Children and Teen Programs

Piano Enrichment Performance Program (PEPP)

Are you looking for regular performance opportunities to enhance your musicianship as a pianist? PEPP offers a supportive group environment where young pianists can develop greater confidence, musicianship skills, and overall performance preparation. This program is perfect for those preparing for exams, recitals, festivals, and other performance events. 

This program will run for 5-weeks at a time with the option for a drop-in class as well. 

• Location: 190 Lester Street, Waterloo
• Dates: 
  • Session 1: Oct. 12, Oct. 26, Nov. 9, Nov. 23, Dec. 7
  • Session 2: Jan. 11, Jan. 25, Feb. 8, Feb. 22, Mar. 7
  • Session 3: Mar. 21, April 4, April 18, May 2, May 16
• Time: Thursdays at 6:45pm (90-minute duration)
• Cost: $200 for each 5-week session, $45 for drop-ins 
• Level: RCM 8+

 Contact the school directly (LAMA@wlu.ca) to register and/or book your drop-in. 

FoundSound Ensemble

The FoundSound Ensemble is a listening-based musical training focused on immediate musical production. It emphasizes listening, composing, improvising, and ensemble skills. Learn as a group and develop collective problem-solving skills! There is no cost in renting an instrument since all the instruments are upcycled. Students will have the opportunity to upcycle their own instrument from home! There will also be performance opportunities. 

This program is a ‘sound based’ music curriculum for students with or without musical background. It introduces students to the broader world of music making of which traditional western music making is only a part. Critical thinking is an important part of our method!

Upcycled instruments and repurposed objects are provided for students. They start producing sound immediately.

• Location: 190 Lester Street, Waterloo
• Dates: Tuesdays starting Jan. 9, 2024 (10 weeks)
• Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Cost: $320
• Ages: 9-14 (flexible)

Register

Digital Groove Collective

Your laptop is the the instrument! This is a listening-based musical training focusing on immediate musical production! There is an emphasis on composing, improvising, arranging, orchestration, and ensemble activity. Create digital music today. 

Mac laptops are highly recommended for the free softwares that are available on the Mac operating system: GarageBand, VMPK, Audacity, and VLC. Linux and PC computers can still be used up to a certain level. 

This is a fun group activity in which students make music together from the start. This is a great program for students interested in video game music, DJ music, and contemporary pop.  There will also be performance opportunities. 

Laptops are not provided, but all other equipment will be. 

• Location: 190 Lester Street, Waterloo
• Dates: Wednesdays starting Jan. 10, 2024 (10 weeks)
• Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Cost: $320
• Ages: 12+ (adults welcome!)

Register

Bucket Drumming!

Students will learn how to use a wide range of rhythms and proper techniques to perform fun popular songs on the buckets. Students will learn the skills required to play in a group setting. Ages 9-13, Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. starting Sept. 14. Led by Steve James.

• Location: 190 Lester Street, Waterloo
• Dates: Tuesdays starting Jan. 9, 2024 (10-week session)
• Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Cost: $250
• Ages: 9-13

Register

Foundations of Singing for Kids!

Join us for a Foundations of Singing class for children aged 5-7 OR 8-10! Students will learn concepts of articulation, register, range, and vowel shaping with some Kodaly and Dalcroze methods in the first six weeks, and will transition to musical-theatre style repertoire and techniques in the last six weeks. Instructors: Greer Schatz and Hayden Kerry. This class is perfect for budding young singers who might still be too young for private lessons. Group singing is a great way to jumpstart listening skills, which are imperative for a good singing foundation.

Ages 5-7: 

• Location: 190 Lester Street, Waterloo
• Dates: Fridays starting Jan. 12, 2024
• Time: 4:30-5:15
• Cost: $160

Register

Ages 8-10: 

• Location: 190 Lester Street, Waterloo
• Dates: Fridays starting Jan. 12, 2024
• Time: 5:30-6:30
• Cost: $175

Register

Improvisation Ensemble

There is an art to "making it up as you go". This ensemble will introduce participants to the art of improvisation using the Blues and Jazz as the framework to explore improvisation techniques. The knowledge gained is applicable to any style of music. All instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome! A working knowledge of your instrument is required. Led by Dave O'Neill. 

A PA, piano, vibraphone, drum set and hand percussion will be provided. All other instruments will need to be supplied by the student, including amplifiers.

Session Two:

• Location: 190 Lester Street, Waterloo
• Dates: Jan. 8 to April 8, 2024 (12 weeks) *No session Feb. 19, April 1
• Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Cost: $250
• Ages: 10-14 (15+ option available here!)

Register

Session Three:

• Location: 190 Lester Street, Waterloo
• Dates: April 15 to June 24, 2024 (10 weeks) *No session May 20
• Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Cost: $200
• Ages: 10-14 (15+ option available here!)

*Registration opens in Winter 2024

Fiddle Jams

Led by Shane Guse, join us for a monthly fiddle jam! This is a drop-in event. This is a fun and supportive group setting where you play when you can, listen when you can't, and make sure to take note of new tunes you hear and want to explore. This is open to players of all ages and levels. If you have never played fiddle before, this is a great opportunity to try it out. The goal is to have fun, build confidence and repertoire, and hopefully introduce fiddling to those who have never had the opportunity to try it. 

• Location: 190 Lester Street, Waterloo
• Dates: Nov. 26, Jan. 28, Feb. 25, March 24, April 21, May 19
• Time: Sundays from 7:15 - 8:15 p.m. 
• Cost: $5 donation encouraged for the instructor 
• Ages: All (should have minimum basic proficiency on your instrument) 

No registration required.

Video Game Music Appreciation

Characters' Themes

We all have favourite characters in the video games we play, but what do their themes tell us about the characters we know and love? In this small group class, students explore how protagonists’ (heroes’) and antagonists’ (villains’) themes in video games reflect the personalities of the characters they represent through guided listening, analysis, and class discussions. Students also have the opportunity to analyse or compose a hero’s theme and a villain’s theme and present their work to the class at the end of the course. 

• Location: Virtual
• Dates: Thursdays; Jan. 11 to April 4, 2024
• Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Cost: $290 
• Ages: 13+

Register

Battle Themes

Why does battle music in video games always seem to get our blood pumping? This class introduces students to the features of regular battle and boss battle themes from different games and explores how they make us feel when we’re playing through guided listening and analysis. Students also have the opportunity to analyse or compose a regular battle theme and a boss battle theme and share their work with the class at the end of the course.

• Location: Virtual
• Dates: Thursdays; Jan. 11 to April 4, 2024
• Time: 7:45 - 8:45 p.m.
• Cost: $290 
• Ages: 13+

Register

SUP'R Students!

(Singing, Ukulele, Piano, Recorder)

*FULL*

Formerly RSVP, this program is a musical introduction to students ages 7-10, focusing on four different instruments over 28 weeks. Students will experience seven weeks of singing, seven weeks of ukulele, seven weeks of piano, and seven weeks of recorder (order of instruction may vary). Music books, a recorder, and a rental ukulele will be provided as part of the program. No musical experience necessary!

• Location: 190 Lester Street, Waterloo
• Dates: Friday Sept. 15, 2023
• Time: Fridays at 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
• Cost: $475 (students must attend the entire program for 28 weeks)
• Ages: 7-10
• Class limit: 11

Contact the school directly to register.