Course Descriptions 

The following group courses are for new students only (except theory class). If your child has had prior musical training or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us for information on which class would best suit your child's abilities.

 

          Harmony Road Music Classes:

Toddler Tunes:  (ages 2 to 3) 30-min. weekly  Toddler tunes is a joyful first music experience. Your little one will start by singing, dancing and exploring the keyboard, with you beside her/him. You will learn fun coaching techniques so you can reinforce the concepts between lessons. Toddler Tunes includes a fun repertoire of finger-play, bounces, rhythmic patterns and lullabies. You get CD's and workbooks of catchy Harmony Road Tunes, designed to feature age specific, layered musical exercises and rhythms. This building-block approach to music trains ears for better inner hearing and helps maintain the perfect pitch with which children are born. With toddlers, we build musical minds before musical hands. (Two 18-week course / 6 weeks a session)

Music in Me & More Music in Me:  (ages 3 to 4)45-min. weekly  

Your child's voice is his or her first musical instrument. The optimum prescription for musicianship is this: voice, rhythmic instruments, piano. We use the voice first to develop musical literacy enhancing the ability to read, write, hear and think music before there is any pressure to become proficient in techniques. This dynamic readiness program is structured so that your child will learn to play music the same way he or she learned to speak-by listening, repeating and responding. Even parents or caregivers with no musical background can attend, take notes, and coach daily at home. Music in Me contains the basic elements of rhythm, melody, pitch, dynamics phrasing and form. Concepts are learned through keyboard playing, solfege singing (naming notes using do-re-mi), movement activities and the use of rhythmic instruments. As your child develops a trained ear and learns to create and perform music in a non-competitive environment, he or she will develop coordination, concentration and self-confidence. This layered natural approach emphasizes the ensemble aspects of music and it is wonderful preparation for further studies. Parents are fully involved in class and at home.(Two 16-week course)

 

Harmony Road: (age 5 to 6) 55-min weekly 

The Harmony Road course is carefully constructed for children to learn the basic building blocks of music. The emphasis is on ear training, solfege singing, keyboard playing, ensemble rhythm activities, movement and music creativity. This exceptional course gives the student “inner hearing”, which makes transposing, improvisation and composing easily accessible in their musical studies. The program makes the best use of the many orchestral and contemporary sounds possible on a digital keyboard. Parents and caregivers are fully involved in class and at home. (Four 20-week course)

 

Young Musician: (age 6 to 7) 55-min weekly  

The Young Musician course is an age specific layered program, which introduces beginning students to keyboard performance and note reading. It is a holistic program which includes the organized development of pitch and rhythm, solfege singing, and movement activities. Parents or caregivers are fully involved in class and at home. (Four 20-week course)

 

Keyboard Prep: (age 7 to 12) 55-min weekly   

This age specific layered program is similar in dynamics and curriculum to Harmony Road and Young Musician but upgraded to reflect the tastes and needs of the older child who are starting music for the first time. This holistic program introduces students to keyboard performance, note reading and music writing including the organized development of pitch and rhythm, through solfege singing, keyboard and movement activities. Parental involvement is encouraged. (Three 20-week course)

Piano Street:  (age 12 through Adult) 55-min weekly  

The older beginner is invited to join a piano - keyboard class which includes solo and ensemble playing, music reading, theory and ear training. Improvisation and composition are also part of this program. (Four 20-week course)

                              Theory Class:               

Group theory classes are taught by Mila Quarles. If you are interested in attending a class, please call me for more info. Theory lessons are held normally on a weekly basis in tutorial style.                                                   

Beginning Theory: for students ages 6-7, 45 min weekly.  We use a variety of musical themes to offer learning in a fun way. Students will learn to think about music away from their instruments through games involving letter home and rhythm home. We teach rhythm, notation, signs and symbols, ear training, singing and listening skills.

No prerequisite.                                                                                          

Intermediate Theory and Composition:  (for students ages 8 and over and who have already taken any instrument lessons) 45 min weekly.  Music Theory is an essential part of musicianship. Theory Classes are designed to enhance the music student's performance and overall musicianship by promoting an understanding of the structure, or "grammar," of music. Students gain tools with which they can increase their learning speed, memorize more solidly, and develop greater sight-reading ability. Ear-training is an important focus of the program. Theory also forms the basis for student composition and improvisation. We will be studying scales, key signature, intervals, and triads. Aural skills include sight-singing melodies using solfege syllables and interval recognition. It is designed to meet the needs of students with varying music backgrounds. Each lesson in this unit builds on skills learned in the previous lesson; however, each lesson can be adapted to stand alone as a separate lesson plan. Prerequisite: students must be able to identify notes on the staff in at least treble clef.

           Private Piano Lessons: (for ages 6 to adult)  

Private lessons for children are available in the studio which is located in Boise. In my studio, students receive a thirty-minute lesson and generally come once a week. Each lesson is individually tailored to fit the student's level of experience (from beginner to advanced) and music preference.  Besides just learning to actually play the piano, you will gain an overall knowledge of music, which can also prepare you for continued study in other instruments or singing. Topics covered include development of music memory skills, theory, ear training, proper finger exercises, sight reading, composition and advanced rhythm techniques. Lessons will be instructed by Mila Quarles, a European teacher with 10 years experience. Her lessons are fun, challenging, and tailored to the ability of each individual. Mila successfully develop good piano technique using classical repertoire, along with technical exercises. Students are encouraged to participate in recitals. I look forward to helping you reach your musical goals, whatever they may be.

Childcare Music Classes: (for ages 2 to 8) 30 min weekly at your childcare center. 

This is introductory program of music for young kids. Teaches skills that encourage music to become a natural of child's life while preparing kids for future piano, instrumental or vocal lessons. This is a comprehensive music program to give  a child a great start on ear training, choir singing, movement, pitch and rhythm awareness. In an enjoyable atmosphere, we offer a quality musical education, developing the students' skills and natural creativity.