Adult Lessons & Classes
Private Lessons
Join us to study over 35 instruments in a range of styles from giving teachers who are here to help you discover the joy of music.
You’ll enjoy all the benefits of learning in a world-class facility, with acoustically tuned recital halls, lavish teaching studio spaces, and a coffee bar in the 2-story foyer.
Beginner Piano
Have you always wanted to play the piano? Join a like-minded group of adults in this casual weekly class. You’ll learn the basics of keyboard technique and music reading, and learn to play easy songs in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.
Beginner Ukulele
If you’re just starting out or have only had a little experience with the ukulele, our beginner class will give you a strong foundation in the basics – note-reading, chords, strumming patterns, and more.
If you’ve got the basics down, but want to continue working on your ukulele skills, the advanced beginner class offers a more advanced option for adult players. Sessions will be tailored to student needs. Learn new meters, strumming patterns, chords, and chord progressions.
Intro to Songwriting
Beginners and experienced songwriters alike are welcome to join in this exploration of the essential elements of song creation. Our goal is to lay a solid foundation of storytelling craft and musical skill. We will analyze song structure across various styles and decades, and explore the topics of musicality of language, lyric-writing, song form, building chords and chord progressions, rhythm and groove, making melodies, and writing effectively for the voice. Each class will culminate in an assignment that will vary (in terms of difficulty) based on your level of experience. There will be multiple opportunities to share work with the group for evaluation and to collaborate with others.
Traditional Irish Monthly Session
Come and play traditional Irish music at this lovely, lively monthly gathering. A recording of a new set of tunes will be distributed each month, along with a list of tunes that we might play in the session. Tunes will not be taught during the session. The focus will be on gaining experience playing together, listening to one another, and following the etiquette and customs of a traditional Irish session.
For ages 12 and up — intermediate level and above. Open to players of fiddle, concertina, button accordion, mandolin, Irish flute, and whistle with previous experience learning traditional Irish tunes by ear on their own. Advanced level guitar players are also welcome.
PLEASE NOTE: No spring session for this offering.
Intro to Jazz Theory
Learning jazz style can seem an intimidating thing, but once you understand the basics you’ll open up a whole new world of expression and enjoyment! Building on the basics of music theory we’ll explore jazz chord structure, voicing, and progressions, plus jazz scales, and scale-chord relationships. Using actual jazz charts you’ll see typical harmonizations with chords, and can begin to apply them to your own instrument, and explore the fascinating practice of improvisation.
Jazz Hang: Listening & Analysis
Join our Jazz and Percussion Department Chair and professional drummer Dave Fox for relaxed discussion and analysis of some of the most consequential and enjoyable recordings in the history of jazz. Open to music lovers of all experience levels!
Music Theory
Have you always wanted to learn to read music? Do you wish you understood the basic building blocks of music? Do you want to increase your playing ability and the ease in which you learn and perform music? Our introductory Music Theory course will guide you through all the basic elements – notes, pitches, intervals, scales, rhythm, melody, harmony, chords, and more. In-class exercises and at-home assignments will reinforce the lessons learned each week.
Singing Over Sixty
Have you always sung around the house, but never found the time or courage to do more? Are you an experienced singer who wants to tune-up your vocal technique? Experience the fun of singing together as we learn how the voice works, how to keep it strong and beautiful, and how to build skills for choral or solo singing.
