Adult Studies
In addition to individual instruction on all instruments, PCM has a vibrant and growing slate of group classes, ensembles, and music history and appreciation offerings for adults.
- Individual Instruction
- Group Lessons & Ensembles
- Music History & Appreciation
Click on individual departments below or call the PCM office at 626.683.3355 for more information.
Ensemble Offerings
PCM offers a number of opportunities to perform with other musicians. Please call 626.683.3355 for more information.
Chamber Music
March 9 – June 1, 2023
Thursdays: 4:30 – 6:00 pm
Instructor: Erika Walczak
Tuition: $450
Students acquire ensemble chops while learning just enough about music theory, history, ear training, and healthy practice habits to support their development as a whole musician.
Please contact the office to enroll: music@pasadenaconservatory.org or 626-683-3355.
March 8 – May 31, 2023
Wednesdays: 5:00 – 6:00 pm
Instructor: Barbara Mullens-Geier
Tuition: $300
Students in the adult flute ensemble will have the opportunity to sight read, develop better listening skills, improve rhythmic accuracy, and learn and perform ensemble repertoire. Meeting times to be determined by the participants and instructor.
Please contact the office to enroll: music@pasadenaconservatory.org or 626-683-3355.
March 8 – May 31, 2023
Wednesdays: 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Instructor: Dr. Bryan Fasola
Tuition: $450
This is a performance-oriented ensemble for adult amateurs. The ensemble studies and performs original and arranged works for guitar orchestra, with two to four instruments per part, and is led by a conductor. Admittance is by audition.
Please contact the office to enroll: music@pasadenaconservatory.org or 626-683-3355.
Jazz Combos
March 11 – June 3, 2023
Saturdays: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Instructor: Sherry Luchette
Tuition: $450
Students learn to play jazz and blues standards in an ensemble setting. Through guided listening, students learn about melody, arrangements, chords, scales, and jazz improvisation.
Please contact the office to enroll: music@pasadenaconservatory.org or 626-683-3355.
Recorder
March 9 – June 1, 2023
Thursdays: 9:30 – 11:00 am
Instructor: Rachael Denny
Tuition: $192
Students play soprano, alto, and tenor recorders in small consorts, with an emphasis on individual musicianship within the ensemble. Students explore music written and arranged for the recorder, from early music of the Renaissance and Baroque to contemporary arrangements of popular music.
Voice
March 9 – June 1, 2023
Thursdays: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Instructor: Dr. Joshua Tan
Tuition: $192
Glee Club members have fun while learning about proper vocal health, choir etiquette, and how to read music through the study of solfège and ear training.
The club ventures through various genres of choral repertoire including classical, contemporary, jazz, and musical theater.
World Music
March 7 – May 30, 2023
Tuesdays: 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Instructor: Sarah Bauzá
Tuition: $192
Adults and youth ages 12+
Mariachi Pasadena! students will learn to play and sing mariachi standards in an ensemble setting. This includes learning songs and instrumental tunes from all over Mexico and Latin America.
March 7 – May 30, 2023
Tuesdays: 5:00 – 6:00 pm
Instructors: Clarice Cast and Stevie Ray Hernandez
Tuition: $144
The course focuses on beginning techniques and rhythms as they apply to Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian percussion. The class incorporates the musical styles of son, rumba, salsa, latin-jazz, samba, bossa-nova, and merengue. Sticks and a drum practice pad required.
March 7 – May 30, 2023
Tuesdays: 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Instructors: Clarice Cast and Stevie Ray Hernandez
Tuition: $144
This course explores Latin percussion techniques while focusing on the rhythms of son, salsa, rumba, and samba.
Although PCM will provide instruments during class, students will be required to purchase a practice drum pad and proper drum sticks.
Tuesdays, 7:00-8:00 pm
Adults and youth ages 12+
Clarice Cast and Stevie Ray Hernandez lead PCM’s free drum circle. A fun, weekly drop-in event for everyone who enjoys drumming with others to create a sound experience. All levels are welcome and instruments will be provided!
Accordion
In this intergenerational class, students learn accordion basics, techniques, and simple tunes.
Age 12 to adult. Students must bring their own accordion.
About Zoom and PCM Tech Support
Zoom is an easy-to-use video conferencing platform that allows “face-to-face” meetings and classes from the comfort of your home. At PCM, we have dedicated staff members that can help you get set up for the class via phone or email. If you’d like tech support please reach out to the front office at 626.683.3355 or music@pasadenaconservatory.org.
Spring History Courses
March 20 – June 5, 2023
Mondays: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Instructor: Dr. Nicole Baker
Tuition: $320
Serialism. Primitivism. Impressionism. Expressionism. Minimalism. Neo-Romanticism. Populism. Polystylism. Eclecticism. These are just some of the many musical trends and styles of the 20th and 21st century that mark “Modern Music.” This class will sort it all out, and demonstrate that truly, there’s something for everyone in the music of the last 120 years. It’s so much more than cacophony!
March 21 – May 30, 2023
Tuesdays: 9:00 – 11:00 am
Instructor: Dr. Sarkis Baltaian
Tuition: $320
This class examines and explores the development of the piano concert etude from the late Classical period through 20th century. Representative works include etudes by Hummel, Czerny, Cramer, Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, Saint-Saëns, Debussy, Messiaen, Scriabin, Busoni, Rachmaninoff, Moszkowski, Godowsky, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, Szymanowski, Dohnányi, Wild, Ligetti, Bolcom, and Kapustin.
The Piano Etude is a reprise of a course previously offered in 2017.
March 23 – June 1, 2023
Thursdays: 9:30 – 11:30 am
Instructor: Brian Lauritzen
Tuition: $320
This class about concertos examines our desire to be dazzled by performances of seemingly impossible musical feats. Along the way, students explore some of the favorite concertos in classical music and a few off-the-beaten-path surprises as well.
March 24 – June 2, 2023
Fridays: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Instructor: Dr. Ray Briggs
Tuition: $320
Homogeneously categorized as Rhythm & Blues since the late 1940s, Black popular music continued to evolve and reflect the tenor of the times in post-WWII America. By the late 1950s, a new variant of R&B emerged, one strongly rooted in music of the Black Church. Known as Soul Music, this substyle became the soundtrack of the Civil Rights era and its influence touched Black social, political, and artistic spheres, including the Jazz world. This course traces the ways in which Soul merged with Jazz as evident in the works of artists like Ramsey Lewis, Wes Montgomery, Cannonball Adderley, Lee Morgan, Jimmy Smith, and many others to produce what some appropriately called Soul Jazz.
Student Voices
Julia Langer
When I retired, I moved to Pasadena and my son said, “Mom, if you would learn to play the cello, we could have a string quartet!” My three granddaughters were taking violin and viola lessons at PCM, so I was already impressed with the quality of PCM’s programming and instructors. In December 2012, I began cello lessons. While studying music has its own intrinsic rewards, my cello studies have opened up a whole new arena of student experiences to share with my granddaughters. I strive to be a good “music student” model for them; and they, in turn, become my teachers from time to time. I have also discovered that one is never too old to begin a completely new challenge.
Ralph Miles
I think PCM is an organization that Pasadena needs. It makes a difference. I love my weekly piano lessons and want to help make sure the Conservatory can serve our community well into the future.
Eric Chadwick
Cello has been the next chapter of music for me, having focused mostly on vocal studies in my high school and college years. While I decided to learn cello for my own development and enjoyment, the highlight has been sharing in my son’s journey in learning the cello at the same time. He has studied from a young age, but now we often practice and learn together. We have both advanced to the point where we can enjoy cello duets and trios with our instructor, in addition to our solo repertoire.