Welcome Video

The Young Musicians Tree

A comprehensive plan for your child’s musical growth

Tree illustration
Labels for tree illustration

2023–2024 Schedule

August 29, 2023 – June 1, 2024
Annual Tuition: $1008
Material fee: $30–$60

  • YM Infants

  • YM 1

    Saturdays
    10:15 am
    Sharon Weed

    More Info & Register

  • YM 2

    Thursdays
    10:15 am
    Sharon Weed

    Saturdays
    11:00 am
    Sharon Weed

    More Info & Register

  • YM 3

    Tuesdays
    11:00 am
    Sharon Weed

    Saturdays
    9:15 am
    Sharon Weed

    Saturdays
    11:00 am
    Mary Alonso

    More Info & Register

  • YM 4

    Thursdays
    11:00 am
    Sharon Weed

    Thursdays
    3:00 pm
    Rachael Denny

    Saturdays
    9:00 am
    Mary Alonso

    Saturdays
    10:00am
    Mary Alonso

    More Info & Register

  • YM 5

    Thursdays
    4:00 pm
    Rachael Denny

    More Info & Register

  • YM Jazz

    Saturdays
    10:00 am
    Sherry Luchette

    More Info & Register

  • Bridge to Piano I

    Tuesdays
    4:00 pm
    Rachael Denny and Steve Cook

    Saturdays
    9:00 am
    Rachael Denny and Renee Gilormini

    Saturdays
    10:00 am
    Rachael Denny and Renee Gilormini

    More Info & Register

  • Bridge to Piano II

    Saturdays
    11:00 am
    Rachael Denny and Renee Gilormini

    More Info & Register

  • Bridge to Strings

    Mondays
    4:00 pm
    Rachael Denny and Natalie Brejcha

    More Info & Register

  • Bridge to Winds

    Tuesdays
    5:00 pm
    Rachael Denny

    More Info & Register

Summer 2024

June 15 – August 3, 2024
Tuition: $224

Class Descriptions

Research has shown that babies prefer the sound of their caregivers’ voices over any other kind of music. YM Infants class, for children ages 4–11 months, is a special opportunity for babies and caregivers to bond through musical experiences including musical massage, bouncing, swaying, playing instruments, and singing.

Enrollment is for the entire school year. Annual tuition includes 36 weeks of instruction.

In a playful and creative musical setting, toddlers naturally internalize the elements of music. As they listen, sing, dance, move and play a variety of small percussion instruments, they demonstrate that they are absorbing musical content. Beat competence, singing and rhythmic responses become visible. Puppets, stories, and colorful props stimulate the child’s musical imagination.

Enrollment is for the entire school year. Annual tuition includes 36 weeks of instruction.

Toddlers’ emerging musicality is evident as they begin singing parts of songs and as they demonstrate conscious responses to rhythms, timbres, and the expressive qualities of the music they are hearing. Toddlers sing, dance, and learn to play a variety of small percussion instruments in meaningful and musical ways.

Enrollment is for the entire school year. Annual tuition includes 36 weeks of instruction.

In YM 3, a longer class length is introduced and reflects the child’s growing attention span and ability to focus on musical activities. Singing, dancing, playing percussion instruments, colorful props, stories, and movement activities foster the child’s emerging independence and musical imagination as children develop concentration, coordination, and a positive sense of themselves as musicians.

Enrollment is for the entire school year. Annual tuition includes 36 weeks of instruction.

YM 4 classes engage children in activities that strengthen their emerging understanding of music as a language. Children learn to recognize melodic and rhythmic patterns through singing, chanting, dancing, and creating. Students will have opportunities to play a wide variety of pitched and unpitched percussion instruments.

Enrollment is for the entire school year. Annual tuition includes 36 weeks of instruction.

Singing, rhyming, creative movement, and folk dancing complement the beginnings of rhythmic notation and identifying melodic patterns. In YM 5, ensemble training and creative improvisation begins as children sing and play together using a wide variety of pitched and unpitched percussion instruments. Performing for an audience is also introduced.

Enrollment is for the entire school year. Annual tuition includes 36 weeks of instruction.

Teacher and author of The Flying Jazz Kittens, Sherry Luchette, will engage students in learning music through the medium of Jazz. Featuring movement, play, listening, improvisation, and instrumental play, students will learn musical foundations, history, and love of America’s native musical style.

Family Ukulele is a multigenerational space to come together and learn the ukulele. Students learn basic chords and rhythms, 5 strumming patterns, simple songs and even some novice improvisational skills that can lead you to have your own jam sessions at home! Ms. Jasso helps you ride that musical wave and gives you the confidence you need to work together, make beautiful music, and best of all have fun learning the Ukulele!

Children ages 7+ with an accompanying adult are invited to enroll.

In Piano Bridge 1, students will have the opportunity to both experience making music through PCM’s YM 5 and 6 curriculum and to learn the fundamentals of piano. Students will sing, move, and play and use their musical knowledge as they learn about the piano keyboard, rhythm and melody reading, and playing along together. Students who take this course as 5–6 year olds will be better prepared to begin piano lessons in the piano department the following school year.

Enrollment is for the entire school year. Annual tuition includes 36 weeks of instruction.

For students ages 6–8, Piano Bridge 2 follows the same curriculum as Piano Bridge 1, but allows for older children to proceed at a faster pace as their developmental skills allow. This class is an excellent first step to piano lessons in a less strenuous practice setting.

Enrollment is for the entire school year. Annual tuition includes 36 weeks of instruction.

Students under age 6 enrolled in violin, viola, cello, or bass and their parents will gain group class experience while reinforcing foundational musical skills in this class. Parents have the opportunity to engage with one another and be guided by strings department faculty Natalie Brejcha and Sherry Luchette as they begin their journeys as Suzuki practice partners.

*For students currently enrolled in private lessons at PCM

This class is for young singers, who want to learn longer and more complex songs, with an emphasis on healthy singing, pitch matching, solfege and music literacy, and group singing.

This playful and engaging class will also feature folk songs from around the world, movement, and dramatic play.  Young singers will perform unison, canon, and simple choral arrangements in concert twice each year.

Using recorders, students will develop their music literacy and foundational skills to make a smooth transition into woodwind or brass lessons. The class will feature opportunities to hear, hold and explore the instruments of the woodwind and brass families, in addition to using percussion instruments for accompaniment and rhythmic proficiency. Students will perform in ensemble twice each year.

Information for New Families

Placement

The placement in a class is based on the child’s age as of September 1st. Enrollment for the entire school year is required.

Parents Attend

In the class levels YM Infants through YM 6, a parent or caregiver must attend class with the child. Parents learn how children develop musically and how to encourage musical experiences at home to enhance and reinforce what is learned in class.

Required Trial Class

Before enrolling in any of the Young Musician’s classes for the first time, a free trial class is required.

To make an appointment, call 626.683.3355 or e-mail music@pasadenaconservatory.org.

Resources

The Young Musicians Handbook

A guide to getting the most out of the Young Musicians program.

Download a pdf version.

Young Musician Handbook brochure

Playlist

PCM faculty perform favorite songs from the Young Musicians curriculum.

A Ram Sam Sam

Aiken Drum

Hop Ol' Squirrel

The Old Grey Cat

Fiddle-i-Fee

Hickory Dickory Dock

My Hat, It Has Three Corners

Naughty Kitty Cat

Over the River

Over in the Meadow