games, however! :)
Reviews
Live Group Class
$14
weekly1x per week
45 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-13
3-8 learners per class