Service Description

Piano camp will be an introduction to playing the piano. In a lot of ways, it will be a music theory class - but made super FUN!  We’ll start with identifying each note on the piano, learning what makes a scale, learning what makes a chord. For kids who already know these elements, we will review them quickly and continue to build on their music theory.  We’ll learn a few basic fun songs on the piano.  We’ll learn/practice reading sheet music on the page to play the piano. I will say, however, my piano-teaching philosophy does not emphasize sight reading as much as understanding the piano as a language… how to build chords, how to create rhythm. My angle on playing the piano or any instrument is that if we can’t create/improvise on it, we don’t really know how to play it! Depending on how far we get, when I teach the piano I love to move towards creating our own chord patterns. I offer group piano sessions through the year, and save the best activities for piano camp.  The piano is the only visual instrument (I guess besides xylophones) where each note is laid out on the scale visually to see. Really anyone who likes music would benefit from understanding the piano. That’s why I’m hoping to provide opportunities to learn the piano in a fun, easy format.  If some students have already played the piano, I will give them more challenging tasks (I have multiple small keyboards.) Much of the time we will be playing games and moving around doing activities to learn.  I have a really specific philosophy that all my classes teach kids to be creative - to be able to CREATE music and art and not just memorize. Although there are rote elements and repeating involved in learning, I think most kids don’t have enough chances to really make decisions and be taught how to create. Once someone understands the chords of the piano, then every song starts making more sense.