Uncaged Musicians
Classes & ensembles for students ranging in age from birth to adult!
An invigorating love of music can begin as early as birth or as late as mature adulthood, and a fun, collaborative musical environment lays the groundwork for music as a source of joy and solace, an intrinsically rewarding form of active entertainment, and a safe way to channel aggression or frustration into productive creativity. The benefits of music on all aspects of life are beyond measure.
Children love to sing and play, clap and dance, create and explore. Fairy Lights, Wind Dancers, Sun Catchers, Twinklers, Fireflies, and Sparklers use singing and movement to develop understanding of pitch, rhythm, tempo, dynamics (volume control, a parental favorite!), written notation, emotional content, and storytelling through music.
Our more grown up beginners appreciate a different approach. In our Teen and Adult classes, students offer support to one another and have a lot of fun. Students delve deeply into topics determined by participants and play ensembles together that allow for each to be challenged the right amount.
Intermediate and Advanced Uncaged Musicians continue to enjoy camaraderie as they progress into higher levels of playing. These motivated experts-in-training work on tailored exercises, widely varied repertoire, ensembles pieces, technique, expression, ear training, and music theory.
Fairy Lights
Fairy Lights classes provide a solid musical foundation in a sweet, playful format.The classes are lovingly designed around the Musikgarten Family Music curriculum, a multifaceted gem of a teaching method that is a perfect match for our studio's Suzuki and Dalcroze Eurythmics-based approach. Each class has plenty of singing and movement, age appropriate focused listening activities, exploration of percussion instruments, and ear training in rhythm and pitch.
Most Fairy Lights are 0-3 years of age, but older students who can move safely around babies are perfectly welcome and will be included fully in class activities with special activity modifications to reflect their age, temperament, and experience. Children must be accompanied by a familiar, trusted adult for the duration of each class. Families use the provided songbooks and recordings regularly at home not only to build musical skills but also to foster connection between each child and their caregiver, teacher, and fellow students.
Wind Dancers & Sun Catchers
Music-making is just as much a physical experience as it is a mental and emotional one, and for young children it is important to have a strong grasp on the motor skills required for instrument playing as well as an intrinsic feel for basic melodic and rhythmic structures. Wind Dancers and Sun Catchers use the Cycle of Seasons Musikgarten curriculum, including a variety of folk songs, dances, fingerplays, percussion instruments, and ear training to gain the experience that allows them to transition smoothly with confidence to the musical instrument of their choice.
Wind Dancers (offered in the fall) and Sun Catchers (offered in spring) typically range in age from three to five years. Parent/caregiver attendance is required. Each class builds upon the previous one, so regular attendance is encouraged. Recordings and songbooks are provided and near-daily at-home singing and/or listening is essential not only to build musical skills but also to foster connection between each child and their caregiver, teacher, and fellow students.
Little Twinklers
Materials needed: All violin and cello students will need a properly sized instrument, bow, rosin, case, shoulder rest (violin/viola only), and endpin anchor (cello only). All piano students need an instrument (preferably an acoustic piano or a fully-weighted, touch-sensitive electric piano) to practice on at home; height-adjustable bench and footstool strongly encouraged. All recorder students need a sopranino (not soprano) recorder with Baroque (not German) fingering and a bag or case to transport it safely to and from class.
Little Twinklers typically range in age from three to six years and play violin, cello, recorder, or piano (not all instruments and levels are offered each session; see current schedule for details and get in touch if the one you are interested in is not currently offered). Each class builds upon the previous one, so regular attendance is encouraged. Short, daily child-led practice between classes is required. Listening to the provided recording a minimum of 2-3 times a week ensures smooth progress and heightened motivation.
Twinklers
Embark on instrumental musical study in a frustration-free environment! Twinklers enjoy the experience of beginning their first musical instrument in a class setting, helping one another learn proper instrument posture and basic technique and master their first songs, all woven into the Music Moves curriculum which offers an unparalleled foundation in musicianship. Classes are lively, with lots of movement-based learning and games.
Materials needed: All violin, viola, & cello string students will need a properly sized instrument, bow, rosin, case, shoulder rest (violin/viola only), and endpin anchor (cello only). All guitar students need a properly sized guitar (classical strings recommended), adjustable footrest, case, and at least one complete set of spare strings (if guitar is fractional size, strings must be, too). All piano students need an instrument (preferably an acoustic piano or a fully-weighted, touch-sensitive electric piano) to practice on at home; height-adjustable bench and footstool strongly encouraged. All recorder students need a soprano recorder with Baroque (not German) fingering and a bag or case to transport it safely to and from class.
Twinklers typically range in age from seven to eleven years and play violin, viola, cello, guitar, recorder, or piano (not all instruments and levels are offered each session; see current schedule for details and get in touch if the one you are interested in is not currently offered). Students under age seven must have been invited to graduate from Wind Dancers & Sun Catchers or Little Twinklers or demonstrate a similar level of musical experience; students age seven and up may enroll with no prior experience necessary. Each class builds upon the previous one, so regular attendance is encouraged. Short, near-daily child-led practice between classes is required. Listening to the provided recording a minimum of 2-3 times a week ensures smooth progress and heightened motivation.
Fireflies
Fireflies forge on further into the Music Moves, Suzuki, and Piano Safari repertoire. Classes are lively, with lots of movement-based learning and games, and build upon the interests, temperaments, and preferences of the students enrolled. Simple two-part harmony is explored as well as improvisation, composition, and conducting.
Materials needed: All violin, viola, & cello string students will need a properly sized instrument, bow, rosin, case, shoulder rest (violin/viola only), and endpin anchor (cello only). All guitar students need a properly sized guitar (classical strings recommended), adjustable footrest, case, and at least one complete set of spare strings (if guitar is fractional size, strings must be, too). All piano students need an instrument (preferably an acoustic piano or a fully-weighted, touch-sensitive electric piano) to practice on at home; height-adjustable bench and footstool strongly encouraged. All recorder students need a soprano recorder with Baroque (not German) fingering and a bag or case to transport it safely to and from class.
Fireflies typically range in age from six to twelve years and play violin, viola, cello, guitar, recorder, or piano (not all instruments and levels are offered each session; see current schedule for details and get in touch if the one you are interested in is not currently offered). Each class builds upon the previous one, so regular attendance is encouraged. Short, near-daily child-led practice and CD listening between classes is required. Students must have graduated from Twinklers or demonstrate a similar level of experience.
Sparklers, Intermediate, & Advanced Classes
These classes function as semi-private lessons; a few students playing at similar levels study together to benefit from a collaborative approach to learning music. Students play violin, viola, cello, guitar, recorder, or piano (not all instruments and levels are offered each session; see current schedule for details and get in touch if the one you are interested in is not currently offered). Sparklers are typically 7-13 years of age and finishing up Suzuki or Piano Safari book one. Intermediate and Advanced classes group similar ages and levels (typically divided by age into elementary, middle, high school, and adult). Intermediate is roughly Suzuki or Piano Safari book 2-3 and may be further broken down into Early, Mid, and Late Intermediate. Advanced ranges from Suzuki book 4 up through players playing masterwork core repertoire. Advanced Ensemble (in the spring) combines all ages and may include a few intermediates
Teen & Adult Classes
Our teen and adult students are a treasured resource in our studio community, always willing to offer fellow students of all ages and levels practical suggestions and encouragement! Teen and adult students thrive in a small class with peers at a similar level. Students play violin, viola, cello, guitar, recorder, or piano (not all instruments are offered each session; see above schedule for details and feel free to request the one you are interested in if it is not currently offered). Teen students range from 13 to 18 years and Adult students are 18+ years. Students enjoy this unique combination of master class style workshop and group ensemble playing, with rotating focus on improvisation, rhythm, ear training, music theory, and more! Repertoire will be chosen based on the interests of the students enrolled.