Our group offerings are an integral part to the music education that our students receive. Music is meant to be played with and for others, and learning to play together and collaborate as well as sharing what we play in broader community settings is a foundational piece of the learning landscape. During the school year, one out of every four weeks is devoted entirely to group classes. Fully enrolled studio families are welcome to attend as many of these groups as they find appealing at no additional cost, and non-enrolled folks can participate for a fee.
Violin & Viola Group
Violin and viola group is for students at the Suzuki Book 2 level (or equivalent) and higher and meets once every four weeks on a Monday from 6-7 p.m. Students who are more beginner than this should attend the String Explorers Level 2 class (appropriate for Suzuki Book 1 level or equivalent) which meets weekly on Thursdays.
In Violin and Viola group, we focus on technique, music theory and sight-reading, ensemble playing, Suzuki review, and exploring music of diverse styles and genres. This is a fun, social experience with music for intermediate to advanced players.
Guitar Group
The Guitar Group offering is available to all of BT Studios’ guitar students, regardless of age and level. Meeting once every four weeks on a Tuesday from 6-7 p.m., the main focus of this group is to work on and perform guitar ensemble repertoire from a wide range of genres. This group allows guitarists to move out of isolated solo work and develop a wide range of essential musical skills that are only accessible when playing and performing in a group.
Creative Ensemble
The Creative Ensemble is open to BT Studios students of all instruments and their families. Meeting once every four weeks on a Wednesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m., this group draws students, siblings, parents, and even grandparents into the studio together. It’s a truly transgenerational band dedicated to the collaborative creation and performance of new music. The musical material is generated through a series of playful and easy to follow creative tasks in small groups and each project’s life cycle usually coincides with the duration of a term.
Rock Band
Meeting once every four weeks on a Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Rock Band is our newest group offering aimed exclusively at BT Studios’ middle and high school students. Pre-teens and teens are invited to take over our studio space, fully-loaded with electric guitars, amps, mics, drums and synths. This offering recreates the high school garage band experience in all its glory: having fun playing with peers, playing songs that reflect the group’s musical taste, and learning how to collaborate. Through minimal adult guidance, band members will gain understanding of the musical building blocks that make up a good song and be challenged to use them in making their own covers and originals.
BT21+ Music Club
The 21+ Music Club is a group that meets once a month on a Friday from 7:30 – 9 p.m. The majority of participants are our adult students or parents of students enrolled in BT Studios, but it is open to any adult who wants to come play music, have fun, be social, and learn something. Participants can pay-what-makes-you-happy or bring a bottle to share. The level ranges from complete beginner to professional and the group explores music of diverse styles and genres, offering ear-based and reading-based entry points catered to each participant’s preference and level. Come jam with us some Friday, it’s a good time for all!