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PIANO PROGRAM

The piano program is offered at Ecole Jean-Jacques Rousseau with or without the combination of the voice program. The weekly piano lessons are optional and taught in a private/individual setting by an outside instructor.

Beginning piano classes provides a fundamental background in rhythm awareness, ear training, basic reading skills and performance basics once a week. Students receive weekly 30-minute private lessons, which provide enjoyable and effective learning of keyboard and musicianship skills.

AUDITIONS

To progress to the next level, Auditions are required of all students starting second grade, and at the end of spring semester. Students play two memorized pieces and prepare technique requirements for their current level.

CURRICULUM

Artist I

Students study basic theory skills, which include major and minor triads, major and minor five finger patterns, half steps and whole steps, basic notation, time signatures and accidentals. Listening skills include dynamic and tempo changes, major and minor patterns and interval recognition. Students are required to perform twice a year.

Artist II

Students study the introduction of major and minor scales, key signatures, primary triads and inversions. Students also learn more complex rhythm patterns: triplets, dotted quarter, and 6/8 time signatures. Listening skill development includes recognizing dynamic and tempo changes, major and minor scales, chords and inversions. Students are required to perform twice a year.

Artist III

Students learn the order of sharps and flats, major and minor key signatures, three types of minor, how to draw the primary triads, inversions and diminished and augmented chords. Listening skills include identifying major, minor, augmented and diminished chords, intervals and rhythm dictation. Students are required to perform twice a year.

Artist IV

Students review all key signatures and major, minor, augmented and diminished chords. They also start to learn figured bass for chord inversions and V7 chords and inversions. Listening skill development includes identifying major, minor, augmented and diminished chords, intervals and rhythm dictation. Students are required to perform twice a year.

Academy I

Students study major and minor scales, three forms of minor, all triads, primary triads in all keys, V7 chords and cadences. Listening skill development includes identifying all intervals, rhythms, major and minor melodies, all triads, V7 chords and cadences. Students are required to perform twice a year.

Academy II

Students study major and minor scales, major and minor key signatures, circle of 5ths, intervals, chords and triads of the scale, primary triads, cadences, V7, and chord progressions. Listening skill development includes rhythm, identifying the different forms of minor, cadences, and triads. Students are required to perform twice a year.

Academy III

Students use their theory knowledge to compose, improvise, and analyze chordal structures. Students are required to perform twice a year.

Academy IV

Students build upon the fundamental skills learned in Academy III, but at a more advanced level. Students are required to perform twice a year.

PRACTICE

Successful, satisfying music study is dependent upon consistent, daily practice. A practice time of 30 minutes per day is strongly recommended for second year piano students, increasing to 45 minutes to one hour for older students. Young students need parental supervision of all practice periods and require a practice setting free from distractions.

EQUIPMENT

We recommend that the student have a piano in the home, kept in tune and good repair and a metronome for use in daily practice. Materials are provided for beginning piano, may or may not require purchasing or reimbursing to the piano teacher.

CANCELLATION

The program requires at least a 24-hour cancellation notice. When the teacher has received a 24-hour cancellation notice, two private lessons per semester will be made up at teacher’s convenience.

VOICE PROGRAM

The voice program is offered at Ecole Jean-Jacques Rousseau with or without the combination of the piano program. The weekly voice lessons are optional and taught in a private/individual setting by a voice coach.

All study material, repertoire choices, and any other decisions regarding course of study are made solely at the discretion of the teacher.  Each student will require an individualized course of study, based on basic talent, physical and emotional maturity, musical skills, and interest and commitment.

Depending on the age of the student, voice lessons are focused on acquiring vocal technical and artistic skills.  Sight reading is a critical musical skill for any singer, and the program strongly encourages its pursuit.  While sight reading is usually a naturally occurring part of any voice study, aural skills courses are not usually included in the voice lessons. Students may add the aural skill courses with the voice coach. Basic piano skills are also highly useful to any singer and studies of this instrument should also be considered in conjunction with voice lessons.