SLAM Music™ Exploration is all about learning the fundamentals of music by treating it as far more than just art. 

 

Statistics have proven time and time again that studying music boosts learning and comprehension in other subjects, such as science and math. The SLAM Music™ method maximizes this crossover by bringing particular focus on these areas of study in each lesson:

• Science - What is happening when we hear or play music? How do sounds work and interact with each other to become musical?

• Language - How do we read and write the music we hear or play? What do all the characters in the musical alphabet do? What grammar rules do we follow so our music makes sense to whoever is listening?

• Art - Who are the great artist that have influenced the way we listen to and understand music? In what creative ways have they historically "broken the rules" to discover new genres of music?

• Mathematics - What patterns to we find as we study music? What can we learn from these patterns? How can we use them to be better musicians?

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SLAM Music™ Exploration is a 3 year program.

 

Year 1 focuses on the basics of music notation, scales, melodies and harmonies, intervals, chords, and simple rhythm. Students get hands-on experience with the piano keyboard to apply various concepts as they are introduced. Additionally, students learn about the history and famous works of Western European classical composers, and their influence on how we read and write music today.

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Year 2 expands from the basics already learned into more complex topics such as modes and odd rhythms. Students learn about 20th century popular music, starting with jazz and blues, going through rock & roll and into modern pop. We learn about new instruments, their uses and their limitations. We explore chord progressions, rhythmic styles, and focus on more modern "rock band" style instrumentation.

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In year 3, we move away from classical composers and towards composers for the stage and screen, from opera to broadway, from animated classic musicals to blockbuster film scores. In-class projects involve students writing their own music in the style of their choosing.