We believe that all children have innate musical ability and can benefit from music study. Six specially-designed courses allow students of different ages to capitalize on their emerging and developing abilities. Each fun-filled and learning-packed class incorporates activities that accomodate age-specific learning styles and attention spans. Younger students will spend more time developing their incredibly receptive ears and using large motor skills. As they get older, students use fine motor skills and learn to translate symbols. Students in all courses benefit from all types of activities, however, courses are designed and presented with developmental stages in mind.
Yes, they certainly do. Symbols are more important for children when they reach the age of four or five, so note reading becomes partricularly important from this point on. However, even our very young students are introduced to notes and other symbols in preparation for fluent music reading. We do believe in an ear-before-eye approach so students are exposed to the sound of a note before they write it. However, students sing, read and write notes at a very young age.
Our program was started in 1954 as the Yamaha Music Education System and is now in its 4th generation. The principles in our teaching system have been used successfully by millions of students all over the world. Our use of many different teaching tools, including a keyboard for each student, provides a balanced and comprehensive approach to music education. We use cutting-edge, yet proven techniques, such as imprinting, that utilize both sides of the brain and thereby accelerate the learning process.
Parent participation in class accelerates the learning process by combining group interaction and one-on-one attention. Parent presence helps to create a safe and comfortable learning environment for the child. A wonderful added benefit is the opportunity to spend quality one-on-one time with your child that can sometimes be very difficult to fit in otherwise.
Most other programs only have classes for children up to about age five or six. We have classes appropriate for students up to age ten or eleven. In addition, we are experts in private piano education. These two things combine to give us a much bigger perspective of what is possible and necessary for children to really excel in music. The use of keyboards is unique to our system and allows students to have a much more complete musical experience. Keyboards allow students to learn about harmony, accompaniment and other important musical concepts while most other instruments don't. Rhythm instruments (drums, bells, wood blocks, triangles, etc.), by their very nature, do not even address the extremely important musical element of pitch. Finally, our curriculum uses a layered approach where skills are taught, learned, mastered and built upon. Many courses create a general and repetitive experience where things are absorbed by exposure rather than by any long-term plan.
Absolutely! We stand behind our program. If you are not completely thrilled with your Academy experience, we will cheerfully refund your money. All we ask is that you let us know within the first 30 days.
