Beginner-Intermediate: Adults
Instructor: Joan Burdette

This class will focus on 3 main aspects: technique, ensemble playing, and performing. Coming to class allows for developing techniques in a large group, which saves time in individual lessons. We will focus on 4th finger extensions and continue our study of half string harmonics. In addition, we will continue to explore steady rhythm and communication in ensemble playing through visual communication. This will be achieved through preparing a program of arrangements of familiar Suzuki pieces and supplements. We will gain more experience in performing through starting some of the classes with a mini masterclass, which consists of playing solos and receiving personal feedback in front of a group.

Note: This class is for students who are also currently taking private cello lessons.

Fall Quarter: 5 weeks

Session A: Wednesday September 18, September 25, October 2, October 9, October 16, 7:30pm-8:30pm

Session B: Wednesday November 13, November 20, December 4, December 11, December 18, 7:30pm-8:30pm

Tuition: $120

Materials: Students must provide their own cello.
Location: W-4

All Skill Levels: Young Adults & Adults
Instructor: Linda Teasley

This workshop will focus on keeping the voice healthy and can be useful for singers, public speakers, teachers and others who use their voices frequently. Most of us have little idea of what actually happens when we sing or speak. Participants will learn how the voice works from videos of the vocal apparatus. Being able to see this is truly amazing! Other topics include basic breath control and other physical aspects of voice use. Vocal warm-up exercises will be learned that will benefit both speakers and singers.

Fall Quarter: One day workshop

Session B: Saturday October 26, 11am-1pm

Tuition: $50

Materials: Supply list provided at time of registration.

Location: Meets in W-4

Ages 18 months – 3 years with parent/caregiver
Instructor: Joan Kidder

Fall Quarter: 4 weeks

Session B: Saturday November 2, 10am-10:45am

Tuition: $80

Location: W-4

Ages 3 – 4 with parent/caregiver
Instructor: Joan Kidder 

This class is more advanced than Tunes for Tots with students exploring pitches, learning Call and Response, and building their skills of rhythm and musicality.  Students will improve their coordination through free-form and choreographed movements to familiar tunes, as well as finger-plays.  After completing Prelude for Preschoolers, students will have developed a sense of confidence in their musical contribution and social skills that they can apply to school.

Fall Quarter: 4 weeks

Session B: Saturday November 2, 11am-11:45am

Tuition: $80

Location: W-4

Beginner: Grades 3-5
Instructor: Aubrey Lisowski

Begin your music studies with the violin! In this class, students will learn the fundamentals of playing a string instrument. Students will interact with the teacher and their peers through fun group exercises and pieces. They will develop a strong foundation of the violin, as well as music reading and basic theory. This class will prepare students for private lessons and school ensembles.

Winter Quarter: 6 weeks

Session A: Wednesday January 15, 5pm-6pm

Session B: Saturday January 18, 1pm-2pm

Intermediate: Grades 4-6
Instructor: Aubrey Lisowski

If you’ve been playing the violin for one or two years, this is the class for you! In this class, students will build on the fundamentals of violin in an ensemble setting. This is a perfect complement to school strings classes or private lessons. Students will continue to improve basic skills and learn new ones. Students will also learn ensemble skills such as listening to their peers and watching a conductor. 

Winter Quarter: 4 weeks

Session A: Wednesday January 15, 6:30pm-7:30pm

Session B: Saturday January 18, 2:30pm-3:30pm

Ages 18 months – 3 years with parent/caregiver
Instructor: Joan Kidder

Students will be introduced to music through musical play.  We’ll bounce, dance, and sing to favorite songs and lullabies!  Dexterity, coordination, and rhythm are improved by playing fun percussion instruments, and we’ll learn musical concepts such as soft vs. loud and slow vs. fast. Prepares students for Prelude for Preschoolers.

Winter Quarter: 4 weeks

Session A:  Saturday January 11, 10am-10:45am

Session B: Saturday February 22, 10am-10:45am

Tuition: $80

Location: W-4

Ages 3 – 4 with parent/caregiver
Instructor: Joan Kidder 

This class is more advanced than Tunes for Tots with students exploring pitches, learning Call and Response, and building their skills of rhythm and musicality.  Students will improve their coordination through free-form and choreographed movements to familiar tunes, as well as finger-plays.  After completing Prelude for Preschoolers, students will have developed a sense of confidence in their musical contribution and social skills that they can apply to school.

Winter Quarter: 4 weeks

Session A: Saturday January 11, 11am-11:45am

Session B: Saturday February 22, 11am-11:45am

Tuition: $80

Location: W-4

All Skill Levels: Young Adults & Adults
Instructor: Linda Teasley

This workshop will focus on keeping the voice healthy and can be useful for singers, public speakers, teachers and others who use their voices frequently. Most of us have little idea of what actually happens when we sing or speak. Participants will learn how the voice works from videos of the vocal apparatus. Being able to see this is truly amazing! Other topics include basic breath control and other physical aspects of voice use. Vocal warm-up exercises will be learned that will benefit both speakers and singers.

Winter Quarter: One day workshop

Session A: Saturday January 18, 11am-1pm

Session B: Saturday February 15, 11am-1pm

Tuition: $50

Materials: Supply list provided at time of registration.

Location: Meets in W-4

Instructor: Samuel Ambrose

Samuel Ambrose turns back-row tuba playing into frontline artistry, bringing high-caliber style to performances, outreach, and educational experiences. His sound supports a variety of ensembles, most recently with the Capitol Wind Symphony. Sam has also performed with the Augusta Symphony Orchestra (GA), Sunrise Pops Orchestra (FL), and freelances in the Baltimore/Washington area. As an educator, Mr. Ambrose’s teaching ranges from private instruction to master classes, clinics, and ensemble instruction. He currently teaches Instrumental Music at University Park and Hyattsville Elementary Schools. Sam is also a Director and Tuba Faculty at both the Fredericksburg Brass and Tidewater Brass Institutes (VA). Sam is often in demand as a consultant for many drum corps and marching bands. Sam lives in Arlington, VA, where he is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Tuba Performance from the University of Maryland. Other educational stops include  a Master's degree in Tuba Performance from The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelors of Music Education degree from Florida State University. His teachers include David Fedderly and Paul Ebbers.

Sam offers lessons for Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba. 

All Skill Levels
Availability: Sunday (10:00am-2:00pm)
Meets in W-4

If you are interested in booking a private lesson, click this link to continue: Register

Instructor: Joan Wolfe Burdette 

Joan Wolfe Burdette is a cellist living, teaching, and performing in Northern Virginia. She earned her Masters in Music Performance from Ball State University where she studied cello and chamber music with Dr. Peter Opie of the American Piano Trio and her Bachelors in Music Performance from the Conservatory of Shenandoah University where she studied with Mr. Clyde Shaw of the Audubon Quartet. Joan has attended various summer music festivals including the Idyllwild Summer Music Festival and the Chautauqua Summer Music Festival where she furthered her love of performing and attended professional masterclasses and performances. She has performed with the Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra, Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra, and National String Symphonia. In addition to performing, Joan has been teaching cello for almost 10 years. She began her study of the Suzuki method in 2014 and is currently certified through book 3 with plans to continue study. She believes in the emphasis of listening skills and believes they help her students to be sensitive musicians. She has also taught many group classes for general music skills and piano skills and is certified in the Orff method and uses its emphasis on movement with all her students. 

All Skill Levels
Availability: Wednesday (2:30pm-7:30pm)

Meets in W-4, Rm. 406

If you are interested in booking a private lesson, click this link to continue: Register

Instructor: Katrina King Nicholson

Flutist Katrina King Nicholson is a native of upstate New York and holds degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She is the winner of numerous competitions in the Cleveland and Rochester areas and has a special interest in music theory and historical performance. Ms. Nicholson is an active teacher and freelancer in the D.C. area and is currently pursuing a doctorate in flute performance at the Shenandoah Conservatory.

Katrina offers lessons for Flute.

All Skill Levels
Availability: Saturdays (10:00am - 2:00pm)
Meets in W-4

If you are interested in booking a private lesson, click this link to continue: Register

Instructor: Rick Peralta 

Rick Peralta, a San Francisco Bay area native, has been a professional musician in the Washington DC area for fifteen years. He has a Masters in Music in Stage and Studio Guitar from Howard University, and has supported Grammy and Tony award-winning artists. Formerly a member of Back to Zero, a cover band twice voted one of the top bands in the metro area, he toured the mid-Atlantic region. An accomplished jazz and classical guitarist, Rick now performs in many settings including — Laissez Foure, a jazz quartet appearing in the metro area for over ten years, and MIN, a flute and guitar duo that presents an eclectic repertoire, to name a few. With his broad range he is highly sought after on the regional musical theatre scene, having won three Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH) awards for best musical as a pit orchestra guitarist. A consummate musician, The Washington Post has described Rick's playing as "smooth and lively.” 

Rick offers lessons for guitar (including jazz and classical), mandolin, tenor banjo, and ukulele. 

All Skill Levels
Availability: Tuesday (4:00pm - 8:00pm)
Meets in W-4

If you are interested in booking a private lesson, click this link to continue: Register

Instructor: Aubrey Lisowski

Aubrey Lisowski is a violinist and private violin and viola instructor living in Springfield, VA. She received her Bachelors degree in Music Education from Shenandoah Conservatory. While at Shenandoah, she studied violin under Akemi Takayama and played in the symphony under the direction of Jan Wagner. After graduating, Aubrey taught in Fairfax County Public Schools for five years as an orchestra teacher. She played with the NOVA - Annandale Symphony orchestra for several years and served as principal second violin and has also played with the Fairfax Chamber Players. Aubrey is currently working on her Masters in Arts Management at George Mason University. She is passionate about music education and also enjoys playing guitar. 

Aubrey offers lessons for violin and viola. 

All Skill Levels
Availability: Saturdays (10:00am-2:00pm), Tuesdays (4:00pm - 8:00pm)
Meets in W-4

If you are interested in booking a private lesson, click this link to continue: Register

Instructor: Dr. Linda Teasley

Dr. Linda Teasley, performer, teacher and most recently a board-certified music therapist, has lead an interesting and varied musical life.  After receiving an undergraduate degree in music education, Dr. Teasley completed a Master of Music in performance degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Linda joined the United States Navy Band Sea Chanters chorus, the official chorus of the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, DC where she served for 20 years and retired as a Chief Musician. During her time in the Sea Chanters, Linda completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. Dr. Teasley has taught voice and piano extensively in the DC area including Georgetown University, Northern Virginia Community College and at several community music schools as well as her home studio. 

All Skill Levels
Availability: Thursday (3:30pm-8:00pm)
Meets in W-4, Rm. 407

If you are interested in booking a private lesson, click this link to continue: Register