First Steps in Music NJ
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Instruments
Personally tailored lessons
Private lessons are offered at the studio. Each lesson plan is specifically written to fit your child's learning style to ensure high quailty learning (and fun) take place!
30 minute lessons $30/lesson - 45 minute lessons $45/lesson - 60 minute lessons $60/lesson
Lessons run weekly throughout the school year, with optional summer lessons available. Lessons must be paid for one month in advance, includes 2 make up lessons permonth.
Voice
Voice lessons are offered to students starting in Grade Four. Prior to this age students are strongly encouraged to participate in any sort of children's choir. Young children benefit most from being part of a group ensemble and this not only builds their self confidence, it also allows them to develop their own vocal timbre within a safe and musical environment and removes the strain of solo singing for too long of a time.
Voice lessons are focused on acquiring vocal technical and artistic skills. Sight reading is a critical musical skill for any singer, and I strongly encourage its pursuit. While sight reading is usually a naturally occurring part of any voice study, aural skills courses are strongly recommended in addition to voice lessons. Basic piano skills are also highly useful to any singer and studies of this instrument should also be considered in conjunction with voice lessons.
The vocal repertoire included in First Steps' curriculum consists primarily of classical repertoire. Since many students may have interests in vocal repertoire outside of the broad classical genre and therefore some appropriate representative music theater pieces are included in our studies. However, I need to emphasize the importance of the development of a basic technique most commonly associated with classical singing as a critical building block for the healthy pursuit of a variety of vocal musical styles.
Piano
Piano lessons are a great start for any budding musician. Learning proper finger and hand placement, as well as excellent posture, taps into a whole body learning experience. Many instrumental and vocal students get their start in piano. Methods used vary depending on the learning needs of the students. Alfred Piano series and Faber & Faber methods are used most frequently.
Beginning piano students learn simple songs through a variety of games. After achieving a comfortable level of finger placement and hand positions students are able to branch out into more complex music based mostly around quality folk tunes. Basic Music Theory is covered.
Intermediate piano students continue to build their repertoire through various genres while expanding on their musicianship skills. Music Theory lessons continue.
Trumpet
Trumpet lessons are available for students starting in Grade Three.
Beginning trumpeters learn the fundementals of taking care of an instrument (Mom & Dad learn too), how to produce a good "buzz" on their mouthpiece and push the sound through their instrument. Proper breathing techniques are studied through games and interactive play. Repertoire is focused around quality folk songs. Basic Music Theory lessons are included. Methods used are Abersold, Clark, Arban, Bradshaw, Vizzutti.
Intermediate players expand their repertoire to cover various generas of music and theory lessons continue.
Advanced students study more intensive literature, continue in music theory, and are encouraged to take part in auditioned groups.
Violin
Violin lessons are available for children starting as young as 4 years old.
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My teaching philosophy combines various technical and physical fundamentals, advice on how to practice, and musical inspiration. The goal is to create in the mind of the students a dynamic, a color, an articulation, and a mood. Then, the practicing becomes focused, fun and engaging and techniques can be mastered and perfected. All students experience wonderful results, achieving a relaxed, simple posture with the instrument, and quickly attaining a high level of playing.