Children's Program (ages 4 - 11)

 

FACULTY

We are very pleased to have Daniela Landolfi, as Children's Program Director.  Daniela follows Carol Macaulay's highly successfulr Musical Toolbox approach and workbook. 
Daniela's bio is on the Dept Chair page.

We are also pleased that Daniela will be assisted by Charlotte Dike and Brianna Atwell,whose bios are on the Music Studies Faculty page.

CLASSES MEET

Classes meet in our Bellevue location on Saturdays for 30 weeks, in two semesters. See the Class Schedule below.

When siblings are enrolled, we try to accommodate them in concurrent or adjoining classes, and/or by the option of on-site lessons/ensembles/electives.

Classes are small for maximum personal attention.

REGISTRATION/PLACEMENT

You may register a child by selecting Application from the Home page.
After completing the application, hit the SEND button at the bottom of the page. You may also print and mail the application to the Office.

Note: The online application comes to the Academy via E-mail.
Be sure your email / browser security is set to allow forms to be sent from your computer. 2008 automatic security updates on sending computers cancelled 80% of 'sent' applications.

You will be contacted as soon as we receive your application.
Upon receipt, a placement interview is scheduled for each NEW student. This normally occurs in early Sept.

Returning students must register, but usually don't need an interview.
The faculty will assign the right level for returning students.

PROGRAM

The Children's Program has 30 weekly, age appropriate, classes that combine music fundamentals, form, ear training, rhythm, movement, singing, sight reading, and performance.

Children individually and collectively participate in fully interactive games and projects that incorporate all the elements of music making and making music.

Solo performance and chamber music ensemble performance are also available to qualified children.

A few private lessons may be available to accomodate families with siblings enrolled.

PLACEMENT

Children are evaluated and placed in classes appropriate for their age, ability, social readiness, and knowledge, by the Children's Program Director.
New students have placement interviews with the teacher and parent.
Returning students are placed by faculty, usually in the next level.
Children may be placed in levels other than those listed below, based on ability and preparedness.

CLASSES

Music & Movement: for ages 4-5 (45 minutes)
Children are introduced to fundamentals of music and participate in a game-like atmosphere. Dalcroze Eurhythmics (movement) is part of this class. Parents are encouraged and welcome to sit in the classroom as a comfort to young children.

Music Skills (Levels 1-5) for ages 6-10 has 2 sections (2 hours):
Music Skills - Levels 1-3 classes include advancing levels of fundamentals, movement, and sight reading at appropriate levels.

Music Skills - Levels 4 and 5 are for students who are beyond basics, but who may not be ready to audition for the pre-college program, or for younger students who may work better with their own age group.
The curriculum introduces first year Pre-College work.

Performance Class: Students from all levels of Music Skills meet together for the weekly Performance Class.
Children practice the basics of dress code, presentation, announcement, posture, composure, performance, acknowledging the audience, accepting applause, and leaving the 'stage' while becoming comfortable with regular performance. The also learn about other music and from presentations of others, and comments from the teacher and the class. Most children only perform at home or in the teacher's studio. This class puts very young performers in front of many others in a different environment that furthers confidant performance.

Choir An optional / elective class with director and accompanist. Children learn to sight read and sing together in unison and simple harmony. This class is open to ages 6 and up. Young singers who are not instrumentalists may elect to take Choir rather than the Performance Class for their 2nd hour.
Often children both play and sing, and we encourage everyone to join the Choir as a further enrichment of their music experience. We offer a discount to children who do both Performance Class and Choir.

Other Performance Opportunities:
Solo Performance:
Students may audition to perform in appropriate Academy recitals as soloists, and may be invited to perform in special Academy programs.

Ensemble Performance:
Children may audition with the Chamber Music Ensemble Director to perform in chamber music ensembles. Ensembles rehearse for 1 hour each week with a professional coach. Members must be good sight readers and have good pitch.

Weekly Pre-College Performance Class at 5PM
In addition to their own 2PM performance class, qualified students may sign up to perform in the Pre-College Performance (Repertoire) Class at 5 PM on Saturday with the approval of their own studio teacher, the Children's Director, Daniela Landolfi, and Jim Paul, Academy President.

Students, families, studio teachers, faculty & visitors are always welcome as guests in the 5PM Class where students sight read and sing together and sign up in advance to perform solo works in progress for constructive comment from faculty and students. This is a very valuable learning experience for everyone, especially those preparing for recitals, concerts, competitions, and auditions.

Instrumental Lessons Requirement and Referrals
Children age 5 and over must be taking or start to take regular lessons on an instrument.
For singers, a regular children's choir program is fine.
Having keyboard skills is valuable for every student.

Students who already have private instrumental teachers, continue with those teachers. The Academy makes no attempt to change a student's teacher.

Only when requested by parents, will we make courtesy referrals to outstanding private instrumental teachers. Usually these requests are from families who are new to the area or who are interested in beginning lessons for their children.
To accommodate families with siblings enrolled, a few private lessons for children may be taken on Saturdays.

Instrument Rentals: We recommend initially renting instruments for beginners. Regional music stores have small instruments in many sizes for young children, including 'cello, viola, violin, recorder. A (weighted keys) electronic keyboard can initially substitute for piano for beginners if a piano is not available, but should not be used for long if piano lessons continue. Children do outgrow undersized instruments. Some companies offer substantial discount trade in/upgrade options.

Children's Saturday Class Schedule

Min.

Time

Ages

Class

varies

11:00 - 1:55

 

Lessons / Rehearsals / Electives

45

12:00

4-5

 Music & Movement

50

1:00

6-8

Music Skills 1 and Music Skills 2

50

2:00

6-11

Performance Class

50

3:00

7-10

Music Skills 3, 4, 5

50

4:00

6 - 11

Choir (optional)

55

5:00

Pre-College Performance Class. All students, families, guests are welcome to attend this class. Children may also perform with prior approval.

See Calendar web page for all class, holiday, and concert dates.

FEES & TUITION (30 Saturdays)

 

Registration fee $25 / year.

Musical Toolbox for New Students in Music Skills 1,2,3 - $45.
This is a one-time personal 3 ring binder basic workbook for each student that can be used as long as the student is in Music Skills classes.
It was originally designed by the founder of our Children's Program for the Manhattan School of Music, NY.
The fee covers the author's copyright fee and the annual workload required to compile Toolboxes for new students.

Tuition: 30 Saturdays, September - June.

Music & Movement: $600 / year (1 class for ages 4-5).

Music Skills & Performance Class (levels 3-5): $900 / year.
The Performance class has a teacher and an accompanist.

Choir (Elective) $200 / year.
The Choir has a director and an accompanist

Ensemble $300/semester for students qualified to perform in a professionally coached chamber music ensemble that will perform in
Ensemble concerts.

Sibling Discounts: 10%

Tuition Payment options - Check or cash:
In full by the 3rd week. No refunds later.
Semester: with 2 post-dated checks (Sept. & Feb).
Monthly: with 9 post-dated checks (Sept-May).
Post dated checks are held securely in the Academy office for depost after the first class day each semester or month.

Financial Aid is only available for Pre-College Full Program students.