CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

FOUNDATIONAL

PIANO/MUSICIANSHIP: This 45-minute class is for Bridge-to-Core students only. Class size is 4-6 students.

Piano/Musicianship class combines elements of piano and theory to provide the student with essential musical skills. The student will learn about pitch, rhythm, intervals, key signatures, chords, and music structure. These concepts will be applied to skills learned on the piano, such as scales, chord progressions and harmonizations, sight reading, solo repertoire, transposing, and improvising.

PIANO LAB: This 45-minute class is required for all Core and Company students. Class size is 3-4 students.

The goal of Piano Lab is to provide the student with practical and relevant keyboard skills that can be applied in other areas of music, such as composing, music theory, recording, and performance. The skills taught in Piano Lab include sight-reading, scales, arpeggios, chord progressions, harmonizing a melody with chords and patterns, transposing, and solo pieces.

Students who take piano lessons as their main instrument may choose to use their Piano Lab as an opportunity to study another genre such as jazz or pop. Students will learn technique, chord playing, and reading through PianoMarvel, which is an interactive online piano program that is available for students to work on in class and at home. CLICK HERE for more information about PianoMarvel. In addition to PianoMarvel, students will learn repertoire through Denes Agay’s Joy of First Year Piano, as well as level-appropriate selections from all stylistic periods.

MUSIC THEORY: This class is 45 minutes for Intro-to-Theory, Level One Music Theory, and Level Two Music Theory. This class is one hour for Advanced Music Theory. It is required for all Core and Company students, and the class size is typically 5-10 students.

In Music Theory class, CSC students learn to hear, read, write, analyze, and understand the language of music. This supports everything they do from composing an original piece, to performing a Broadway number, to improvising a jazz solo.

The CSC uses the Royal Conservatory of Music Celebrate Theory curriculum in all theory classes. This curriculum allows students to work at their own pace while receiving applicable instruction during class. Students will also have the opportunity to take the RCM theory exam at the end of each semester to receive their RCM theory certification. For more information about the RCM theory curriculum, CLICK HERE.

STUDIO CLASS: This 45-minute class is required for all Bridge-to-Core, Core, and Company students. Class size is 10-15 students.

Studio Class is structured much like a master class in which each student has a chance to perform part or all of a piece of music they are working on in their lessons and practice time and then receive feedback from a Mentor. Studio classes are organized into the different areas of study – voice, piano, general (instrumental and jazz), and percussion. In each class the students will be exposed to a great variety of repertoire, as well as have the opportunity to participate in weekly discussions on area-specific topics.

Studio Class is essential to the culture of CSC. It is where students gain confidence speaking and performing for others, as well as learn what it means to be a good audience member. Studio Class is also one of the few classes at the Conservatory where students are not separated based on age and/or ability. This is intentional as it provides a unique opportunity for peer-to-peer mentoring and learning.

PRIVATE LESSONS: Private Lessons are required for all Bridge-to-Core, Core, and Company students; it is optional for Novice students. Private Lessons are 30 minutes for Novice, Bridge-to-Core, and Core. Private Lessons are 45 minutes for Company.

CSC offers private lessons in voice, all instruments, theater, and recording arts. In private lessons, CSC students receive rigorous year-round instruction, in the area of their choosing, which requires consistent daily practice.

The private lesson mentor will work with the student on musicality, tone production, intonation, rhythmic accuracy, sight-reading, phrasing, pedagogy, and repertoire, as well as provide instruction on performance practices, historical relevance, and practice strategies.

Because of the unique one-on-one interaction, private lessons serve a key role in the mentorship of each student and their growth as musicians, artists, and human beings. Students who show a high level of dedication and commitment in their lessons and practice may be recommended by their private lesson mentor to participate in the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM). Students who participate in RCM will have the opportunity to take their RCM practical exam, which takes place in May, August, and December. CLICK HERE for more information about the RCM program and curriculum.

EAR TRAINING: This 45-minute class is required for all Company students and is an elective for Core and Bridge-to-Core students ages 10-18. Class size is 6-10 students.

​Ear training is an essential component of musical education. It is a skill by which musicians learn to identify, solely by hearing, pitches, intervals, melody, chords, rhythms, and other basic elements of music. Ear training can be applied in every aspect of music, whether it’s practicing, performing, composing, or simply listening to music.

The CSC uses the Royal Conservatory of Music ear training curriculum to teach interval and chord identification, and melodic and rhythmic dictation. Additionally, sight singing is taught using moveable DO solfege system, along with the sight singing curriculum by Hans Oxmond.

ELEMENTS OF PERFORMANCE: This 1-hour and 15-minute class meets once a month and is required for all Company students. A weekly Elements of Performance class is also offered as an elective for all Core and Bridge-to-Core students.

Topics covered in the class include but are not limited to: performance etiquette, stage presence, professionalism, movement on stage, understanding the performance space and how to best utilize it, how to engage an audience, and projection and communication.

ELECTIVE

COMPOSITION: This is a 1-hour class with a class size of 6-8 students, and is open to all students ages 14-18.

This class focuses on all elements of composition, including form, structure, melody, harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration.

ELEMENTS OF PERFORMANCE: This 45-minute class is offered as an elective for Core and Bridge-to-Core students only. Class size is 8-15 students. Note: The Elements of Performance class that is required for all Company students meets once-a-month for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Topics covered in the class include but are not limited to: performance etiquette, stage presence, professionalism, movement on stage, understanding the performance space and how to best utilize it, how to engage an audience, and projection and communication.

RECORDING ARTS: This class is 45 minutes for students ages 8-9, 1 hour for ages 10-13, and 1 hour 15 minutes for ages 14-18. Class size is 6-8 students.

The mission of the Recording Arts component of the CSC programming is to provide students with a relevant synthesis of all the core components of the Conservatory – piano, music theory, and performance practices. Additionally, the Recording Arts component affords students a meaningful platform to learn to truly listen, give and receive critical feedback, respect and collaborate with their peers. The goal of Recording Arts is to learn and progress in the skills necessary to write, perform, and record music. These skills include arrangement, songwriting, critical listening, music theory, ear training, time management, goal setting, collaboration, acceptance of critical feedback, and use of music technology.

THEATER: This class is 45 minutes for students ages 8-9, 1 hour for ages 10-13, and 1 hour 15 minutes for ages 14-18. Class size is 8-12 students.

Our Theater Program staff consists of working professionals who have experience on and off Broadway, National Tours, and European Tours. This class focuses on musical delivery, character work, vocal technique, ensemble work, and audition technique with emphasis on monologue and song choice in an effort to build a working portfolio of audition ready pieces.

EAR TRAINING: This 45-minute class is required for all Company students, and is an elective for Core and Bridge-to-Core students ages 10-18. Class size is 6-10 students.

Ear training is an essential component of musical education. It is a skill by which musicians learn to identify, solely by hearing, pitches, intervals, melody, chords, rhythms, and other basic elements of music. Ear training can be applied in every aspect of music, whether it’s practicing, performing, composing, or simply listening.

SINGER/SONGWRITER: This is a 1-hour class with a class size of 6-8 students, and is open to all students ages 14-18.

This class is offered for CSC students who are interested in developing the art of accompanying themselves while they sing original songs or songs composed by other artists. Students compose their own songs, as well as arrange songs by well-known artists from the entire history of popular, rock, R&B, and folk music. Students have numerous opportunities to perform their solo works and collaborate with peers and mentors on concerts and outreach events throughout the year.

ENSEMBLES

(COMPANY students only)

CABARET: This ensemble meets twice a week for 1 hour and 15 minutes and is open to all Company voice students.

Cabaret is a performing vocal ensemble that will include elements of musical theater, ensemble, solo and backup singing, and harmonizing. Students will be exposed to a great variety of styles and genres, including classical, musical theater, pop, choral, a cappella, and much more. As one of the premiere performing groups at the Conservatory, the Cabaret ensemble will have the opportunity to perform on numerous occasions at recitals, gigs, and special events.

CHAMBER MUSIC: This ensemble meets twice a week for 1 hour and 15 minutes and is open to all Company string, woodwind, brass, and piano players.

Chamber Music will consist of small instrumental groups (2-5 students) that will receive coaching from CSC instrumental mentors. Students will focus on how to communicate and create music with others. As with all CSC ensembles, performance will be a major part of the Chamber Music groups.

JAZZ COMBO: This ensemble meets twice a week for 1 hour and 15 minutes and is open to all Company students.

CSC Jazz Combo students learn to play and improvise over jazz standards in a small combo consisting of piano, guitar, drums, bass, horns, and vocals. Students learn a wide variety of jazz standards as well as how to arrange and perform them. They participate in 8 official CSC jazz nights per year where they perform as a student group and have the opportunity to “sit in” with the faculty quintet.
In addition, CSC jazz students perform 25-50 times a year at community functions.