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Teen and Adult Classes

The Conservatory offers a wide assortment of classes on different instruments as well as musical styles. In small group settings, Conservatory classes offer you the opportunity to introduce yourself to a new style of music or expand your present skills beyond the parameters of individual instruction. Whether you want to learn Afro-Caribbean hand drumming, sing American popular songs, learn music theory or jazz piano, the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music has a class for you.

Click on class links below to find specific class information or scroll down on page for detailed class information including time, location, instructor and date.  


Jazz Institute Theory & Composition
Piano Recording & Music Technology
Voice Woodwind, Brass & Percussion
Strings Music Therapy & Wellness
Guitar  


 


JAZZ INSTITUTE  
Click here to view all our current Jazz Institute class offerings, including piano, voice and guitar.

 
 PIANO
 
Group Piano for Adults: Levels 1, 2 & 4 | 8 Weeks | $132 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
Practice time and access to a piano or keyboard are required.
Enjoy learning the piano in a supportive and non-competitive musical environment with other adults. Develop keyboard skills in note reading, rhythm, improvising, transposing, and playing by ear. You’ll learn how to play easy classical and popular pieces, add accompaniment patterns to melodies, read lead sheets, and play ensemble pieces with other members of the class.

Level 1 - Beginning
Music Book: Adult Piano Adventures Book 1 by Faber and Faber. Please purchase book prior to first class.

Prospect • Tuesdays 5:00-5:55pm
3980 • Starts 6/12/12 (no class 7/3, 7/24)
Instructor: Joy Elowsky

Prospect • Wednesdays 7:00-7:55pm
3981 • Starts 6/13/12 (no class 7/4, 7/25)
Instructor: Joy Elowsky

Level 2 - Continuing
Prerequisite: Completion of Level 1 or consent of instructor.
Continue to develop the skills learned in Level 1. Level 2 Music Book: Adult Piano Adventures Book 1 by Faber and Faber. Please purchase book prior to first class.

Prospect • Tuesdays 7:00-7:55pm
3978 • Starts 6/12/12 (no class 7/3)
Instructor: LaRita Craft


Level 4 - Continuing
Prerequisite: Completion of Level 3 or consent of instructor.
Continue to develop the skills learned in Level 3. Level 4 Music Book: Adult Piano Adventures Book 2 by Faber and Faber. Please purchase book prior to first class.

Prospect • Tuesdays 6:00-6:55pm
3979 • Starts 6/12/12 (no class 7/3)
Instructor: LaRita Craft


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 VOICE
 
Summer Fun in Milwaukee for Teen Singers | 8 Weeks | $132
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Entering Grades 7-12
Here’s a new way to enjoy the City of Festivals. Learn the basics of singing while discovering ethnic songs that celebrate Milwaukee’s diverse heritage as well as favorites from the Broadway repertoire.

Prospect • Mondays 6:00-6:55pm
4021 • Starts 6/18/12
Instructor: Phillip Pearl

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Beginning Voice for Adults | 7 Weeks | $116 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
We know you’ve always wanted to learn to sing! Give your vocal talents a jump-start with this valuable introduction to the basics of good singing, including proper vocal production, breathing and posture. Ability to read musical notation not required.

Prospect • Tuesdays 5:30-6:25pm
3966 • Starts 6/12/12 (no class 7/3)
Instructor: Kathleen Matts

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Intermediate Voice for Adults | 7 Weeks | $116 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
If you have already taken a beginning class or have had some singing experience and want to go to the next level, come join others in learning more about good singing. You will learn more about vocal production as well as new repertoire.

Prospect • Tuesdays 6:30-7:25pm
3985 • Starts 6/12/12 (no class 7/3)
Instructor: Kathleen Matts

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The Great American Songbook for Teens and Adults |
7 Weeks | $116
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Learn to sing American standards, from blues to jazz, from Broadway to Motown, to the songs of today. Learn new repertoire each semester!

Prospect • Wednesdays 7:00-7:55pm
3975 • Starts 6/13/12 (no class 7/4)
Instructor: Robin Pluer

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STRINGS  
Beginning Violin | 6 Weeks | $100
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Teens and Adults
Students are required to have a violin, bow and shoulder rest or contoured sponge for use during the class and for home practice.

Whether you are a teen, the parent of a child who is learning to play the violin or you are fulfilling a lifelong dream, this exciting new class is aimed at you! Learn the basics of violin playing and note reading in a friendly environment as you explore the marvels of making music. Music Book: Essential Elements 2000, Book 1 for Violin by Allen, Gillespie and Hayes. Please purchase book prior to first class.

Prospect • Saturdays 10:00–10:55pm
4027 • Starts 6/16/12 
Instructor: Tatiana Migliaccio

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Boot Camp for Basses | 7 Weeks | $160  enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
High School
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor or recommendation from HS Orchestra Director. Knowledge of the following 2 octave scales is strongly encouraged: E Major, F Major, G Major, A Major and Bb Major.

This course will offer bassists who are seriously interested in improving there technical skills seven intense, playing oriented, sessions based on the technical exercises developed by Gary Karr, Jeff Bradetich and Francois Pettrachi. The goal is to boost both the right and left hand technical skills of young bassists. Curriculm includes fifty minutes of technical drills: velocity drills, three and four note scale patterns, shifting drills, double stops, vibrato and thumb position work followed by a thirty minute rehearsal of quartet literature for double bass. This class will benefit both classical and jazz oriented bassists.

Prospect • Tuesdays 5:30-6:55pm
4028 • Starts 6/12/12 (no class 7/3)
Instructor: John Babbitt

Audubon Court • Wednesdays 5:30-6:55pm
4029 • Starts 6/13/12 (no class 7/4)
Instructor: John Babbitt

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 GUITAR
 
Introduction to Fingerstyle Guitar | 8 Weeks | $132
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High School-Adult
Open to guitarists with a basic knowledge of chords, and tablature or notation.

Develop your fingerstyle technique! Learn basic right-hand picking patterns as well as traditional and modern solo pieces. Also learn the history of the style, watch videos by top performers and listen to groundbreaking works.

Prospect • Mondays 6:00-6:55pm
3986 • Starts 6/18/12
Instructor: Matt Schroeder

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Lead Guitar: Classic Solos | 8 Weeks | $132  enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
High School-Adult
Open to guitarists with a basic knowledge of chords and tablature or notation.

Learn some of the best rock and blues solos ever recorded. Solos by Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Chuck Berry, Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Angus Young, Rick Derringer and Randy Rhoads will be taught and analyzed. Technical studies will also be presented to improve the student's dexterity on the guitar.

Prospect • Mondays 7:00-7:55pm
4033 • Starts 6/18/12
Instructor: Matt Schroeder


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Rock Licks Lab | 8 Weeks | $132
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High School-Adult
Open to guitarists with a basic knowledge of tablature or notation.

Spice up your solos with some new licks! Drawn from Rock, Blues, and Acoustic styles, the licks will include Pentatonic, Modal, Harmonized, Chromatic, and Diminished examples. Relevant scale and technical material will be discussed. Music DVD: Hal Leonard’s' Rock Guitar Licks Goldmine featuring Rock Licks instructor Matt Schroeder playing the licks at tempo and at a slower speed. Please purchase DVD prior to first class.

Prospect • Mondays 8:00-8:55pm
4010 • Starts 6/18/12
Instructor: Matt Schroeder


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Also see "Rhythm" Changes on Jazz Guitar & Jazz Licks Lab on the
Jazz Institute page
Also see on the Jazz Institute page
 THEORY & COMPOSITION
 
Music Theory at the Keyboard: Level 1 | 8 Weeks | $132
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Teen and Adult
For students who have had some music training on an instrument or voice.

Looking for an opportunity to enhance your musicianship? Explore the components of intervals, scales, chords and the basics of harmony while also developing a functional knowledge of the piano keyboard. Additional components of the class include ear training, sight reading and sight singing skills. The class meets in our keyboard lab.

Level 1 - Beginning
Prospect • Wednesdays 6:00-6:55pm
4002 • Starts 6/13/12 (no class 7/4, 7/25)
Instructor: Joy Elowsky


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Individual Instruction in Composition
Many Conservatory faculty also teach composition. We offer several composition styles to choose from:
• John Babbitt – contemporary/classical
• Peter Baime – classical
• Mark Davis – jazz
• Max Day – contemporary/classical
• Lynn Roginske – contemporary/popular & sacred
• Paul Silbergleit – jazz

Various lesson times and lengths are available according to your needs and availability.
Please call Student Services at 414/276-5760 to arrange for these lessons.

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RECORDING & MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
 
ProTools | 8 Weeks | $198 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
Teen and Adult
Prerequisite: Previous recording experience or consent of instructor.

Learn the skills needed to create your own recordings using ProTools, the most popular hard disk recording software in use today. Learn all aspects of work with a DAW including recording, importing, editing, repairing, cross fading, and mixing. Principals covered are non-platform, non-software specific and will apply to most digital audio workstations.

Off Site • Tuesdays 6:30-8:25pm
4009 • Starts 6/12/12 (no class 7/3)
Instructor: Kevin Arndt
Classes will be held at The Exchange Studios located near Miller Park.

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 WOODWIND, BRASS & PERCUSSION
 
Afro-Caribbean Hand Drumming: Levels 1 & 2 | 8 Weeks | $132  enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
Teen and Adult
Learn to play rhythms of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Emphasis will be placed on proper hand technique for congas, bongos, timbales, and assorted percussion instruments. Purchase of a hand drum is not required. Instruments are provided for class use.

Level 1
Students will learn basic techniques and fundamental rhythms. These components, presented against a historical backdrop, will facilitate the understanding and playing of specific Afro-Caribbean song styles.

Prospect • Tuesdays 6:30-7:25pm
3959 • Starts 6/12/12 (no class 7/3)
Instructor: Robert Figueroa

Level 2
Prerequisite: Completion of Level 1 or consent of instructor.
Students will expand their rhythmic vocabulary and learn improvisation, ensemble playing and the integration of Afro-Caribbean rhythms in popular genres such as R&B, Rock and Jazz.

Prospect • Tuesdays 7:30-8:25pm
3958 • Starts 6/12/12 (no class 7/3)
Instructor: Robert Figueroa


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 MUSIC THERAPY & WELLNESS  
 A consultation with our Music Therapy Department Chair, Bonnie Jean Barczak, is required prior to enrollment in most of the Music Therapy class listed below. Please call 414/459-3444 for more information.  
Music Therapy for Teens | 6 Weeks | $100
 
Entering Grades 7-12
This group is designed for teens ages 13 through 18 that are looking for positive peer interactions. Groups of 4 to 8 will participate in group music experiences emphasizing listening and instruction following, effective communication, peer awareness, and social interaction. The class is beneficial for teens with attention disorders, autism spectrum disorder and other social disorders. Call 414/459-3444 for more information and/or to register.

Off Site • Tuesdays 6:30-7:25pm
4031 • Starts 6/12/12 (no class 7/3)
Instructor: Christine Wiggin
Classes will be held at New Berlin Therapies, 2895 S. Moorland Road, New Berlin, WI.

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Drumming Up Friendship | 6 Weeks | $75  
Entering Grades 9-12
Drumming is a bridge to friendship! Clients with social disorders are paired together during each class to promote friendship. The class focuses on the development & improvement of appropriate social and communication skills, and behavioral objectives necessary to develop and foster friendships. Students will be grouped according to age and developmental maturity.

Prospect • Thursdays 11:30am -12:10pm
4034 • Starts 6/14/12 (no 7/19)
Instructor: Christine Wiggin


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Sing to Your Health! | 6 Weeks | $60

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Adult
Senior citizen discount does not apply.

Learn new songs each semester! If you love to sing and appreciate the health benefits of singing—deeper breathing, multi-sensory and memory stimulation, social interaction—join our “no pressure, just for fun” hour of song. We will review healthy singing practices then sing the oldies but goodies as well as more recent favorites. You do not need to know how to read music, but should be able to sing on pitch. Limited on-site parking is available for Prospect Avenue.

Wilson Center • Wednesdays 10:00-10:55am
4013 • Starts 6/13/12  (no class 7/4)
Instructor: Bonnie Jean Barczak

Prospect • Thursdays 10:00-10:55am
4012 • Starts 6/14/12 
Instructor: Bonnie Jean Barczak

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