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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
Voice Woodwind, Brass & Percussion
Strings Music Therapy & Wellness
Guitar  


 


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

 
 PIANO
 
Group Piano for Adult Beginners | $248 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
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. Practice time and access to a piano or keyboard are required. Music Book: Adult Piano Adventures Book 1 by Faber and Faber. Please purchase book prior to first class. 15 wks.

Level 1 - Beginning

Prospect Avenue • Tuesdays 7:00-7:55pm
----> FULL!
3764 • Starts 1/31/12
Instructor: LaRita Craft

Level 2
Continue to develop the skills learned in Level 1.
Prerequisite: Completion of Level 1 or consent of instructor.

Prospect Avenue • Tuesdays 5:00-5:55pm
3765 • Starts 1/31/12
Instructor: Joy Elowsky

Level 3
Continue to develop the skills learned in Level 2.
Prerequisite: Completion of Level 2 or consent of instructor.

Prospect Avenue • Tuesdays 6:00-6:55 pm
3766 • Starts 1/31/12
Instructor: LaRita Craft


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Pop and Rock Piano | $198 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
Grades 6-12
Learn to read charts, chord symbols, the blues progression and rhythmic patterns from various styles. Tunes from the classic rock era to today will be explored. Students will also have the opportunity to write songs in the styles studied. Keyboards provided for in class use. Prerequisite: One year of piano instruction with a basic knowledge of scales and chords. 12 wks.

Audubon Court • Wednesdays 7:00-7:55pm
3772 • Starts 2/8/11
Instructor: Lynn Roginske


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 VOICE
 
Voice for Teen Singers | $248 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
Grades 7-11
For students with some experience in choral singing or beginning vocal production who want to sing a variety of vocal styles. Have fun with fellow teens who love to sing! 15 wks.

Prospect Avenue • Mondays 6:00-6:55pm
3779 • Starts 1/30/12
Instructor: Phillip Pearl

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Beginning Voice for Adults | $248 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
We know you’ve always wanted to learn to sing! Give your vocal talents a jumpstart with this valuable introduction to the basics of good singing, including proper vocal production, breathing and posture. Ability to read musical notation not required. 15 wks.

Prospect Avenue • Tuesdays 6:30-7:25pm
3759 • Starts 1/31/12
Instructor: Kathleen Matts

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Intermediate Voice for Adults | $248 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 and would like to join others in learning more about good singing, this class is for you! We will learn more about vocal production as well as new repertoire. 15 wks.

Prospect Avenue • Tuesdays 5:30-6:25pm
3769 • Starts 1/31/12
Instructor: Kathleen Matts

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The Great American Songbook for Teens and Adults | $198 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
Learn to sing American standards, from blues to jazz, from Broadway to Motown to the songs of today. Learn new repertoire each semester! 12 wks.

Prospect Avenue • Wednesdays 7:00-7:55pm
3762 • Starts 2/29/12
Instructor: Robin Pluer

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STRINGS  
Harp for Adults | $248 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
Learn to play the harp for your personal enjoyment in a stimulating and supportive setting with other adults. This class will focus on harp technique and music fundamentals such as note reading and rhythmic recognition. You will also build your personal harp repertoire. The ability to read music will be an asset, but prior musical experience is not required. Purchase of a harp is not required. Instruments are provided for class use. 15 wks.

Audubon Court • Wednesdays 7:00-7:55pm
3768 • Starts 2/1/12
Instructor: Linda Lak

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 GUITAR
 
Beginning Guitar | $248 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
This course is designed for the student who wishes to learn basic technical and musical skills before pursuing a specific style of music. Topics include technical work for the hands, reading standard music notation, chord comprehension, basic strum patterns, and ensemble skills. Get your guitar experience off to a great start and establish good practice habits. Students are required to have a nylon or steel-string guitar for use during the class and for home practice. 15 wks.

Prospect Avenue • Mondays 7:00-7:55pm
3758 • Starts 1/30/12
Instructor: Jason Behr

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Continuing Beginning Guitar | $248 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
This course is for students who have either taken Beginning Guitar, or for guitarists who can read music in first position but would like to continue to progress. Topics include reading in first position, reading outside of first position, movable chords and 7th chords, ensemble playing, and solo guitar skills. This class is a great way to build upon your guitar experience in a group environment. Students are required to have either a nylon or steel-string acoustic guitar for use during the class and for home practice. 15 wks.

Prospect Avenue • Mondays 8:00-8:55pm
3761 • Starts 1/30/12
Instructor: Jason Behr


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Introduction to Fingerstyle Guitar | $248 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
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. Open to guitarists with a basic knowledge of chords, and tablature or notation. 15 wks.

Prospect Avenue • Mondays 6:00-6:55pm
3770 • Starts 1/30/12
Instructor: Matt Schroederr


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Scales and Progressions | $248
enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
Learn the chord progressions to blues, rock and pop songs, and the scales to improvise over them. Chord construction and intervals are also covered. Open to guitarists with a basic knowledge of chords, and tablature or notation. 15 wks.

Prospect Avenue • Mondays 7:00-7:55pm
3774 • Starts 1/30/12
Instructor: Matt Schroeder


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Introduction to Bluegrass Guitar | $248  
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this class has been canceled.

Discover and develop flatpicking technique. Class will include basic rhythm playing, Carter Family style, and lead playing. Open to guitarists with the ability to play first position open chords. 15 wks.

Prospect Avenue • Mondays 6:00-6:55pm
3782 • Starts 1/30/12
Instructor: TBD


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Bluegrass Banjo | $248  
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this class has been canceled.

This class will delve into the techniques of the Three Finger Scruggs style. Learn to play the most popular standards such as Cripple Creek, Blackberry Blossom, Nine Pound Hammer and many more! Develop ensemble skills as you learn how to back up soloists and singers in addition to learning lead solo parts. Open to all skill levels. 15 wks.

Prospect Avenue • Mondays 7:00-7:55pm
3760 • Starts 1/30/12
Instructor: TBD


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Rock, Blues and Acoustic Guitar Licks Lab | $248    NEW!
enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
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 DVDs: Hal Leonard’s Rock Guitar Licks Goldmine and Hal Leonard’s Acoustic Licks Goldmine featuring instructor Matt Schroeder playing the licks at tempo, and at a slower speed. Purchase of DVDs is highly suggested, but not required. Open to guitarists with a basic knowledge of tablature or notation. 15 wks.

Prospect Avenue • Mondays 8:00-8:55pm
3781 • Starts 1/30/12
Instructor: Matt Schroeder


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 THEORY & COMPOSITION
 
Music Theory 1 for Guitarists | $248 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
This class is for guitarists who would like to improve their understanding of music theory and how it applies to the guitar. Topics will include scale construction, modes, key relationships, intervals, triads, chords, harmonic analysis and chord progressions. 15 wks.

Prospect Avenue • Tuesdays 7:00-7:55pm
3771 • Starts 1/31/12
Instructor: George Lindquist


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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
 
ProTools | $372 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
Teens and Adults
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, nonsoftware specific and will apply to most digital audio workstations.
Prerequisite: Previous recording experience or consent of instructor. 15 wks.

Off Site • Tuesdays 6:30-8:25pm
3773 • Starts 1/31/12
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 | $248 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
Teens and Adults
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 Avenue • Tuesdays 6:30-7:25pm
3757 • Starts 1/31/12
Instructor: Robert Figueroa

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

Prospect Avenue • Tuesdays 7:30-8:25pm
3756 • Starts 1/31/12
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 | $165    NEW!  
Ages 13-18
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. 10 wks.

Off Site • Tuesdays 6:30-7:20pm
3789 •  Starts 1/31/12
Instructor: Christine Wiggin

Classes will be held at New Berlin Therapies, 2895 S. Moorland Road, New Berlin, WI.

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Music Therapy for Attention & Social Disorders | $149    NEW!  
Ages 12-21
"Music is motivating and enjoyable. Music can promote relatedness, relaxation, learning, and self-expression."
— American Music Therapy Association
Participation in music can help shape productive behavior. This group will focus on achieving behavioral and social objectives through music enrichment activities. The class is designed for students with diagnoses such as attention deficit disorder, autism, and various social disorders. Special scholarships are available for city of Milwaukee residents and students.
Call 414/459-3444 for more information and/or to register. 12 wks. 

Ages 12-16
Off Site • Thursdays 6:00-6:45pm
3786 • Starts 2/16/12 (no class 4/12)
Instructor: Christine Wiggin

Ages 17-21
Off Site • Thursdays 7:00-7:45pm
3787 • Starts 2/16/12 (no class 4/12)
Instructor: Christine Wiggin

Classes will be held at Elm Creative Arts School, 900 W. Walnut, Milwaukee, WI

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Sing to Your Health! | $100

 enrollnow_icon-(7).jpg
Longer time by popular demand!
Adults
*no other discounts apply
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. 10 wks.

Wilson Center • Wednesdays 10:00-11:25am
3778 • Starts 2/8/12
Instructor: Bonnie Jean Barczak

Prospect Avenue • Thursdays 10:00-11:25am
3777 • Starts 2/9/12
Instructor: Bonnie Jean Barczak

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