Summer Course News

The days are getting longer and the sun is shining brighter, which means that summer is on the way! Did you know that Craft Your Music has lots of opportunities – a baker’s dozen in fact – offered in the Flex Start courses that begin at the top of each month, and that this June and July new content has been added? Consider getting an Access Pass for $39 to try out two different courses or two meetings of the same course – then choose the one you like best. All courses meet four times within a week, camp-like, or on the same day for four weeks. Courses are held online, and if requested and possible, in person at a CYM location. Here is the current list that links to descriptions and registration:

Book One Fun/Book Two Crew
Chris Sforza welcomes new participants and continues to offer Suzuki Violin Book 1 Fun and Book 2 Crew! This CYM Course is open to all violin students working on pieces in Suzuki Book 1 and 2. Join Mr. Chris weekly to review technique and literature, strengthen reading skills, learn theory and history, listen and reflect on music together and perform virtually… calling all violinists who want to advance while playing music games and having fun with friends! Youth: 5 – 12 years.

Cello Practice Club (Mondays and Saturdays)
In Cello Practice Club, students new to an instrument learn good habits and basic technique while they receive individualized support on school orchestra music. Students play note-reading games, map fingerboards, and prepare their school parts in a manner which will make them reliable contributors and confident leaders of their section. This course addresses the immediate needs of beginners and gives them a feel for the “one on one” lesson; having had a few successful experiences on the cello, students return more easily to school rehearsals and are oriented to start individual lessons. Motivational practice tips are provided to parents by cellist Julia Solomon. Create your own group – the familiar faces from music class, friends from the neighborhood who just started to play too, or a sibling with whom you would like to share a lesson. Youth: 7 – 12 years.

Music with Friends (Small Ensembles with Mr. Mark or Mr. Chris)
Grab a neighbor who plays, choose pieces with your teacher, and form a 2 – 3 member ensemble in Music With Friends, a chamber music /recording course for teens. Intermediate or advanced piano, cello, violin, viola, guitar or voice students are matched into duos and trios by skill level with teacher’s recommendation, and same/mixed voices are organized by area of musical interest. A combination of zoom and pop-up in-person rehearsals (as feasible) offer maximum flexibility for your teen’s tight schedule. Instructors for this course are Mark Marston, guitar, or Chris Sforza violin. Youth: 12+ years. 

Musikgarten Mini
Gather your family members and meetup with Lindsay McGinnis for four 30 minute meetings of singing, dancing, and music making, to preview the longer sessions scheduled to start August 1, the beginning of CYM’s academic year 2021 – 2022. Families will enjoy this introduction to the globally acclaimed music curricula for children and learn how Musikgarten builds a solid foundation for all further instrument study. Lindsay will lead your class in fun movement activities, singing games, and playful ear training, then give individual feedback on which upcoming Musikgarten session is best for your child. Families with Youth: 2 – 4 years old. Tuition $75.

Musikgarten Adults: Enjoying the Piano
Come experience the joy of playing the piano with Musikgarten Adults: Enjoying the Piano Together Online, Part 1! Learn to play your favorite songs. Join with others for a comfortable, fun, relaxed, online group atmosphere. For all ages of adults, at any level of experience, or no experience! Learn basic chords that allow you to play multiple songs, and along the way, you’ll discover how to read music, improvise, and compose! Lots of laughter and fun in this approach that Amy Rucker has used for many years. Part one of a three-part series.

My Guitar Basics (For Adults or For Youth)
What could be better than getting together to play guitar with a friend? Versatile, melodious, and portable, the guitar is an excellent instrument to choose to play music you love for eager listeners, anytime or anywhere. Erich Reibe will give individual feedback within a group setting, teach good positioning and practice habits, and guide players through common chord progressions and favorite melodies. Enroll your “pod” for four lessons at a time or join in whenever your group is ready. Choose from the Kids or Adult sessions. Note reading not required.

My Vocal Basics (For Adults or For Youth)
What could be better than getting together to sing your heart out with a friend? In My Vocal Basics, Lindsay McGinnis offers a relaxed start for the natural, no-rental fee, take anywhere instrument – your voice! Learn warm-ups and self care habits that invigorate, elegant posture that will bring out your most beautiful sounds – you will even learn to do a little face yoga! Skills develop more quickly when refined in a group setting, where friends sing a blend of familiar and new songs individually and as an ensemble. Understand, identify, and be able to properly produce a compelling speaking voice, head voice, and chest voice. Lindsay provides pdfs and audio/visual links to chosen study songs to help students get ready for their meetings. Youth: 6+ years meet Mondays from 7:15 – 7:45 pm. Adults: 18+ meet Fridays from 4:30 – 5:00 pm.

Play It First!
Follow the natural flow of picking out a tune by ear from beginning to end, then return to the start for guitar tricks and techniques – easy and fun! Tom Maroon motivates new students in Play It First – Guitar because kids choose which song is next in cue to study: he approaches well known pop songs and standards with easy to retain memorization tools so students stay tuned. Students will be able to play significant sections of various pop songs by the end of the course. It is best suited for Youth: 8 – 10 years old who have never before taken guitar lessons. The course meets on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm for 30 minutes. Tuition is $75.

Pre-Twinkle Guitar
Saturdays in June, Mark Marston will present Pre-Twinkle Guitar: Readying Families for Success! The course will provide a foundation in classical guitar playing and the Philosophy of the Suzuki Method, first brought to the United States in the late 1950’s. Mark will offer this opportunity monthly to parents and their children of 3 – 5 years, and nurture the musical and physical skills required of a family to become “instrument ready”. Mark specializes in bringing up exceptionally skilled players and he has developed musical talent in students for over 25 years. He will give specific teaching points to help beginners prepare to receive their own guitar. Pre-Twinkle Guitar: Readying Families for Success! meets online or in person at the discretion of the teacher, four Saturday’s at 2:00 pm. Tuition is $125 for each student/parent duo for four 30 minute meetings with 2 pairs enrolled, or, $100 for each student/parent duo for four 45 minute meetings with 3 – 4 pairs enrolled. Current CYM Families or those new to the school will relish the connections made with Mr. Mark as guide. This is a great introduction that you will truly enjoy!

Pre-Twinkle Violin
Saturdays in June, Rochelle Agnew will present Pre-Twinkle Violin: Readying Families for Success! The course is Rochelle’s fresh take on classical violin playing and the Philosophy of the Suzuki Method, first brought to the United States in the late 1950’s. She will offer this opportunity monthly to parents and their children of 3 – 4 years, and nurture the musical and physical skills required of a family to become “instrument ready”. Rochelle is a dedicated teacher who has developed musical talent in students for nearly 14 years. She will give specific teaching points to help beginners prepare to receive their own violin. Pre-Twinkle Violin: Readying Families for Success! meets online or in person at the discretion of the teacher, four Saturday’s at 1:00 pm. Tuition is $125 for each student/parent duo for four 30 minute meetings with 2 pairs enrolled, or, $100 for each student/parent duo for four 45 minute meetings with 3 – 4 pairs enrolled. Current CYM Families or those new to the school will relish the connections made with Ms. Rochelle as guide! We hope to hear from you soon.

Songwriter’s Notebook
Hear music in your head and can’t stop humming? Want to add chords to your song and write it all down? Your compositions will come alive in Songwriter’s Notebook – Guitar! Develop original ideas or create new melodies using notes assigned by your guide, Tom Maroon. Learn why combining particular chords creates a predictable effect (more or less harmonious) and make deliberate choices as you add to your song list each month. Tom will get you ready to share music with others, by showing you how to coordinate singing and playing guitar simultaneously. By the end of the course, students will have written at least four! of their own original tunes and be able to play them on guitar. In this course, students have the unique opportunity to express creativity and compose music with the help of a professional. They will leave the course feeling proud of their unique compositions! This CYM Course is best suited for Youth: 10 – 12 years old who have had at least one year of individual guitar lessons. Tuition is $75 for four sessions that meet Wednesdays at 7:45 pm for 30 minutes.

Ukulele Sing-A-Long: At the Movies
The dynamic duo returns! Mark and Lindsay reveal your vocal talents and ukulele capabilities with songs chosen from classic and popular movies. Learn to sing songs you probably recognize and want to know how to sing better. Classes will be Mon – Fri for one week, meeting for one hour each day. Tuition is $125. One song will be studied each day, starting with the most challenging and adding easier songs as we go. During the final class family will gather around and sing-a-long! If you would like to improve your vocal technique, and become more at ease with basic chord progressions and rhythms, this short term small group setting is for you! This CYM Course will meet everyday of the week June 14 – 18, like summer camp but won’t have that “campy” drawn-out feel. Youth: 6 + years meet on Zoom from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Violin Practice Club
In Violin Practice CLub, students new to an instrument learn good habits and basic technique while they receive individualized support on school orchestra music. Students play note-reading games, map fingerboards, and prepare their school parts in a manner which will make them reliable contributors and confident leaders of their section. This course addresses the immediate needs of beginners and gives them a feel for the “one on one” lesson; having had a few successful experiences on the violin, students return more easily to school rehearsals and are oriented to start individual lessons. Motivational practice tips are provided to parents by violinist, Chris Sforza. Create your own group – the familiar faces from music class, friends from the neighborhood who just started to play too, or a sibling with whom you would like to share a lesson. Youth: 7 – 12 years.