Music

We, aafa, offer vocal lessons for kids and teens that love singing and want to learn more while making friends and creating beautiful memories!

Parents often ask how to start a child on a lifelong path to enjoying music.  The answer is to start with singing games and rhythmic activities that will reveal children's natural musicality and expression. The body and voice are a child's first instrument!

Children will explore music with speech, movement and singing,  to build a foundation of solid musicianship that can be applied to formal instrumental or choral experiences. Music Fundamentals will develop ear training, team work, expression,  emotional response through sound and gesture as well as a foundation for learning how to read music notation.

Prelude Choir

Beginning Choir is an ensemble for a group of children to learn to sing and perform songs together. This choir will consist mostly of students around ages 6-7 who have little or no previous training in singing and want to learn how to sing. Children learn best through active learning, so children in this choir will learn to sing by engaging in different musical activities to practice and build their skills. With instruction based on the Kodály Method for teaching music, children in this choir will work on the following skills and activities:

• Singing in tune with proper vocal production.
• Singing in a group and individually.
• Singing music that is primarily in unison.
• Singing a variety of quality music and styles that are well-fit for children’s voices.
• Learning and practicing solfège (do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do) with singing and hand signs.
• Learning and practicing beginning elements of music notes and rhythms.
• Engaging in games and activities that help children to learn and practice singing while having fun.
• Singing while an instrument is playing (accompanied) and singing with voices alone (a cappella).
• Memorizing 3-5 songs to perform at each concert.

For more information about the Kodály Method, you may visit the website of the national Kodály organization (Organization of American Kodály Method Educators), linked here: https://www.oake.org/about-us/the-kodaly-concept/

Treble Choir

Treble Choir is an ensemble for a group of children to learn to sing and perform songs together in unison and 2-part harmony. This choir will consist mostly of students around ages 7-11 who have little or no previous training in singing and want to learn how to sing. Singers will be auditioned and placed according to vocal skills and singing range. The choir will learn to sing by engaging in different musical activities to practice and build their skills. With instruction based on the Kodály Method for teaching music, children in this choir will work on the following skills and activities:

• Singing in tune with proper vocal production.
• Singing in a group and individually.
• Singing melodies in unison and singing in 2-part harmony.
• Singing a variety of quality music and styles that are well-fit for children’s voices.
• Learning and practicing solfège (do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do) with singing and hand signs.
• Learning and practicing beginning elements of music notes and rhythms.
• Engaging in games and activities that help children to learn and practice singing while having fun.
• Singing while an instrument is playing (accompanied) and singing with voices alone (a cappella).
• Memorizing 3-5 songs to perform at each concert.

For more information about the Kodály Method, you may visit the website of the national Kodály organization (Organization of American Kodály Method Educators), linked here: https://www.oake.org/about-us/the-kodaly-concept/

Concert Choir

The Concert Choir is an ensemble for adults and teenagers who want to learn to sing and perform. No previous experience is required, but singers will be auditioned and placed according to vocal skills and singing range. The group will practice and perform a cappella (only voices) and piano-accompanied singing of music in 1-part unison, 2-part harmony, and 3-part harmony. The genres and styles will include classical music, folk music, and international music. Other genres and styles of music, such as jazz, popular, and contemporary may also be studied throughout the year. The singers will build singing skills as well as musical knowledge throughout the year. With instruction based on the Kodály Method for teaching music, singers in this choir will work on the following skills and activities:

• Singing in tune with proper vocal production.
• Practicing in a group and individually.
• Singing melodies in unison, singing 2-part harmony, and singing and 3-part harmony.
• Singing a variety of quality music and styles.
• Learning and practicing solfège (do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do) with singing and hand signs.
• Learning and practicing elements of music notes and rhythms.
• Singing while an instrument is playing (accompanied) and singing with voices alone (a cappella).
• Memorizing 3-5 songs to perform at each concert.

For more information about the Kodály Method, you may visit the website of the national Kodály organization (Organization of American Kodály Method Educators), linked here: https://www.oake.org/about-us/the-kodaly-concept/