Let Play Music Piano Classes | The Music Garden

Let's Play Music Piano Classes

Beginning at Ages 5-6

(See Presto for ages 7 - 12)

2024-2025 Let's Play Music Waitlist - Click Here to Register

What to Expect

In our Let's Play Music Piano Classes we use the reputable music curriculum, Let's Play Music. This exciting curriculum teaches advanced musical skills to young children (beginning age is 5-6) through play, experience, and discovery! Let's Play Music​ is a complete three-year music course based on proven philosophies and research. It emphasizes total musicianship through piano playing, singing, folk and classical music, note reading, and ear training.

What does it teach?

  • Emphasizes melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic ear training
  • Introduces spatial skills necessary for note and rhythm reading
  • Teaches note reading
  • Studies the music of the masters to understand classic form and instrumentation
  • Encourages freedom of expression and musical interpretation
  • Channels the young voice into beautiful singing by providing correct vocal models and frequent singing opportunities
  • Teaches fundamentals of harmony and chord progressions
  • Utilizes "full body movement" for more effective assimilation of concepts and skills
  • Adapts skills to the piano

About the Class

FIRST YEAR: IDEAL AGE: 5-6 (Must be 5 by September 1st).

  • Classes held once a week, parent attends twice a month (every other week, on odd lessons), 15 lessons per semester, 45 - 60 minutes in length. No siblings allowed, please.
  • Skills Taught:
    1. Solfeggio hand signs and singing patterns
    2. Rhythm reading and performing
    3. Staff reading and playing on tone bells (piano skills begin year 2)
    4. Primary chord playing and recognition
    5. Classical music recognition and training
    6. Becoming familiar with the keyboard geography (black keys, high/low, finding keys, etc...) and playing simple melodies.

SECOND YEAR: IDEAL AGE: 6-8 (prerequisite: Year 1)

  • Classes held once a week, parent attends once a month (no siblings, please). 15 lessons per semester, 50 -60 minutes in length
  • Skills Taught:
    1. Playing cadences and scales on the piano
    2. Self accompany, add correct chord to melody
    3. Distinguish intervals and chords by ear
    4. Reading intervals and chords on staff

THIRD YEAR: IDEAL AGE: 7-9 (prerequisite: Years 1 and 2)

  • Classes held once a week, parent attends once a month (no siblings, please). 15 lessons per semester, 60 - 75 minutes in length.
  • Skills Taught:
    1. Play cadences and scales in 5 different keys
    2. 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures
    3. Classical form, ABA, and theme/variations
    4. Improvisation, transposition, composition

Fall, 2023/2024 - August 21 to May 3

Year 1 Classes (2023/2024) Registration is CLOSED - Join our waitlist for Fall 2024!

Mondays: 1:00pm - 2:00pm Closed to open registration - call for appt.
Mondays: 4:00pm - 5:00pm FULL
Mondays: 5:15pm - 6:15pm FULL
Tuesdays: 4:00pm - 5:00pm FULL
Tuesdays: 5:15pm - 6:15pm FULL
Thursdays: 4:00pm - 5:00pm FULL
Thursdays: 5:15pm - 6:15pm FULL

Year 2 Classes (2023/2024) Registration open to grads of Year 1 only:

Mondays: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Tuesdays: 3:45pm - 4:45pm
Tuesdays: 5:15pm - 6:15pm
Wednesdays: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Thursdays: 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Year 3 Classes (2023/2024) Registration open to grads of Year 2 only:

Mondays: 5:15pm - 6:30pm
Tuesdays: 3:45pm - 5:00pm
Wednesdays: 3:45pm - 5:00pm
Wednesdays: 5:15pm - 6:30pm
Fridays: 4:00pm - 5:15pm

Cost for 2023-2024 Session

Year 1 Yearly Tuition: $825.00 / $82.50 per month

Year 2 Yearly Tuition: $900.00 / $90.00 per month

Year 3 Yearly Tuition: $960.00 / $96.00 per month

Registration Fee: $50.00 per student

End of Year (May) Recital Fee: $25.00 per family (charged in April)

Bridge

For graduates of Let's Play Music - *No on line registration for Bridge*

Bridge is designed to help Let's Play Music graduates continue their total musicianship education.

Each carefully crafted lesson includes instruction on ear training, harmony, melody, sight reading, rhythm, music history, theory, technique and musicality. Bridge allows graduates to review, explore and expand on the foundation that they have worked so carefully to develop over the last three years.

Bridge students will gain a truly remarkable understanding of music as they build their skills. Those who complete the Bridge program will develop a deeper confidence in their musical abilities which will help them succeed in private piano lessons or other further music instruction.



FAQ

1Are there materials to purchase?
Yes. After registration you will be instructed in materials purchasing from the Let’s Play Music website. You will purchase materials for 2 semesters. The cost is as follows: Year 1: $93 / $28 (added sibling) Year 2: $69 / $44 (added sibling) Year 3: $78 / $53 (added sibling) Bridge: $75 / $50 (added sibling) For Let's Play Music Year 2 there is an addition $6.50 loaded pencil pouch to purchase - that can be added to your monthly payment.
2Do parents need to come to class with the students?
In first year, parents are required to attend every other week. In second and third years, approximately one time per month. Parent involvement in Let’s Play Music is very important to ensure success in the program.
3Is there a recital at the end of the year?
Yes. The recital of all three years of Let's Play Music together is typically held the weekend after the end of the year in May. There is a recital fee of $25 per family charged in April.