Now Enrolling: Fall 2024

Our enrollment window closes soon! If you’d like to try a class, call 518-459-7799.

Our core, school-year program starts children down a path toward remarkable musicianship and maturity. The Foundation begins in small group classes, with children ages 4 through 8—a vital developmental stage:  they enjoy being part of a group, want to experience anything new, are forming their basic attitudes about music, and are experiencing as much as 80% of their ear development.

For a taste of our instructional method, a tour of our school, and a chance to have all your questions about The Music Studio answered by our founder and director, we urge you to attend a FREE Mini Music Class in April, August, and September. From January through August each year, children ages 3 through 7 can also take a four-week class called Let’s Begin, a course that is complete in itself, but that enables both students and their parents to experience, in a short-term session, the varied musical activities, shared musical experiences, and challenging fun that are central to the school-year Foundation Program classes. Go to our Music for the Young page to check when the next Let’s Begin class is, and to see class options for even younger children.

The Foundation Program has two distinct parts:

Our Music Fundamentals course, the first step in our students’ musical journey, emphasizes creativity, musical explorations, and the joy of making music. We vary activities–singing, ear training, rhythm, movement, and note reading–and use many instruments: keyboard, recorder, guitar, and Orff instruments, among others. In February we have an in-class recital to celebrate the students’ progress and practice performing and collaborating (as well as music-making skills). We limit classes to eight students, include parents in every class, and weave education seamlessly with play. Music Fundamentals is generally a two-year program for children ages 4 to 6 and a one-year program for those older than 6.

After they have finished Music Fundamentals, students progress to the two-year Creative Keyboard course, which includes all facets of musicianship: repertoire study, ear training, improvisation, transposition, sight reading, technical development, composition, ensemble playing, theory, and music history. We emphasize the keyboard, but guitars, recorders, Orff instruments, and the voice are also used. In Creative Keyboard, children are expected to practice daily. Parents take part in one class each month (and are welcome at all). In March, Creative Keyboard students perform, individually and in class groups, at the Recital Hall of the University at Albany. Don’t worry: we make sure they are prepared and confident for their

Upon completing Creative Keyboard, students are eligible to enter The Piano Program. (Unfortunately, we cannot accept students into The Piano Program who have not completed The Foundation Program.)

Fall 2024  Foundation Program Schedule