Kindermusik Class
Teacher: TBA
Length of session: 15 weeks
Age: 18 months to 3 years
Parental participation required
Kindermusik classes incorporate a series of games, songs and organized activities through which the children develop their innate sense of musicianship. Pitch and rhythm games help the child to understand basic musical concepts without being restricted by the technical challenges of an instrument. The class is lively and involves plenty of movement and fun. Children must be accompanied by a parent.

Suzuki Instruction for the Very Young (age 3 and older)
The Academy offers an extensive Suzuki program for young children in violin, viola & cello. A free of charge 30 minutes interview with the director is scheduled, in order to determine the appropriate lesson length & teacher, and readiness for the program. The program includes a weekly private lesson and a group class. A weekly music theory class is optional. The Suzuki method is a joyful, step by step approach to learning music, which emphasizes parental involvement in a friendly and social environment. Parents will bond with their children through learning. Together they will explore the early steps of music making. A highlight this year will include a festival performance at Carnegie Hall on June 10th, in affiliation with the School for Strings, New York.

Private lesson schedule pending on parent request & teacher availability; lesson length varies & is determined by interview

Pre-twinkle Violin Group Class:
Teacher: Sophie Arbuckle
The fundamental violin posture, ear training and Twinkle rhythms are reinforced through games in a social & fun environment.

Pre-twinkle Cello Group Class:
Teacher: Stephanie Iovine
The fundamental cello posture, ear training and Twinkle rhythms are reinforced through games in a social & fun environment.

Intermediate Violin Group Class - Suzuki and Beyond
Teacher: Laura Geoffrey
This class incorporates review of Suzuki books I, II and III materials while expanding the students’ knowledge of scales and technique appropriate to this playing level. Materials are reviewed with specific practice goals, in order to encourage a more advanced performance of review pieces, and to progress by solidifying and building on learned repertoire. In addition, this class will develop a thorough knowledge of most Major 2 octave scales, as well as a thorough introduction to minor scales. Students will begin to work with harmony (several parts at once), in preparation for the chamber music program. An important element for this class is the development of note-reading skills.

Private Instrumental Instruction
Private weekly lessons of various lengths in combination with frequent open masterclasses are offered for piano, violin, viola, cello, guitar, & some wind instruments. Students receive one-on-one instruction by our outstanding faculty, and are given opportunities to perform frequently in a supportive environment. NYSSMA preparation is available. All students perform in a yearly recital. Many additional performance opportunities exist for advanced players. Students and their families receive complimentary tickets to the "Academy Concerts", a chamber music series which features some of New York’s most renowned musicians.

Music Appreciation
An overview of music history from the Baroque to present. This class focuses on listening to and discussing works by major composers and demonstrating major styles and forms in music.

Music Theory
Teacher: Eleonora Rotshteyn
Junior Music Theory:
Offers an introduction to note reading and rhythmic understanding in a social and engaging environment.

Intermediate Music Theory I & II:
Introduction to the fundamentals such as clefs, scales, key signatures, intervals and chord structures

Advanced Music Theory: (pending enrollment)
This class leads into the more advanced study of harmony, voice leading and a basic form analysis.

Composition
Creating and writing down pieces of music for various instruments. The course includes performance of compositions upon their completion. Composition classes are taught privately by
composer in residence, Eleonora Rotshteyn.

Chamber Music
Students may be assigned to chamber music groups. The groups will be arranged based on availability, age, as well as the proficiency level of each student. Weekly lessons with the chamber music coach are geared towards participation in the master classes, and performance in recitals and concerts.

Masterclasses with members of the Braude Ensemble
Masterclasses are scheduled at least once per semester. These are informal performances that help to prepare students to play in front of an audience which includes their peers and parents. Advanced students will receive constructive feedback from the directors of the Academy, which will help them to expand their knowledge of the work they are performing. Masterclasses take place at the Port Jefferson Public Library and are followed by a reception.

Student Recitals
A yearly recital is scheduled each spring at the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street in Port Jefferson. This concert showcases all of the students, and gives them a chance to present their most polished works. The free concert is open to the public, and is followed by a reception.

"Academy Concerts" featuring the Braude Ensemble
The "Academy Concerts" was founded by the Braude Ensemble in collaboration with the Greater Port Jefferson and Brookhaven Council for the Arts. It is a chamber music series which features members of this internationally acclaimed ensemble with guests that include some of the leading chamber music artists in New York and abroad. These concerts bring some of the most elite quality of chamber music performance to the community. Port Jefferson Music Academy students and their families receive complimentary tickets to this series of four outstanding concerts per year. Please refer to the concert series page for the schedule and ticket details.