Educated Ears

educated_ears

Read more about our Summer Camps in 2012.

Building a foundation in music is about more than just learning to read the notes. Through songs, games and other musical activities, Educated Ears students develop and solidify the essential skills that will lead to a lifetime of musical enjoyment and expertise.

Educated Ears is a program of carefully sequenced instruction for the successful development of musical skills in listening, reading, writing, performing, composing and improvising.

A free 30 minute meet-and-greet lesson is encouraged before enrolling in Educated Ears classes since a good match between student and teacher is a primary factor in student success.  Recommendations for placement at the appropriate Educated Ears level are also given at that meeting.

Contact Kathy Rausch at 425-235-6235 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to schedule a meet-and-greet lesson.  

See www.EducatedEars.com for a detailed schedule of classes.

Educated Ears Class Schedule 2012:

Session 1:  Wednesdays at The Music Barn 1/11-2/15; Fridays at Kaleidoscope 1/13-2/17
Session 2:  Wednesdays at The Music Barn 2/1-4/18 (no classes 3/28, 4/4); Fridays at Kaleidoscope 3/2-4/20 (no classes 3/30, 4/6)
Session 3:  Wednesdays at The Music Barn 5/2-6/6; Fridays at Kaleidoscope 4/27-6/8 (no class 5/25)
Session 4:  (Summer)  Fridays at Kaleidoscope 7/13-8/6
Session 5:  Wednesdays at The Music Barn 9/12-10/24 (no classes 9/26); Fridays at Kaleidoscope 9/7-10/19
Session 6:  Wednesdays at The Music Barn 11/7-12/12 (no classes 11/21); Fridays at Kaleidoscope 11/2-12/14 (no classes 11/23)

Tuition is $120 for each 6-class session.  Registration deadline is 1 week before the first class of each session.  There is a $10 sibling discount.   A deposit of $25 per students ensures class enrollment. Mail deposit checks to:  Kathy Rausch at 19506 SE 138th PL, Renton, WA 98059.

Overview of Classes:

Da Capo, Dal Segno and Con Moto are the three basic levels of Educated Ears classes for children between ages 4 and 12. These names come from Italian terms that are commonly used in music.  Solfége 101 is for teens and adults and Family Classes encourage participation from musicians of all ages.

Da Capo means "from the beginning." Da Capo classes provide an introduction to music and give students a foundation of understanding and skills that set the stage for successful instrumental or vocal study. Students learn to identify melodies, rhythms and musical intervals by ear. They internalize the difference in sound between half and whole steps as they "build" chromatic, whole tone and major scales. Solfége syllables from do to so are practiced in the context of real songs, and students are introduced to improvisation and musical form analysis.

Dal Segno (pronounced "doll SEN-yo") means "from the sign." Dal Segno classes connect what students hear with what they see in written musical notation.  This level is for students who have some instrumental experience or for those who have already taken an Educated Ears Da Capo class. Meter, form analysis, rhythm syllables and melodic solfége for the full diatonic scale (do re mi fa so la ti do') are practiced with a focus on improvisation, eartraining and musical performance of lasting melodies. Harmony is introduced through the use of canons and rounds.

Con moto means "with motion." Con moto classes move quickly to build advanced solfége and musicianship skills. Con moto classes are for students who have quite a bit of experience and fluency with performing and reading music. At this level, students study pieces in modes as well as major and minor keys.  Solfége, rhythm syllables and musical form analysis are tools that are used to understand harmonic progressions, improve musical performance and build composition skills.

Solfége 101 is intended for teenagers and adults who want to improve their sightreading and eartraining skills as they gain a practical and formal understanding of music theory from the music itself.  This class is an excellent complement to private lessons since students choose much of the song material studied in class from their own performance repertoire.  Solfége, rhythm syllables and musical analysis are tools that are taught to facilitate accuracy, intonation and musicality in performance.  Students also grow in their creative ability to arrange and compose.

In a Family Class, the goal is for the whole family to make music together, both during class and at home.  Classes are structured to provide opportunities for people of all ages and musical skill levels to interact with music in a way that increases musical enjoyment and expertise.  The interaction with music fosters opportunities to strengthen relationships between family members.

For more information and to register, contact Kathy Rausch.
 

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