GROUP CLASSES & ENSEMBLES AT TONE ACADEMY

The perfect compliment to your student's private lessons; group lessons at Tone provide the opportunity for students at every age and skill level to expand their musical experience

Group Classes at Tone
We believe that having the opportunity to share music is just as important as learning to practice on your own.

Music Reading - Beginning and Intermediate Level A common misconception about the Suzuki Method is that students never learn to read music.  Learning music notation is an essential skill for all Tone Academy students, but the frustration (and boredom!) associated with learning to read doesn't happen in our group classes.  

Songwriting 
Open to vocalists and instrumentalists, students will be work with peers to learn a variety of song styles so they can let their imaginations run wild with their own compositions.  We promise... no songs will include a baby shark.

Recording, Mixing, and Production
Students at any level and any age will have an opportunity to learn the basics of creating a track using professional equipment.  Students will be grouped by their age, but this class is perfect for the middle or high school student interested in exploring music outside of the practice room, and they'll have their own EP by the end of the semester.

Violin Ensemble and Repertoire 
This fall we're thrilled to invite Tone Academy violinists to bi-monthly group classes with students from other music schools around NYC.  More details to come in September... but rumor is violinists will get to play in some great venues throughout the semester!

Meet Mr. Tobias and watch him record some of his saxophone:

Virtual Group Classes
This Fall, students attending classes virtually will have even more opportunities to share music together:

Music Reading - Beginning and Intermediate Level 
A common misconception about the Suzuki Method is that students never learn to read music.  Learning music notation is an essential skill for all Tone Academy students, but the frustration (and boredom!) associated with learning to read doesn't happen in our virtual group classes.  

Piano Pen-Pals
Vocalists, string and woodwind players seem to get to have all the fun in ensembles - maybe because the piano isn't very portable!  However Tone Academy piano students will have an opportunity to play with a partner virtually during the class and also encourage each other's practice during the week.  The most exciting part is that we're matching piano pen-pals from around the world.

Jazz History, Composing, and Improvisation - Section 1
The jazz genre provides an opportunity to learn music theory, improvisation, and to discover more about the history and contributors to American Jazz music. The class includes some playing, some writing and lots of listening to outstanding live and recorded performances.  The group class also focuses on introducing many Musicians of Color who helped birth, shape and develop the genres foundational to all modern musicians.

Evolution of Pop and Hip-Hop - Section 2
Second year students naturally ask, "what's next?"  Using the improv and writing skills they learned in Section 1, students will investigate how American Jazz music was just the beginning to everything we call rock, pop, funk, and hip-hop today.  By the end of the semester, they'll be ready to step up to the mic with their own songs and record on professional studio equipment.