Enroll in music lessons and more at the NIU Community School of the Arts

Posted 12/14/18

Spring registration is open now at the NIU Community School of the Arts. The school offers music lessons, classes, and year-round programming for children and adults of all ages.

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Enroll in music lessons and more at the NIU Community School of the Arts

Posted

DEKALB — Spring registration is open now at the NIU Community School of the Arts.  The school offers music lessons, classes, and year-round programming for children and adults of all ages.  
Currently, more than 400 students come to NIU from nearly 50 cities, towns, and suburbs to participate in CSA classes, lessons, and music ensembles.
Scholarships
Financial assistance is available for students 18 years or younger who want to pursue their study of music.  The deadline to submit a need-based scholarship application for spring is Friday, Jan. 11.  CSA scholarship applications are available online and by calling the NIU Community School of the Arts.
Music lessons
Learn to play an instrument, work on improving skills, or add some new pieces to your repertoire!  The CSA offers traditional private music lessons on nearly all instruments.  Music lessons using the Suzuki approach, combining private and group lessons, are also taught on violin, cello, piano, and guitar.  CSA music teachers are professionals in the community and NIU music students, each committed to sharing love for learning, music, and musicianship.
Students meet with music teachers weekly in the NIU Music Building and are invited to participate in a recital at the end of each semester.  To begin private music lessons the week of Jan. 21, register by Jan. 11.
Classes for children

Prelude is a group music class with singing, dancing, and rhythm and music games for toddlers ages 1 – 3.  Prelude class meets Saturdays from 10 – 10:30 a.m.
Development is a group music class for children ages 3 – 5 that builds upon the activities of the Prelude class, with more music activities and fun demonstrations of musical instruments.  Development class meets Saturdays from 10:35 – 11:05 a.m.
Music educator and musician Laurie Rodriguez teaches these classes, starting Jan. 12 and meeting for 12 weeks. Early registration is recommended for these popular early music education classes.
In Group Guitar for Kids, CSA teacher Quentin Dover introduces children ages 8 – 12 to guitar playing through a fun, song-oriented approach to learning.  Exposure to music fundamentals such as scales, chords, rhythm, melody, harmony, and playing technique allows students to begin building their own toolbox of musical skills, promoting confident and comfortable playing.  No previous guitar experience is required, and students should bring a guitar to class.  Class meets Thursdays from 5 – 5:55 p.m. starting Jan. 31.
Older children, adults
Guitar Basics and Intermediate Guitar classes are taught by guitarist and long-time CSA teacher Quentin Dover Thursday evenings.  Guitar Basics meets from 6 – 6:55 p.m., and Intermediate Guitar meets from 7 – 7:55 p.m.  Both classes begin Jan. 31, meet for 12 weeks, and welcome students ages 13 – adult.
Adults learn to play piano in a fun, group atmosphere, when Soo-Yon Choi teaches group piano classes for ages 13 – adult Monday evenings starting January 28.  Beginners enroll in Square One Piano: Group Basics Class, which meets from 6:15 – 7 p.m.  Piano Forte: Building Piano Skills is for intermediate players and meets from 7 – 7:45 p.m.
Qi Gong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient Chinese exercise and healing technique that involves meditation, controlled breathing and movement exercises.  The exercises can be done at one time during a day, or interspersed amid practice sessions, rehearsals, and other daily activities, to renew energy and release tension. Not for musicians only, Qi Gong also enables greater relaxation and concentration when practiced immediately before a music performance. Teacher Eric Schroeder leads class participants, focusing on 24 postures divided into three sets, during six class meetings, Mondays from 5 – 6 p.m. starting February 4.
Ensembles
Musicians share a love of music and learn to play with others through the ensemble experience.  The NIU Community School offers several music ensembles for young musicians and for older children and adults. Ensemble members rehearse together and perform concerts in the NIU music building at the end of each semester.
CSA Symphonette is a string orchestra for ages 8 – 16 that meets Tuesdays from 4:30 – 6 p.m.  Directed by Linc Smelser, this group plays lively and challenging music and performs in concert twice during the year.  The first Symphonette rehearsal in spring is on Jan. 29.
CSA Sinfonia is directed by Linc Smelser.  This full youth orchestra meets Wednesdays beginning January 9 from 7:30 – 9:45 p.m. and admits musicians ages 14 – 20 by audition.  CSA Sinfonia plays a wide variety of music and performs two concerts during the year.  Admission to Sinfonia is by audition; please call the CSA for more information and to schedule an audition.
NIUkulele Ensemble promises fun for all beginning and intermediate ukulele players ages 9 – adult.  This ensemble is directed by CSA teacher Eric Schroeder.  Beginners receive instruction, intermediate players can play the more complicated parts, and members prepare for a concert performance each semester.  All types of ukuleles are welcome, and participants must bring an instrument and a love for playing music in a group.  NIUkulele Ensemble rehearses Mondays from 7:30 – 8:25 p.m. beginning Jan. 28.
For more information call 815- 753-1450 or visit room 132 in the NIU Music Building.