All Programs/Homepage
The Piano Detectives Club is a program for children, ages 4½ to 8 years old, designed to give beginners a positive first experience at the piano. The program offers both group and private instruction and has received national acclaim.
Summer Start Program
Piano Detectives Club students begin as either a Junior (ages 4 1/2 to 6) or a Senior (ages 6 to 8) Detective in our Summer Start program. The Summer Start course
has six group classes (one hour each) and two private lessons (one-half hour each). Through age-appropriate activities, children investigate musical concepts including rhythm, keyboard orientation, music reading readiness and listening. Access to a piano outside of class is helpful. Depending on readiness, students may continue in Piano Detectives Club for the academic year following completion of the Summer Start program.
Academic Year Program
This program is designed for those young detectives who have completed the Summer Start program and want to continue their journey through solving the mysteries of piano playing. These weekly classes are structured to advance musical growth at the piano over the ten-month academic year. Students must have daily access to a piano outside of class to participate in this phase of Piano Detectives Club.
The program includes 35 class sessions. The weekly classes are one hour in length and students will continue exploration of elementary musical concepts through age-appropriate activities. These activities are designed to develop the following: rhythm skills, piano playing skills, theory understanding and music reading ability. Each weekly class includes approximately 10 minutes of private instruction.
Students in the Piano Detectives Club learn to share their developing musicianship with others during the program. At specific class sessions in the fall, family and friends are invited to attend while students give a performance in the last 15 minutes of class. Two recitals during the year provide the opportunity to play in front of a larger audience at First Presbyterian Church (2415 Clinton Parkway) in Lawrence. Students of all levels participate, and participation is optional for our Detectives. Piano Detectives who choose not to play are welcome (and encouraged!) to attend.
Students who have not completed the Summer Start program but would like to participate in the Academic Year program must be evaluated for piano ability by the program director prior to acceptance. Additional private lessons may be required to admit these students. Fees for these private lessons are not included in the Piano Detectives Club tuition and will be paid to the private teacher ($27 per half-hour session).
Need more information? Please contact us and we'll answer any questions you may have or send you additional details about our programs.
Junior Detectives (ages 4½-6)
Senior Detectives (ages 6-8)
This is a 10-month course during the academic calendar year starting in August. It concludes in May and the Summer Start program is a prerequisite to enter this level of instruction.
Class length:
60 minutes each, including 10 minutes private instruction
Schedule:
35 weekly class sessions
2010-2011 program schedule
Costs:
$670 tuition + $45 materials fee
per session
To Register:
Open enrollment is not available for this program. Admittance depends on the student's readiness and whether spots are open in an appropriate class. Contact Janet if you'd like to schedule an evaluation appointment.
Summer Start Program
Junior Detectives (ages 4½-6)
Senior Detectives (ages 6-8)
These courses are only offered beginning in summer term each year.
Class length:
Group classes (60 minutes)
Private lessons (30 minutes)
Schedule:
Two group classes each week for four weeks, with one private lesson every other week
Costs:
$130 tuition + $35 materials fee
per session
