Classes

(Click on class name for its agenda and schedule)

Click here to view Keys for Kids school year Calendar and Policy.

Please click here to learn about our Faculty.

Enrollment

To enroll please mail the Enrollment form along with your payment to
Keys for Kids, 55 Winthrop Rd, Lexington, MA 02421.

Terms and Tuition
Group lessons
Private lessons

Group Lessons Terms and Tuition
Terms:
Designed as a yearlong course of study, divided by two semesters (September- January, February- June)

45 min weekly classes for groups (min. 5 students per class)
30 min weekly ensemble classes (max. 4 students per class)

Yearly Tuition:
Two equal payments of $455
For total payment add $20 book fee per semester and $35 yearly registration fee.
NEW STUDENTS: add $25 for Keys for Kids music carrying bag

Summer Group Classes:
Tuition $130 + $20 book fee
NEW STUDENTS: add $35 yearly registration fee and $25 for Keys for Kids music carrying bag.

Private Lessons Terms and Tuition
42 weeks per year, 3 payments:
30-minute lessons: $535 per trimester
45-minute lessons: $770 per trimester

Yearly Fee: Once a year, add $50 yearly book deposit and $35 yearly registration fee
to your initial Fall payment.
NEW STUDENTS: add $25 for Keys for Kids music carrying bag

Students of Inga Magid: Advanced Placement Tuition
42 weeks per year, 3 payments:
30-minute lessons: $575 per trimester
45-minute lessons: $805 per trimester

Semiprivate Lessons Terms and Tuition (available for group students when the group enrollment does not exceed 2 students)
42 weeks per year, 3 payments:
30-minute lessons: $425 per trimester 
45-minute lessons: $655 per trimester
Once a year, add $50 yearly book deposit and $35 yearly registration fee to your initial Fall payment.
NEW STUDENTS: add $25 for Keys for Kids music carrying bag

Summer Lessons:
NEW students: add $50 yearly book deposit, $25 for Keys for Kids music carrying bag and $35 yearly registration fee

Class descriptions

Early Childhood Classes (18 months - 2.5 years old)

Tuesday 10:30am
Sunday 3:00pm

Music can provide a very special way for parents and children to communicate. In this class, your child will begin to develop crucial reasoning skills, as well as build on emerging social and emotional skills through musical games and lessons designed to accompany and encourage your child's natural sense of play.

Activities include: group singing of familiar tunes, supplemented by accompanying gestures; playing of primary rhythm instruments; games combining music and movement through space; and other active listening games. Through these activities, your child will begin to recognize patterns, as well as some fine and gross motor skills, all while enjoying a safe and educational social atmosphere and unique bonding experience for parent and child.

Blues and Jazz Piano (Group and/or private lessons)
Instructor Elton Xhoja

Have you ever wanted to play like a pro and to use the licks and tricks that the real jazz and blues pianists use? Now you can!

If you have been taking piano lessons for a while and feel that you would like to explore further about music and discover the magic of arranging and improvising instantly, without having to rely on written arrangements, this class is for you.

Not only you will learn how to play and use tricks that professional musicians use, but you will also learn about the art of improvisation as a true American Art Form, and its relation to history by watching short videos on different American composers and piano players.

The course will focus on different styles of blues such as Chicago Blues, New Orleans Style, West Coast Blues, St. Louis Blues and how to arrange pop and jazz standards from the Jazz Real Book.

The course is offered only to early intermediate- advanced students who have some music reading experience and who would make the commitment to practice consistently.

Objectives:
By the end of the first school year students will be able to:
• Play and improvise on a twelve bar blues using the blues scale and different licks.
• Play music from a lead sheet with chord symbols
• Identify a considerable number of American Composers and styles from late 1800 to present

Jazz Improvisation
Weekly group sessions will focus on introducing the basic concepts of music improvisation, with special emphasis on acquiring practical music-making skills; we will also explore deep listening, free improvisation, soloing and ensemble work. Each session includes free time for jamming, as well as impromptu showcases, providing students with the opportunity to improvise in front of each other.

Supportive and playful atmosphere helps students to experience the joy factor in making music and discover the authentic musician within.

Learn
• Various Types of Improvisation
• Solo and Group Improvisation
• Technical Exercises
• Elements of Improvisation

Benefits
• Deepen Listening Skills
• Break Through Fears
• Move Beyond the Written Page
• Discover Hidden Abilities
• Turn Perfectionism into Freedom

Requirements
• Two years of training in music theory and any instrument including piano/keyboard, violin, flute, guitar, voice, percussion, etc. Solo and Group Improvisation
• Prior experience in improvisation is not necessary

SingNKids

Give your child the gift of song! This engaging course allows children to learn the basics about singing in a comfortable group environment. Through age appropriate games and activities, children will learn how to recognize and match pitch, improvise songs, learn basic singing and breathing techniques, sight singing, ear training, and music reading. The curriculum is designed with the flexibility for students to follow their interests and abilities.

Sing N' Kids 1 - designed for kids age 5-7, this singing class is a musical exploration of songs from several different styles in a fun and engaging group setting! With everything from show tunes to popular folk songs, we work on good breathing techniques, movement and expression, basic elementary harmonies, and ear training - all to the tune of songs we love to sing! The result will be the development of each student's vocal strength, in addition to invaluable performance confidence. This class is an exciting introduction to a healthy voice!

Sing N' Kids 2 - a continued adventure in voice, this group class provides a positive and welcoming environment for kids age 8-12 where students will get a chance to develop their individual and ensemble singing! Incorporating movement and musical expression into musical scenes, we will continue to learn about what strengthens the voice and discover the elements that make singing so enjoyable. With an emphasis on sharing and healthy vocal techniques, the students will gain new exciting knowledge and a wide array of fun musical experiences!

Drum’N Kids
Drum’N Kids (grouped by age, 4-8yo): This class is for younger kids to start to explore the basics of rhythm and beat through the use of percussion instruments from around the world and through movement and games. Students will learn rhythm by rote through rhythm syllables as well as being introduced to western musical notation so that they will develop a strong base in reading music.

This class allows kids to develop a strong sense of rhythm while playing solo and in a small ensemble. The course is meant to foster musicality, music reading skills, ensemble abilities, and improvisation skills, as well as an understanding of the nature of hand drums and rhythmic patterns. This course encourages creativity and exploration.

The students will have the opportunity to explore instruments from a variety of cultures, from classical to Afro-Cuban and Latin-American rhythms and instruments and their function in the ensemble. This class may be taken on its own or in addition to group or private study on another instrument as a way to further enhance rhythmic skills.

Group/Semiprivate Guitar
Group guitar class (minimum 3 students)
Semiprivate guitar lessons (maximum 2 students)

Semiprivate Guitar Lessons, Level 1A
(Beginning Students age 6- 10 years old (no prerequisite)
This engaging course allows children to learn the basics guitar techniques in a comfortable semiprivate/small group environment. We learn basic of notation and rhythm, guitar tuning and simple strums and techniques, learn basic chords, and play in a guitar "band". Musical concepts will be reinforced weekly in this supportive and non-competitive class. Buy, rent or borrow a guitar and come to give it a try!

Semiprivate Guitar Lessons, Level 1B
(Beginning Students age 11- 15 years old (no prerequisite)
Learn the basics of guitar tuning and technique, note reading, chords progression as well as simple strums, music theory, and play in a guitar ensemble. Students will receive mini “private” lessons with the teacher for accurate evaluations and individualized help. The class focuses on the students. The curriculum, therefore, is flexible enough to follow each student's interests and abilities. Chord charts and song sheets will be provided so the student can progress on his own between classes. This class gives students a strong foundation in guitar playing so that they can expand their repertoire to include classical, rock, jazz, blues and popular music.

Group/Semiprivate Guitar Fall 2011 Schedule:
Please enquire for additional class times

Semiprivate Lessons Terms and Tuition
42 weeks per year, 3 payments:
30-minute lessons: $425 per trimester
45-minute lessons: $655 per trimester
Once a year, add $50 yearly book deposit and $35 yearly registration fee
to your initial Fall payment.

Private Piano
Private instruction is offered to students of all ages and levels. Private instruction provides a great opportunity to learn to play an instrument or to continue building on existing knowledge and skill levels. Each student is matched with the compatible teacher after an initial placement interview.

Many opportunities are available to students who want to perform: Keys for Kids holds semiannual studio Recitals (winter and spring), a studio Showcase concert, and Piano Proficiency Evaluation for interested students. Additional opportunities include various competitions, National Guild of Piano Teachers auditions, etc.
New students are welcome throughout the year whenever space is available.

Private Voice
Having a beautiful voice alone is not enough to sing well. Private voice lessons assist students with proper singing techniques training so they can keep their voices healthy for many years. The focus is on vocal and breathing techniques, stage presentation, sight singing, ear training, music reading, and repertoire.
New students are welcome throughout the year whenever space is available.

Private Guitar
Private instruction is offered to students of all ages and levels. Private instruction provides a great opportunity to learn to play an instrument or to continue building on existing knowledge and skill levels. The focus is on note reading, music style, chords and theory, as well as posture and other guitar techniques. This training gives students a strong foundation in guitar playing so that they can expand their repertoire to classical, rock, jazz, blues and popular music.
New students are welcome throughout the year whenever space is available.

Private Violin
Private instruction is offered to students of all ages and levels. Approximately 10% of our students are adults. Nearly a third of our school is comprised of students in private lessons, which are offered to adults, older students and those graduating from the Keys for Kids curriculum. Private instruction is the core of music education and provide a great opportunity to learn to play an instrument or to continue building on existing knowledge and skill levels. Our faculty is qualified to teach beginning, intermediate and advanced students. Each student is matched with the compatible teacher after an initial placement interview. Many opportunities are available to students who want to perform, as well as enter competitions. New students are welcome throughout the year whenever space is available.

Master Keys Group Piano for Adults
MASTER KEYS, LEVEL 1 - Beginning Students (no prerequisite). If you have always wanted to learn to play piano, this class is for you! We will learn the basics of notation and rhythm as we progress through a keyboard book, play classical music and holiday songs, duets and some popular music. Musical concepts will be reinforced weekly in this supportive and non-competitive class. Keyboards are provided but students must have a piano or keyboard at home to practice.

MASTER KEYS, LEVEL 2 - Continuing Students (prerequisite: Level 1 or by permission of instructor). Continuing students will expand their piano playing repertoire, with additional activities tailored toward class interest (i.e., improvisation and harmonization, theory basics, ensemble playing, etc). 

Master Keys Fall 2011 Schedule:
Please email to inquire about the class time options

Voice Lessons for Adults
So They Said You Couldn’t Sing? . . .
Did you know that in other cultures the idea of someone not being able to sing is a completely foreign concept? Everyone can sing! The problem is our society tends to neglect “teaching” this basic skill. Well, here’s your chance to learn. No matter how bad you think you are, this adult vocal course will teach you the basics in a group of your peers. You’ll learn how to recognize pitch relationships, match them with the basic techniques of proper singing, and even some simple music theory. You’ll learn songs with the group that use harmonies and develop your ear. You’ll receive one-on-one instruction time with the teacher, so you can get individual help without having to sing solo in front of the group. We’ll even determine your vocal classification in case you’d like to join a community chorus or continue with individual lessons. The best way to keep learning is to keep singing! Now your kids won’t yell at you to be quiet when you’re in the shower. You’re guaranteed to hear the results!

Private Composition
Create your own portfolio of songs and music. Identify any instrument by ear and sight, then write a piece of music for it. Play the music yourself or pull together a group of friends - with different instruments! If you find yourself doodling on the keyboard or humming your own tunes, then composition lessons are for you. Private composition lessons focus on songwriting, notation, basic musical forms, instrumentation and orchestration, sketching, improvisation and much more. Lessons will be tailored to interest and ability level. New students are welcome throughout the year whenever space is available.

Group Composition
Create your own music. This engaging and hands on class will teach children how to write songs both for personal performance and for other instruments - or both! We learn to notate musical thoughts, identify instruments by ear and sight and compose for them, recognize musical forms and create music within those forms, basic improvisation, sketching, text setting, and the identification of musical styles - from baroque to modern, jazz to funk - and historical periods. Over the course of the lessons, students will create a written composition portfolio of their own pieces and songs.

Private Flute
Play the flute in band? Orchestra? Or just for fun? The flute is one of the most portable and versatile instruments and private lessons are the fastest and best way to progress on the flute. Flute lessons focus on tone production, scales and technical studies; band music, audition music such as All-State, chair test music, and music for solo and ensemble contests; sight-reading and duets. Lessons will be tailored to interest and ability level. New students are welcome throughout the year whenever space is available.

Group / Semi Private Trumpet
(Group instruction – minimum of 3 students, ages 8+)
(Semiprivate instruction – maximum of 2 students, ages 7+)
In this course students gain a solid foundation in trumpet playing while developing essential music literacy skills. We learn fundamental techniques, develop aural skills, explore music reading and notation and discuss the vitality of musical expression. In this nurturing, small group environment we will perform both as an ensemble and solo for fellow classmates providing opportunities for peer mentoring.

Private Trumpet
(Ages 7+)
Private trumpet instruction is great for all ages and levels and is tailored to suite the immediate needs of the student. We will address specific playing techniques, develop aural skills, explore music reading and notation and discuss the vitality of musical expression. Solo performance opportunities are available twice a year.