Advanced Musicianship

The Advanced Musicianship Program is a five-stage process designed to provide both an experiential and skills-based approach to musical learning. This curriculum is from The Dalcroze school of the Rockies in the US. We are very proud of using this program and thank you Dr. Jeremy Dittus’ (Diplôme Supérieur) support. The overarching goal is to lead students to a deep and meaningful understanding, knowledge and love of music. “Musicianship” refers to the music literacy, ear training and development of artistic sensitivity in performing music.

The Advanced Musicianship program aims to train the student not just to be a player of an instrument, but to be a musician. The best way to do that is to take the instrument away! A good musician can achieve the following without the aid of an instrument: Find any pitch after hearing a starting pitch and be able to accurately sing melodies at sight. This requires that the student master the skill of reading music (also known as solfège), which can then be applied on the instrument:

Perform rhythmic exercises of various complexities at sight.
To do this successfully, students must be able to feel the silent pulse and keep it steady.

Write down melodies or rhythms upon hearing them (this is known as a musical dictation).
To do this, musicians must have good analytical skills and a well-developed musical memory.

See notes and rhythms on the page and know how they should sound before performing them on an instrument (similar to a person’s ability to read a book silently to himself and “hear the words in your head”).
This requires training in “inner hearing” (also commonly referred to as “ear training”). Create music spontaneously in response to immediate challenges and stimuli, presented both aurally and via notation. These are improvisational skills at work. Perform in a group and listen to each other and respond to each other’s changes in musical expression so that the audience perceives one musical unit. This requires strong ensemble skills, along with a deepened understanding of musical analysis, nuance, and aesthetics as it relates to performance.

The Advanced Musicianship Program will help students develop these essential musicianship skills in a progressive and age-appropriate manner. The program is also designed to support private instrument lessons. This is especially beneficial for students preparing for the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) examinations, as there is often not enough time in the private lesson to focus on the ear training and sight reading requirements of the exam.

The teaching approach is based on the pedagogical principles of Dalcroze Eurhythmics, which uses the body as the primary learning tool (and therefore the body is the instrument). As we cannot see or touch music, embodying it physically makes musical concepts more tangible and concrete, while also improving our ability to store and recall musical information. Because the body can be rhythmic, expressive and moldable, the program will also develop body technique and movement vocabulary to support musical outcomes.

For a complete description of this program you may download a PDF by clicking here.

Class Length: 60 mins, | Independent Child (For children 6 years and older)

Level 1

Wednesday

6 Years Old and above
  • Wednesday, 4:00 to 5:00 PM
  • Capacity:6
  • Term Duration:

    April 10 to June 5, 2024 (9 weeks)
  • 225 CAD per term

Saturday

6 Years Old and above
  • Saturday, 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM
  • Capacity:7
  • Term Duration:

    April 27 to June 8, 2024 (6 weeks)
  • 150 CAD per term

Level 2

Sunday

6 Years Old and above
  • Sunday, 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
  • Capacity:6
  • Term Duration:

    April 28 to June 9, 2024 (6 weeks)
  • 150 CAD per term

Level 4

Wednesday

6 Years Old and above
  • Wednesday, 5:00 to 5:00 PM
  • Capacity:0
  • Term Duration:

    April 10 to June 5, 2024 (9 weeks)
  • 225 CAD per term

Saturday

6 Years Old and above
  • Saturday, 2:15 to 3:15 PM
  • Capacity:0
  • Term Duration:

    April 27 to June 8, 2024 (6 weeks)
  • 150 CAD per term

Level 5

Thursday

6 Years Old and above
  • Thursday, 5:00 to 6:00 PM
  • Capacity:0
  • Term Duration:

    April 11 to June 6, 2024 (9 weeks)
  • 225 CAD per term

FAQs

Baby or Toddler classes run as 3 terms throughout the year. You can enroll at the beginning of the following months: September, January and April or earlier to reserve your spot. Enrolment is on a first come, first served basis. Late registrants will pay a pro-rated cost based on the number of classes remaining in each Term

Preschooler Classes require full year registration (September to June). The registration begins at the end of May.

Advanced Musicianship classes require Pre-requisite: completion of the Preschooler JK/SK Program or permission from the teacher to start Level I. if you are new student, please contact the studio to arrange an assessment

Yes, the studio offers a sibling discount, each additional sibling enrolled in a class receives a 15 percent discount off the class fees. Students who register partway through a term do not qualify for sibling discounts. Please contact the studio to arrange payment with a sibling discount.   

All payments can be done by cheque, credit card or e-transfer.

Please check the studio policy for more information.

For preschooler classes and Advanced musicianship classes (full year program), payment can be paid in 3 terms (via post-dated cheques, credit card, credit card pre-authorization or e-transfer) or for the full year upfront, however a full school-year commitment is required. 

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+ 1 (416) 305 5651

1971 Queen Street East,
Suite 204 (The Beach Mall)

info@mymusicalupbringing.com