Music Classes
Arts Center 2023-2024 Calendar
Click on the heading below to see the class description and to register.
- Children's Choir (Grades K-8)
- Group Acoustic Guitar (Grades 3-6)
- Group Guitar for Teens & Adults
- Early Music Makers (Ages 6 mos. – 4 years)
- Beginning Strings (Grades K-5)
- Junior Orchestra (Grades 1-6)
- Oldham County String Orchestras (Grades 6-12)
- LaPS: Leadership & Performance for Strings (All ages)
Children's Choir (Grades K-8)
Children's Choir (Grades K-9) The Oldham County Children's Choir is for middle school and elementary-aged students who love to sing! These young musicians will grow and develop in their vocal technique through learning about tone quality, breath support, diction, and intonation, as well as ear training, sight reading, and singing with two or more parts. Singers will learn the best of children's choral literature and enjoy being a part of a group of young musicians who find joy in singing!
Spring Semester Begins January 4
12 weeks, $175, plus cost of uniform
Director: Amanda McGehee
Accompanist: Heidi Vander Zouwen
Concert Choir (K-4th grade): Thursdays, 4:30-5:30pm
Bel Canto Singers (5th-9th grade): Thursdays, 5:45-6:45 pm
Group Acoustic Guitar (Grades 3-6)
Group Acoustic Guitar (Grades 3-6)
Bring your guitar and learn the basics in a fun and supportive setting. This program is designed for use in a group/classroom environment. Students will play as an ensemble. Does not include instrument rental.
Begins February 27
Tuesdays, 5-6pm
10 weeks $150
Instructor: Amanda McGehee
Group Guitar for Teens & Adults
Group Guitar for Teens & Adults Are you interested in learning to play the guitar? Join us for this 10 week course for beginner guitar students ages 14 and up. We will learn basic guitar techniques, how to read music notation, common chords, tablature (TAB), and enjoy playing fun songs together. Students will need to bring their own guitar. Acoustic guitars are preferred, but electric guitars with a small amp are welcome. Music will be provided by the instructor.
Begins February 27
Tuesdays, 7-8pm
10 weeks, $150
Instructor: Amanda McGehee
Early Music Makers (Ages 6 mos. – 4 years)
Early Music Makers (Ages 6 mos. – 4 years)
Early Music Makers is a family centered class to foster musical appreciation, awareness, and musical skills in young children. Music lessons will be used to help develop social skills, body control, increased attention spans, and a joy and appreciation for music! These classes will be adapted to meet the needs of each child. Early Music Makers will enjoy singing, dancing, moving, and playing a diverse selection of age appropriate music!
Begins February 27
Tuesdays, 10-10:45am
Instructor: Katherine Mercier
Beginning Strings (Grades K-5)
Beginning Strings (Grades K-5)
Develop an appreciation for music by learning violin, viola, or cello in a fun and supportive environment. Students are grouped into small classes where they will learn a healthy set-up posture with flexible bow hold and be engaged with several pieces that will encourage correct position, free movement, and healthy tone production. They will also learn music theory and ear training presented with fun activities that encourage good musicianship. This class does not supply the instrument and students are encouraged to rent with a respectable instrument shop.
10 Weeks $150, method book included
Buckner Elementary, Grades 4-5, Begins March 18-May 13 (Returning Students)
8 weeks, $120
Mondays 2:20-3:20pm Katherine Mercier
LaGrange Elementary, Grades 4-5, Begins March 6 (Returning Students)
Wednesdays, 2:20-3:20pm (FULL SCHOLARSHIP) Katherine Mercier
Harmony: Grades 4-5, Begins March 5-May 14 (Returning Students Only)
10 weeks, $150
Tuesdays, 2:20-3:20pm Sam Meade
Centerfield: Grades 4-5, Begins March 15-May 17 (Returning Students)
9 weeks, $120
Fridays, 2:20-3:20pm, Aimee Quinn
Arts Center: Grades K – 5, Begins March 7-May 16 (New and Returning Students)
10weeks, $150
Thursday 5:30 – 6:30pm, Sam Meade
Junior Orchestra (Grades 1-6)
Junior Orchestra (Grades 1-6)
Prerequisite skills: Completion of a Beginning Strings Class or 1 year of private lessons
Junior Orchestra is the first orchestral experience for students to encounter a heterogeneous string ensemble. The focus of the class is reading music, playing under a conductor, developing ensemble skills, and performing beginning to intermediate grade level music. This class will also prepare the students for entry into the chamber music program. This class does not supply the instrument and students are encouraged to rent with a respectable instrument shop.
*Students 1st - 3rd grade must be accompanied by an adult.
Begins February 27
Tuesdays, 5-6pm
10 Weeks $150; $135 (Arts Center Private Students)
Instructors: Katherine Reardon
Oldham County String Orchestras (Grades 6-12)
Oldham County String Orchestras (Grades 6-12)
The School Orchestra Program is an opportunity for students to learn one of four string instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass) and play in a string ensemble. The focus of the class is reading music, playing under a conductor, developing ensemble skills, and performing beginning to intermediate grade level music. This class will also prepare students for an audition into the LaPS: Leadership & Performance for Strings program or the CAPAA Program. This program does not supply the instrument and students are encouraged to rent with a respectable instrument shop. Contact the Arts Center for more information
Begins in September 2024
East Campus Orchestra meets at EOMS,Day and Time TBD, (Aimee Quinn)
OC Campus Orchestra meets at OCMS, Mondays & Wednesdays 4:15-5:15pm (Katherine Reardon)
North Campus Orchestra meets at NOMS, Tuesdays 4-5pm & Thursdays 4:15-5:15pm (Elise Gambrell)
South Campus Orchestra meets at SOMS, Mondays & Thursdays 4-5pm (Sam Meade)
30-week year Full Scholarship for students enrolled in OC District
LaPS: Leadership & Performance for Strings (All ages)
LaPS: Leadership & Performance for Strings (All ages)
Leadership and Performance for Strings (LaPS) provides unique opportunities to string players to develop their musical skills while growing as leaders and performers. Open by audition to all ages of violinists, violists, cellists, string bass players, and pianists.
Students in the Leadership and Performance project are offered weekly masterclasses, chamber music coachings, rehearsals with our staff accompanists, and many performance opportunities. Each year several Concerto Workshops give our students the incomparable experience of playing their solos with full orchestras. Seminars are also be offered in music theory, leadership in both orchestral and chamber music settings, and technique classes for each specific instrument. Recitals are open to all LaPs students to regularly perform their solos and chamber music.
Please contact the OCSAC office to schedule a placement audition and for further information.
Audition requirement: One piece of student’s choice that showcases their musical skills.
Begins in September 2024
Meetings are on Tuesdays 4:45-6:15 p.m. and on selected Saturdays.
(Merit and Need based scholarships are generously available)
Payment may be made yearly or broken into quarterly payments.
LaPS is directed by Brittany MacWilliams, accomplished violin/viola professor and performer with over 20 years of teaching and international performing experience.
Faculty: Felix Borges, Alvin MacWilliams and Sam Meade