Cello
• Beginning Cello Class
Students learn the traditional fundamental techniques of cello playing and basic music theory through games and workbooks designed by the instructor. This class can also be taken as a precursor to private cello lessons or in conjunction with private cello lessons.

Chorus
The early choral music education repertoire reflects three areas of study: 1) singing in foreign languages and in genres including gospel and Negro spirituals, 2) singing in rounds, preparing students to sing in parts (SATB) and 3) learning solfeggio and preparing students for musical literacy. Songs are selected from traditional vocal repertoire, personal resources of the instructor and original songs written by the instructor.

• Primary Chorus
Classes study folk and art traditions from European and African-American sources. Skills taught include sightreading, Kodaly hand signs and diction.

• Intermediate Chorus
A continuation of the study of the fundamentals of singing taught in Primary Chorus. Part-singing and performance skills are emphasized.

• Beginning Teen Chorus
The Teen Chorus introduces choral singing to the teenager with little or no prior experience. The class provides a foundation in vocal technique and ensemble performance. Successful participation in this ensemble will prepare students to audition for the College Prep vocal program.

Composer's Workshop/Music Technology
The Composer’s Workshop will focus on basic elements and aspects of electronic music, computers and music and the digital-audio environment. Special emphasis will be placed on the performance aspect of the technology, most notably in creation, performance abilities and fluency using the Finale, Pro Tools and Pro Logic Audio software programs. Studies include electronic music and media, MIDI, digital audio techniques and basic recording techniques.

• Intro to Digital Recording A
• Intro to Digital Recording B

Ensembles
Group playing and singing refines individual skills, encourages cooperation and offers the joy of creating music with others. The ensemble program is an integral part of the HSA curriculum. All intermediate and advanced students are encouraged to participate in at least one of HSA’s Music Ensembles.

• The Dorothy Maynor Singers
For intermediate and advanced vocal students, the repertoire for this group explores a wide range of choral music including European Classical, Gospel, Spirituals, Folk and Contemporary. Rehearsal for special events, touring and
attending outside performances are required. Registration is by audition only.

• HSA Jazz Ensemble
This class provides professional training in performance and improvisation techniques. Students will become familiar with jazz standards as well as Latin jazz idioms. Rehearsal for special events, touring and attending outside performances is required. Registration is by audition only.

• Chamber Symphony String Orchestra
This class provides intermediate and advanced students with an introduction to playing in a string ensemble. Students utilize music theory, musicianship, rhythm and sight-reading skills while learning to interact with fellow musicians and follow a conductor. Registration is by audition or recommendation only.

• HSA Flute Choir
This class introduces intermediate and advanced flute students to the experience of playing in a flute ensemble. Students utilize sight-reading skills and musicianship to learn how to interact with fellow musicians in a chamber music ensemble. Additionally, students will gain the experience of playing the bass flute, alto flute and piccolo. Rehearsal for special events, touring and attending outside performances are required. Registration is by audition or recommendation only.

• Saxophone & Clarinet Ensemble
This class introduces intermediate and advanced students of the saxophone and clarinet to the experience of playing in an ensemble. Students utilize sight-reading skills and musicianship to learn how to interact with fellow musicians in a chamber music ensemble. Rehearsal for special events, touring and attending outside performances are required. Students will gain the experience of playing the baritone, bass and soprano saxophones. Registration is by audition or recommendation only.

Guitar
Group lessons and private lessons are available for a comprehensive study of the guitar. Group classes include instruction in the techniques of classic, flamenco, folk and jazz guitar styles and explore a variety of traditional, folk and contemporary music literature. Private students may elect to participate in Advanced Guitar Class and Workshop.

• Group Guitar Class
• Advanced Guitar Class and Workshop

Harlem Tiny Tunes
Children and their caregivers experience the building blocks of music through song, chant, movement and instrumental play in a fun and focused setting. In addition, members of the HSA music faculty will visit this class so children have a chance to touch, hear and play a new instrument. Harlem Tiny Tunes is based on the concept that all youngsters possess an affinity for music, and that by nurturing this innate musical ability, his or her potential for a lifelong association with music can be maximized.

Introduction to Digital Recording
This class covers many aspects of creating a track, including learning the difference between audio and midi, synthesis, sampling, and simple sequencing. Recording live elements will be a topic of dicussion.

Kinder Keyboard
This course encourages groups of young students to discover music in a fun-filled atmosphere. Students must have a piano or keyboard at home. Classes are grouped by age.

Logic Pro
Logic Pro is the most sophisticated digital audio workstation on the market. Countless recording studios and post-production facilities use this software to create everything from television commercials to movie scores. Audio, midi, notation, synthesis and sampling are all covered in this class with an emphasis on mixing and programming.

• Logic Pro A
• Logic Pro B

New! Morton Subotnick's World of Music
Using electronic composer Morton Subotnick’s World of Music software, pre-schoolers can learn the basics elements of music. Children create electronic finger-paintings with their computer mouse, which the computer re-interprets from the contour, length and density of the lines on the screen into sounds. World of Music allows children to have the experience of composing music before embarking on formal music education. The software contains a number of activities that focus on interpreting music, aural skills, as well as provides a means to measure the success of a child’s mastery of a particular musical skill.

Musical Explorations
These beginner courses introduce young students to the basic musical concepts of pitch, rhythm and musical notation. Children are exposed to various music concepts through movement, singing, Orff (tone bar) instruments and percussion. These are ideal preparatory courses for children wishing to progress to an instrument or voice class. The primary instrument is the recorder.

• Musical Explorations IA
• Musical Explorations IB
• Musical Explorations II
• Musical Explorations III: Recorder Ensemble

Music Theory
Each student age 8 or older taking private lessons, on scholarship or in an ensemble, must register for a Music Theory class. Class level will be determined by a placement exam given before the beginning of each semester. Classes are graded and promotions will be based on exam scores.
Aural skills, an integral part of the theory training process, will be taught using software designed to improve aural awareness. Note: Students must pass an exam before progressing to the next level, and must take theory during each semester.

• Music Theory I
This course includes discussions, analysis and detailed study of the most basic musical concepts and materials including musical notes and values, simple time signatures, rests, treble and bass clefs, accidentals, 12 major keys and scales as well as intervals: major and minor seconds, thirds, perfect fourths and fifths.

• Music Theory II
Focuses on the integration of complex musical structures and ideas towards musical invention. Topics include note value extensions, compound time signatures, accents and slurs, minor scales (natural, harmonic, melodic), all major, minor, diminished, augmented intervals, major and minor chords and their inversions.

• Music Theory III
This course covers the application of musical concepts, materials and structures towards complex musical analysis including triplets and other “bracketed” note value extensions, compound time signatures, musical uses of silence: breath, pauses, suspensions, spaces, large musical score systems, dynamic, tempo, musical markings, the diatonic modes and the “blues” scale, dominant, major, minor, half and fully diminished seventh chords and their inversions, cadences and chord progressions. Placement will be determined by ability, test results and completion of Music Theory II.

• Music Theory IV
Important tools, ideas and innovations of twentieth and twenty-first century music including (but not limited to) the chromatic scale, five-note, six-note, and other “exotic” scalar formations, secundal, quartal, quintal, and mixed interval chords, atonal music, II - V - I progressions, advanced musical forms and free improvisation. Placement determined by ability, test results and successful completion of Music Theory III.

Percussion
An in-depth study of percussion begins with private lessons in basic snare drum technique with sticks, progressing to studies on the drum set, mallets (marimba/xylophone) and timpani. The Music Program also offers instruction in African and Latin percussion on hand drums.

African and Latin Percussion
The concentrated areas of study are percussion hand patterns and rhythmic structures from West Africa, Cuba and the Caribbean islands.

• African and Latin Percussion Level I
• African and Latin Percussion Level II
• African and Latin Percussion Level III
• African and Latin Percussion Advanced

The Producer's Circle
A record producer’s function is to balance the musical, technical and financial concerns of an artist’s project. The Producer’s Circle at the Harlem School of the Arts is the only program in New York where young people can come together to learn the practical skills needed to pursue a career in this field. In addition to attending core curriculum classes, students will be required to attend seminars by industry insiders and product developers.

Semester I
Afro-Latin Percussion for Adults
Accelerated Music Theory for Adults A
Intro to Digital Recording

Semester II
Adult Group Piano
Accelerated Music Theory for Adults B
Reason

Semester III
Adult Chorus
The African Presence in Western Music A
Logic 8A

Semester IV
Adult Group Guitar
The African Presence in Western Music B
Logic 8B

Reason
Reason is one of today’s most popular music technology programs, and has been used on countless recordings in virtually all styles of music. Learn how to manipulate Reason’s virtual rack of synthesizers, samplers, sequencers and effects.
Prerequisite: Intro to Digital Recording.

• Reason A
• Reason B

Suzuki Instruction
Suzuki instruction is available for young students. The Suzuki method is based on physical/aural imitation of the teacher by parent and student. The concept of “playing” rather than “practicing” is emphasized so that the student develops a sense of enjoyment of the instrument. Reading music is not taught in the beginning year. This method requires the presence of a parent at all lessons. Children may be accepted into the training program at age four. Students are matched to teachers through audition and/or interviews with the program director and appropriate faculty at registration.

Students enrolled in Suzuki classes must also register for private lessons. Students 8 and older must also take Music Theory. When scheduling, please avoid conflicts between theory classes and Suzuki classes.

• Suzuki Violin Ensemble: Beginners
• Suzuki Violin Ensemble: Book 1A
• Suzuki Violin Ensemble: Book 1B

• Suzuki Flute
The instructor, certified by the Suzuki School of America, will accept students who have had some previous training in recorder, voice or piano. This class is highly recommended for small children who are unable to hold the “C” flute. Students will use the curved head-joint to help with hand position and posture.

• Suzuki Cello: Beginners

Toddler Music & Movement
Introduce your child to music and movement in this fun and exciting introductory class. Music with it many neurological benefits will help toddlers build their sensory environment. You and your child will enjoy rocking, marching, rolling, tapping, clapping and moving to the beat! Children ages 1-3 years.

Accelerated Music Theory for Adults
Geared toward those who may already possess an advanced facility on an instrument, or who can play by ear, but have never learned to read music. Pitch and rhythmic notation, intervals, scales, chords and simple progressions will be covered.

• Accelerated Music Theory for Adults I
•Accelerated Music Theory for Adults II



Adult Chorus
Move beyond the joy of singing toward an understanding of the choral tradition. This non-auditioned choir is an excellent primer for anyone who might already appreciate singing by a trained choral professional. A great introduction to vocal technique and part singing.

Adult Group Guitar
A guitar class for beginners, this class will introduce students to basic chords and various strumming and picking patterns. All students must bring their own steel or nylon string acoustic guitar to class.

Adult Group Piano
Learn the basics of the piano keyboard in a group setting. Read basic music notation while learning correct hand positioning and fingering. Performing simple pieces and some elementary chord work are features of this course.

The African Presence in Western Music
In contrast to popular beliefs, the music of western Europe has always been open to absorbing influences from different parts of the world. Eastern European and Asian influences have been well documented, but little has been said about the persistent role Africa has played in the development of what is commonly called Western Music. The course traces the North African roots of Gregorian chant, the role of black composer-performers in the 18th and 19th-centuries, as well as arrangers and producers of the jazz and popular music era.

Afro-Latin Percussion for Adults
The concentrated areas of study are percussion hand patterns and rhythmic structures from West Africa, Cuba and the Caribbean islands.

Group Improvisation
Learn the elements of improvisation through a series of group activities designed to help you realize your own creativity. Concepts of beginning and extending ideas through phrasing, motivic development and rhythmic variation are explored. Participants must have an intermediate level of proficiency on their instruments.

College Prep Program

For information on the College Prep Music Program,
please visit our College Prep webpages: Click Here.

For information on available financial aid, visit our Financial Aid Page