The City of Stamford and The Recreation Services Division
For more information contact Mrs. Jimenez: polly@musiciansatplay or 203 219-0496
The new Project Music Ensemble Program will offer classes in three sessions rather than for one full year. There is a separate registration for each session. The Fall and Winter sessions combined (Sessions I + II), pretty much parallel the former Project Music Lesson Program. Session III will be an offering of performance classes with a final concert, and also some unusual subject classes such as Jazz Violin, Introduction to Conducting, and Basic Harmony for Composers.
What do we mean by ensemble?
Ensemble simply means playing together. Two types of courses are offered.
1. The small group lessons are for 6-8 students, focusing on technique of a specific instrument and pieces for that level of play. Pick a class for your level of play. These classes are 45 minutes long. Please notice that beginner classes on each instrument are only offered in the Fall.
2. The chamber music groups and small performance ensembles are for 6-16 students, depending on interest. We will add teachers for more students. These classes will focus on the techniques required for performance and improved playing of your instrument. Pick a class for your interest and level of play. These classes are 50 minutes.
How will we accommodate different levels of student technique and abilities?
We have made every effort to offer classes of interest to all students studying an instrument. The teaching faculty is excellent and prepared to challenge and support the students. We are offering courses for different levels of proficiency, back to back on the same day. If you start in a higher level course and don’t practice, you may end up in a lower level course more appropriate to your technique level. And, the other way round, starting in a more basic class, you may work yourself up into a class of higher level technique. Some of the larger classes will be divided be into small practice groups of like experience and technique.
Who may register for this program? And when?
WHO: Just like before, the program is open to Stamford residents, in grades 4-12 during the 2010-2011 school year, regardless of where they go to school. Because this program has open enrollment and we are able to accommodate more students, there is no lottery and siblings are welcome! It is possible certain classes will fill up. You may also join more than 1 class.
WHEN: Former Project Music students may register for Session I from now until August 18. The registration form will arrive by US mail the week of July 19. Although we will have open enrollment, some classes may fill-up and early registration will reserve you a space.
New students will register starting Sept 7.
Your comments to Mrs. Jimenez: (E-mail and phone # given above.)
This new program has been carefully constructed, and I believe it is a wonderful program which will be exciting, instructive, and enjoyable. Still, it is a new program, and I can use your feedback. I can’t promise that your particular concern for your student can be addressed. But I promise to read and consider all your comments and to respond to you. I’m especially interested to know if you can’t find a class of interest to you. I’m also aware that scheduling will be more difficult for students this year because we are not offering classes on every day and our offerings are all at one location. I’m afraid this is a reality of group lessons. Still, letting me know your scheduling problems may help in the future.
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The following is from the Recreation Services Fall Catalog:
Join the first year of the Stamford Recreation Services program of course offerings for young musicians in grades 4-12. All offerings are for ensemble study and performance. Students will be grouped by instrument, technical level, reading ability and approximate grade level. Small group lessons: 45 minute class for 6-8 students. Larger study groups: 50 minute classes for 6-16 students.
This is a successor program to the Project Music Lesson Program so no private lessons will be offered this year. Still our objective is to offer quality instrument instruction while keeping an emphasis on the pleasure of making music together. The program is designed and administered by, Mrs. Polly Jimenez, former music coordinator for Project Music. The teaching staff also comes from Project Music and they are all excited to be part of this new program we are offering for 2010-2011. The offerings for brass instruments will be added and listed on the Project Music web site.
Also, offerings for drums taught by Mr. Aulenti may be added.
The Project Music Ensemble Program is offered in three sessions:
Session I has 10 classes: Week of September 27 – week of December 13, 2010.
Session II has 10 classes: Week of January 3- week of March 14, 2011.
Session IIII has 8 classes: Week of March 28- week of May 23, 2011.
Sessions I and II are mostly group lessons focused on instruction for technique and performance skills for individual instruments. One or two books will be required in most of these classes. Session III will be special interest classes and performance groups focused on final performances.
* Beginners may start an instrument only during Session I. Otherwise, you may register for any course(s) you choose. You will register separately for each session. This program has open enrollment. Siblings are welcome. Address your questions to Mrs. Jimenez polly@musiciansatply.com or 203-219-0496.
Registration for Session I : starts on Tuesday, September 7, at the Recreation office or on line. If you register online, please download from our web site the page of “information-helpful-to us” and mail it in to be sure you are in the class best for you.
Where: Westover Magnet School.
When: Classes will meet once a week for 45 or 50 minutes at the times given in the listings below.
Fee for Session I: $200
Reduced fee for Session I with reduced lunch letter: $125 (maximum 15% of students)
Reduced fee for Session I with free lunch letter: $100 (maximum of 15% of students)
Voice: Mrs. Johnson
* 4:00-4:45 Level I: First time studying voice: technique and single part singing: grades 8-12 (Section A)
5:00-5:45 Level II: Has studied voice before: technique and 2-part singing: grades 8-12 (B)
Drums: Mr. Johnson
* 4:00-4:45 Level I: Beginner: Learning and playing using classical playing style on drum pads. (C)
5:00-5:45 Level II: Intermediate: Applying lessons and techniques learned from the book to drum set. (D)
Strings: Mrs. Kovacs/ Mrs. Jimenez
4:00-4:45 Learner String Chamber Orchestra: Must read notes on all four strings: Scales, etudes and performance pieces: grades 5-8 (E)
Strings: Mrs. Kovacs
5:00-5:50 Intermediate String Chamber Orchestra: Must easily read notes and rhythms: Scales, etudes, bowing techniques, vibrato and performance pieces: grades 7-10 (F)
Strings: Mr. Knebel / Mrs. Jimenez
5:00-5:50 Learner String Quartets: Must read music in several keys and rhythms. Scales, etudes, bowing, positions, ensemble playing techniques and quartet performance literature: grades 7-12. (G)
Strings: Mr. Knebel
6:00-6:50 String Quartets for experienced players: same as above but more advanced techniques and more difficult quartet literature: grades 10-12. (H)
Wednesdays (Sections I-P)
Voice: Mrs. Herrerra-Crilly
4:00-4:45 Voice lessons for younger students: Beginners and/ or some experience: technique and single part singing: grades 4-7 (Section I)
5:00-5:50 Singing for worship: voice technique and study using church music literature. Some part singing: prepare pieces for performance: grades 6-12. (J)
Strings: Mrs. Edelman / Mrs. Jimenez
* 4:00-4:45 Beginner: Learning the basics of a string instrument: learning to read notes on each string: exercises and easy pieces; emphasis on pitch and tone: grades 4-7 (K)
5:00-5:45 Has 1 or 2 years of lessons and can play and read the notes on all the strings: scales, etudes, read basic rhythms: duets and solo pieces: grades 5-8. (L)
All winds: Mr. Wasil
4:30-5:20 Learner Wind Orchestra for players with 1 or 2 years of study who can read and play in a few keys and rhythms: Ensemble techniques for brass and woodwinds, pitch and rhythm etudes, scales, and a variety of performance pieces: grades 6-8 (M)
Flutes and clarinets: Mr. Wasil
5:30-6:20 Flute and clarinet ensemble for advanced players: Scale, etudes, tone production, breathing techniques: solo, duet, trio and quartet literature for performance: grades 9-12 (N)
Jazz: All winds: Mr. Giannios
4:30-5:20 Introduction to jazz:: beginning with Blues scale, 12-bar improvisation, some light jazz theory. Emphasis on playing: grades 6-9 (O)
Saxophone Ensembles: Mr. Giannios
5:30-6:20 : Must have 2 years experience on their instrument. Classical and Jazz repetoire and technique.
Work in trios, quartets and quintets. grades 8-12 (P)
Thursdays (Sections Q-V)
Voice: Mrs. Johnson
5:00-5:50 Chorus: (minimum of 8 students) Vocal musicianship, pitch and rhythm training: 1, 2, and 3 parts singing: variety of performance pieces. (Section Q)
Drums: Mr. Johnson
5:00-5:45 Level III: Advanced: Introduction to different drumming styles: uses and techniques: pre-requisite of lesson experience. (R)
Woodwinds: Mr. Wasil
* 4:00-4:45 Flute for beginners and with one year of lessons: Basic blowing technique, tone production, reading notes and basic rhythms: playing easy pieces: grades 4-7. (S)
* 5:00-5:45 Clarinet and Saxophone for beginners and with one year of lessons: Basic tone production on a reed instrument: reading notes and basic rhythms: playing easy pieces: grades 4-7. (T)
Piano: Mr. Fiorito (Younger and less experienced students look for other piano offerings in this catalog.)
4:30-5:15 Group piano lessons (working from two pianos) for lower intermediate to intermediate players: keyboard and rhythm technique and piano literature: grades 6-8 (U)
5:30- 6:15 Group piano lessons (working with two pianos) for intermediate and upper intermediate players: more demanding work with keyboard technique and performance of harder piano literature.: grades 9-12 (V)
END OF WEBSITE FOR JULY AND EARLY AUGUST 2010