Youth & Teen: Classes & Ensembles

Build your skills.

Our programs for youth and teens are designed for beginners as well as students who want to enhance their musical skills and experiences.

Instrument classes are available for beginners; general music theory and jazz theory classes explore the building blocks of music; and group performance opportunities abound with large and small ensembles for progressing musicians.

Plus, if you don’t find the group you’re looking for, we’ll design a Custom Ensemble for you.

Not sure if you’re ready to enroll? Sign up here to try a class!

Curious?

Violin, viola, cello, and bass students at all levels have a home in our youth orchestra programs. Audition for a spot with Chamber Strings, Camerata Strings, or our elite Sinfonia Youth Orchestra, where advanced students will experience the absolute thrill of playing in a full orchestra. Together, students will challenge themselves as players and collaborators, developing leadership, concentration, and teamwork skills alongside the most dedicated talent in our region to create something beautiful. 

Our three levels of ensemble meet every Saturday, and students who participate in both Sinfonia and Groton Hill Wind Ensemble are eligible for special discounts.

Our unique regional wind ensemble program offers woodwind, brass, and percussion players the opportunity to play, learn, and grow together as performers. The prestigious Groton Hill Wind Ensemble gives students  a fun, welcoming, challenging home for musical exploration. As students advance, they will explore an increasingly broad repertoire, from beginner classical to advanced jazz and non-Western music. 

Our wind ensemble meets every Saturday, and students who participate in both Sinfonia and Groton Hill Wind Ensemble are eligible for special discounts. 

Chorus is a great starting point for young singers to develop their love of music and their voices through healthy vocal technique. We offer three levels of Youth Chorus, Harmonia, Lyrica, and Prelude, each with a unique focus and covering a range of age-appropriate material. There is also a strong focus on teamwork and personal development.

Have you admired your friends who could play piano? Have you “played around” on your own? Do you want to build a good foundation of technique and note reading so you can move on your own path? This class will unlock your potential to make music in a friendly, fun, and low-stress setting.

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! 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.

Enjoy your music more and become a better musician! Whether you’re just learning an instrument or have been playing for years, an understanding of music theory basics (notes, intervals, chords, scales, rhythm, melody, and harmony) will make the process faster and easier. Strengthening your note-reading skill allows you to concentrate more on instrument technique and expressiveness. Being able to identify scales, chords, phrases, and forms help in sight reading and memorizing music.

This 10-week seminar is a series of masterclass-style sessions designed to help students refine their playing skills and musical interpretation. Students perform prepared pieces and receive feedback on performance practice and musicianship from the instructor (a rotating list of teachers from our piano faculty) and the group. The seminar will also feature discussions on improving performance skills such as memorization, preparing for recitals and competitions, and piano repertoire. Students will be encouraged to perform their seminar pieces in recital.

Ready to play in a group? Students of all styles of music, from classical to jazz, and rock, are invited to sign up for a Custom Ensemble. Playing music with others is an essential element in developing your musical craft and ramping up the learning process. Beginners will make faster progress, experienced players will be challenged to higher levels, and everyone can share one of the true joys of music through learning and playing together. Experience in a chamber group or small ensemble is not required, but students should have good basic technique on their instrument and strong music reading skills. Days, times, and start dates are coordinated with all the players and the ensemble coach.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email our Class & Ensemble Manager.