Curriculum

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Individual tuition is available on all instruments and voice for children between the age of 6 and 18. Lessons are half-hourly to begin with. Our more advanced students have lessons of 45 or 60 minutes. All students who are taking lessons at the CYM are encouraged by their teachers to participate in the ABRSM exams and our regular solo concerts. Those who show potential and flair are invited to perform in our chamber music programme.

Bassoon
Cello
Clarinet
Composition
Conducting
Cornet
Double Bass
Euphonium
Flute
Guitar
Harp
Harpsichord
Horn

Oboe
Organ
Piano
Recorder
Saxophone
Tenor Horn
Timpani and Percussion
Trombone
Trumpet
Tuba
Violin
Viola
Voice

Clarinet and Trumpet

Chamber Ensembles

Chamber Ensemble

Each student plays in a small coached chamber ensemble of two, three or four students every Saturday. This enhances their musical growth and helps them to move from the isolation of individual practice into the sociable environment of group music-making. The focus is always on the enjoyment of playing music together as well as the challenges and skills required to do this at a high level.

Chamber music encourages listening skills, a sense of rhythm and the ability to work in a small team. Tuition is available in all instruments and a wide repertoire is explored from Baroque to Contemporary music.

Students rehearse with others who are at similar level to themselves and perform in concerts and workshops every term.

ABRSM Chamber and Choral Exams available at CYM

All students who have reached Grade 4 are now able to work towards and take ABRSM Chamber Exams at the CYM. They will receive expert tuition and their progress will be monitored by an experienced ABRSM examiner to ensure that they reach their goals. Chamber exams are available in a wide variety of combinations. Examples include Piano Duets, Violin and Piano Duos, Clarinet and Piano Duos, they are available in a wide range of instruments.

For more information contact Karin Hollreiser at the CYM.

Choir

CYM Choir

All students receive choral training to encourage a sense of pitch, good sight reading and aural skills.

There is a General Choir and a Chamber Choir which consist of vocal specialists and advanced students.

Our choirs perform regularly in our concerts and enjoy working at scenes from musicals, operas as well as classical and light music.

Choirs are entered for the ABRSM Choral Examinations. In March 2014 our Senior Choir will be examined by visiting examiners from the UK. This is an internationally recognized award and each student is presented with a certificate of choral attainment from ABRSM.

Vocal Music

As well as their individual lessons our Vocal students study duets and trios from light music, musicals and opera and often work on small scenes together. Students rehearse with others who are at similar level to themselves and perform in regular concerts every term. Our vocal department has a strong reputation for producing confident and skilled vocal performers.

Vocal Ensemble Senior

Vocal Ensemble Junior

Jazz Ensembles

Jazz Band

The focus of our jazz ensembles is to develop improvisational skills by working with jazz specialists and performing improvisation pieces regularly. Our students also have weekly lessons in jazz theory to increase a knowledge and understanding of jazz in order to further their progress. Our jazz students also have opportunities to work with talented young performers from the jazz scene in The Hague to inspire them and to create performance opportunities at a high level. Our Jazz students are coached by professional Jazz musicians who are also excellent teachers. Jazz improvisation is taught on a weekly basis.

Typical CYM Jazz Band Setup:

Piano
Guitar
Saxophones
Trumpet
Clarinet>
Bass
Drums

Classical and Jazz Theory

Theory Paper

An understanding of music is essential for a developing musician. We therefore offer theory classes to all our students. For those who wish to take ABRSM exams above Grade 5 ABRSM theory is mandatory. We therefore provide theory lessons to ensure that our students’ theory skills are at the same level as their instrumental playing. There are classes for each Grade from 1 to 8. Associated Board exams are taken regularly in March, June and November.

Due to demand we are now offering weekly lessons in Jazz Theory. These are helpful to students performing in Jazz Quartets at CYM and to those with a special interest in Jazz.

General Musicianship and Aural Training

As each ABRSM exam also demands aural skills, we offer classes from Grade 1 to 8. Aural training also is invaluable for helping students to understand music more deeply and to enhance their all-round musician skills. There is also an opportunity to study General Musicianship exams from Grade 1-5.

Good listening skills are vital for musical performance. They help to develop a sense of pitch, rhythm and a deeper understanding of all musical styles.

Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common.Sarah Dessen – teenage author of Just Listen

Masterclasses and Workshops

A Musical with Maurits Draijer

Along with concerts every term, the students have the opportunity to participate in master-classes and workshops on their solo instrument. Performers visit the centre to work with groups of students in sessions arranged for specific instruments. These sessions cover a variety of musical styles and techniques.

Masterclasses are regularly given by distinguished visiting artists, .e.g

Maurits Draijer (Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag) working and performing with our Chamber Choir
Cello Masterclass with Miriam Kirby (Residentie Orkest)
Noah Nicoll (Double Bass) Improvising with our Senior Jazz Quartett