Foundations (ages 5-12)

The Foundations Program is a comprehensive music curriculum that both teaches a beginning student the fundamentals and develops their individualized instrumental or vocal plan.

The program offers two complementary tracks that can be taken interchangeably as a student’s schedule allows.  The two tracks are titled Musikgarten and Musicianship.

Musikgarten’s Music Makers classes build on musical skills through improvisation, reading, ensembles, dances, and stories using folk and classical music from around the world.   Students are musically engaged as they continue on the pathway to music literacy and develop their understanding of harmonies, melodies, and how music is put together.

Musicianship classes train students to become musically literate and supports their early acquisition of refined instrumental technique. The six levels of instruction build musical skills through pattern practice, focused listening, creative and teacher-led movement, short home-practice assignments, and frequent experience with a variety of instruments.

Individual Lessons, 30, 45, or 60 minutes – Piano, Voice, Guitar, Violin, Viola, and Cello (4 to 18)

Individual lessons are an integral part of the Suzuki StudiesFoundationsExplorers, and Young Artists Programs.  Individual lessons are one-on-one instruction on piano, voice, guitar, violin, viola, and cello. CYM’s experienced faculty members model technical and musical excellence and are experienced teachers and professional performers.  Faculty meet regularly with one another, sharing ways to inspire, motivate, and ensure the progress of your child.

Suzuki Readiness for Toddlers (ages 2 to 3.5)

Musikgarten’s Music Makers:

  • Music Makers at Home in the World (4 to 5)
  • Music Makers Around the World (6 to 8)
  • Music Makers at the Keyboard (7 to 9)

Musikgarten offers two sequential programs: Music Makers: At Home in the World and Music Makers: Around the World.  These courses include singing, moving, playing instruments, ear training, and listening. This developmentally sound approach to music literacy builds symbolic thinking, concentration, memory, and self-expression. The children start to work with written musical patterns, creating compositions and improvisations and performing them together.

Music Makers at the Keyboard is designed to capitalize on the dynamic of a group environment to instill music skills that are applied to the piano. A three-year method, Music Makers at the Keyboard focuses on singing, movement, ensemble, writing, notation games, and more in a fun group setting. Concepts are applied to the piano from day one, resulting in fluid sight reading, creative improvisation, composition, ensemble playing, and joyful performance. Classes are for beginners ages 7 to 9.

Musicianship Levels 1 – 6

Being musically literate means that one has the ability to hear, sing, play, read, and write all aspects of music. CYM students acquire these skills through a comprehensive program that teaches and reinforces key musical elements. Continuing from the ECMM Program, the earlier levels of this enjoyable class are developmentally appropriate; as students progress through Musicianship, the material becomes more academic, and additional time is spent practicing sight-reading and ear-training, and studying music theory and history. Students demonstrate competency by sight-reading (singing and on their instrument), producing written dictation, by improvising, and creating their own pieces. Both Suzuki and non-Suzuki students share the Musicianship curriculum.

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