We provide instruction in piano, violin, cello, drumming both international and western. We also have drumming and world music ensembles. Below are some of the many instruments we teach.

 

Strings

 

Oud
​a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in Arabic, Hebrew/Jewish, Greek, Turkish, Byzantine, Armenian, North African, Somali and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths. The oud is readily distinguished by its lack of frets and smaller neck. It is considered an ancestor of the guitar.
 

 

Guitar

The modern guitar was preceded by the lute, the vihuela, the four-course Renaissance guitar, and the five-course baroque guitar, all of which contributed to the development of the modern six-string instrument.

There a many styles of playing the guitar from using a pick to finger picking.  We teach the basics of guitar such as chords, strumming techniques, lead techniques, scales so that a child can use the techniques learned to any style.

We also teach Spanish Flamenco guitar. 

 

Violin

the violin descends from remote ancestors that were used for folk music. Following a stage of intensive development in the late Renaissance, largely in Italy, the violin had improved (in volume, tone, and agility), to the point that it not only became a very important instrument in art music, but proved highly appealing to folk musicians as well, ultimately spreading very widely, sometimes displacing earlier bowed instruments. Ethnomusicologists have observed its widespread use in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In many traditions of folk music, the tunes are not written but are memorized by successive generations of musicians and passed on, in what is known as the oral tradition

 

Rubab

a lute-like musical instrument originally from Afghanistan. The rubab is a short-necked lute whose body is carved out of a single piece of wood, with a membrane, covering the hollow bowl of the sound-chamber, upon which the bridge is positioned. It has three melody strings, three drone strings and 11 or 12 sympathetic strings.

 

 

Balalaika

a Russian folk stringed musical instrument with a characteristic triangular body and three strings.

 

 

 

 

Tabla

a drum from India. It is sat on the carpet to be played. India is known for its most complex rhythms in the world. The tabla takes years to master and is recognized as the most complicated drum to play by drummers globally. Learning the rhythmic structures of tabla can be beneficial to all drum students theoretically as well as for mental focus, relaxation, and confidence building.
Click to view Tabla solo 

 

 

 

Dumbek also called Darbukka

a hand drum from the MiddleEast. It is a drum with very intricate playing technics and time signatures. The dumbek is a drum used widely by all famous percussionists and drumkit players today. It is a very fun drum to learn. It is held in many ways to be played.  One can sit on the floor or on a chair or stand to play these drums.
Click to view a video of Dumbek solo 

 

 

Cajon

(pronounced "cahone") is a Afro-peruvian and Afro-Cuban percussionist which was introduced into Spanish flamenco by the flamenco legend Paco de Lucia. The cajon comes in various sizes, shapes and the playing technics vary according to the music it is played for. In Spanish Gypsy flamenco music the cajon performs intricate rhythms to accompany the dancer and guitarist. The cajon has become so popular since it is just a box which one sits on to play that even drumkits players have started using it for singer song writer shows and rock concerts.
Click to view video of Cajon solo 

 

 

Deff or Frame Drums

a very ancient drum which in the old days was used not only for dance but also healing. Frame drums are found in almost all cultures and their playing technics vary according to each musical style. We teach primarly the Indian, Middle Easter and Irish Bodhran.

 

 

 

 

Djembe 

a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa. According to the Bamana people in Mali, the name of the djembe comes from the saying "Anke djé, anke bé" which translates to "everyone gather together in peace" and defines the drum's purpose.

 

 

Congas

a tall, narrow, single-headed African drum. The Cuban conga is staved, like a barrel. These drums may have been salvaged barrels originally. They are used in the Carnaval rhythm called conga and is the principal instrument in rumba. Congas are now very common in Latin music, including salsa music, merengue music and reggae, as well as many other forms of popular music.

 

 

Bongos and other Latin Percussion

an Afro-Cuban percussion instrument. The drums are of different size: the larger drum is called in Spanish the hembra (female) and the smaller the macho (male). They are played with the hands using various techniques.

 

 

 

 

Drum Kit

a collection of drums and other percussion instruments set up to be played by a single player

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drum Ensemble

The world drum ensemble will be for kids and adults who want to learn and perform drums with other students in a group setting. The students will learn to perform various rhythms from various cultures such as Africa, Latin America, and more on exotic drums. This would be a class that teaches not only how to perform on drums but also will help kids to be more confident and build strong communal skills.  

 

 

 

World Music and World Culture

World music is the music of traditional cultures which has been performed and practised for thousands of years. In the world music class, the students will be exposed to different cultural musical traditions. Each month to a quarter of the semester the class will focus on learning about a musical tradition from a region of the globe. They will also learn about the culture and history of the country where the musical tradition comes from.