Music as a Second Language is aimed at musicians who have never improvised before. Step-by-step we will teach you how to create your own melodies over a recorded background track. You will learn to manipulate pitch, rhythm and tone to express yourself through music. You will also interact with other musicians and learn how to play in a small group.
The program is open to musicians of all instruments including piano, guitar, bass, percussion, flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, tuba, violin, viola, cello, double bass and voice. We require that students have at least one year of playing experience on their instruments before taking the program. We prefer that students have limited or zero improvisation experience before signing up.
Music as a Second Language is a ten-week group program that is taught once per week for ten weeks. There are a maximum of four students in any group. Individual lessons are also available upon request.
Open Jams
Music as a Second Language also hosts monthly ‘open jams’ where past and present students can come together and use their improvisation skills. These jams provide an opportunity for students to meet other musicians and improvise in a live and dynamic setting. Enrolment in the Music as a Second Language program allows free access to these monthly jams. To see pictures of previous jams and for more information on the next jam, please visit our blog.
Fees
Ten 1-hour group lessons – $300
Individual 1-hour lessons - $60
This cost includes a method booklet and CD accompaniment. It also entitles the student to return to the studio for the monthly ‘open jams’ after the program has finished.
To register for the next session of Music as a Second Language please see the here.
High School and Middle School Workshops
Instructors from Music as a Second Language are also available to give workshops in high schools and middle schools in the GTA. The workshops can be a single session or a series of up to six sessions. If you are a music teacher or school administrator and would like to have Music as a Second Language taught in your institution, please contact info@mslmusic.ca. Workshops are available starting in January 2011. Fees are $60 per one-hour period for classes as large as 25 students.
Music as a Second Language has given workshops in many public and private schools throughout the GTA including Jarvis Collegiate Institute, Aurora Grove Public School, De La Salle College , St. Clement's School and the University of Toronto Schools (UTS). For references, please contact us.