CREATIVE MUSICAL BEGINNINGS:

In this fun and playful weekly class, students join a music team to play in a drum circle and a xylophone ensemble, developing a solid foundation of musical skills. The chromatic xylophones (marimbas) have rosewood notes laid out like a piano, making this class excellent in conjunction with, or as preparation for, piano or string lessons. The students are both improvisers and composers, expressing themselves in sound.

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LEVEL 2 MUSICIANSHIP: Fridays 4:15-5:15 p.m. – Ages 6-7 (pre-requisite piano or marimba experience)

ADVANCED MUSICIANSHIP: Wednesdays 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Ages 8-10 (pre-requisite piano or marimba experience)

In the Level 2 and Advanced musicianship classes, students continue to develop musical skills, including scales, intervals, chords, transposing, conducting, improvising, and composing. The groups perform several times throughout the year.

About Marimba Magic Musicianship
The Marimba Magic Musicianship program offers musicianship training to students as they play marimbas and drums in a group. Musical concepts are learned through creative explorations on the instruments, as well as through playing pieces from written music. Students joyously make up their own music on marimbas, a skill they can transfer to the piano with an identical keyboard.

Playing in a drum circle further enhances rhythmic precision and improvisational expression. Conducting, singing, movement, and composition allow full integration of musical concepts.

Each level of Marimba Magic Musicianship provides further mastery of scales, chords, transposing, improvising, and composing, as well as the opportunity to play more complex ensemble pieces. Marimba Magic Musicianship ensembles perform regularly, with advanced groups performing in Boston and at national conferences.

Contact Information
Sarah Tenney, marimba ensembles director
s.tenney@rivers.org