Due to COVID-19, Columbia Music School suspended all the classes for Fall 2020. This Winter/Spring, we resumed classes at the MU School of Music, beginning Saturday, February 6, 2021. Pre-registration is required, as spaces are limited due to social distancing.
Application Form & Information
ABOUT
Columbia Music School is a program founded by Odyssey Chamber Music Series’ Artistic Director Ayako Tsuruta, supported by the MU School of Music director Dr. Julia Gaines. Together with local music teachers, Ayako Tsuruta conducts Saturday morning classes, by offering some music classes to those pre-collegiate students who want to explore more about music, and to make music together. Columbia Music School is generously sponsored by the Odyssey Chamber Music Series and the MU School of Music.
OUR MISSION
Held on Saturdays at the MU School of Music, Columbia Music School strives to provide a nurturing atmosphere with a well-structured, consistent schedule, so that you are provided quality musical education and maximize your experience to the best of your abilities.
ELIGIBILITY
Columbia Music School welcomes all pre-collegiate students interested in music. Individual instructions are highly recommended but not required for the classes. Please note, you must obtain your current private teacher's permission to enroll in any of our classes. We do not schedule individual lessons, but we are happy to make recommendations.
APPLICATION FORM
Application for Spring 2021 classes is now available, below. Please make sure you have your private teacher's permission to take our group ensemble and/or theory classes.
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2021 Spring Schedule & Tuition
Non-refundable Annual Registration Fee: $50
The fee covers educational materials including books and music that will be used in classes. *Exception: Ensemble music parts and scores.
The fee covers educational materials including books and music that will be used in classes. *Exception: Ensemble music parts and scores.
Classes are generally held at the MU School of Music. Due to the pandemic, they will need to be held online until the MU School of Music is open to the outside organizations.
Location is TBA for those dates marked with (*).
All classes are elective. You will be placed in class(es) appropriate to your age and level, to the best of our abilities.
Tentative dates: 2021 Winter/Spring: 13 Classes
Feb 6, 13, 20, 27 - Mar 6, 13, 20, (no 27) -
Apr (no 3), 10, 17, 24 - May 1, 8, 15 (performance)
Tuition is calculated by the number of classes, due on the second week of the Classes.
Location is TBA for those dates marked with (*).
All classes are elective. You will be placed in class(es) appropriate to your age and level, to the best of our abilities.
Tentative dates: 2021 Winter/Spring: 13 Classes
Feb 6, 13, 20, 27 - Mar 6, 13, 20, (no 27) -
Apr (no 3), 10, 17, 24 - May 1, 8, 15 (performance)
Tuition is calculated by the number of classes, due on the second week of the Classes.
FAQ (may not be applicable during the pandemic)
Q. When and where do we meet for the first time? Do I need to bring anything?
A. The MU School of Music is closed to the outside organizations during the pandemic. The only option to meet as a class is online for Spring 2021.
A. We will meet at the MU School of Music, in Room #146 on the ground floor, for the class you are interested in enrolling. Due to some paperwork, Ayako will be in the building sometime after 9am. Please come no later than 9:10am for Theory and 10am for Piano Ensemble. You do not need to bring anything; we will provide all sheet music, pencils and paper - but if you prefer your own, you may bring them of course.
Please note, We are only responsible for your child as students who are enrolled and physically in the classroom. For example. if there is a break more than 10 minutes between Theory and Ensemble classes, please arrange for a guardian to be present with the child during the wait. (Non-issue for Spring 2021.)
Q. How do I know what level my child is for all the classes?
A. On the first day of the class, we will be assessing your child's knowledge. It will not necessarily be a test however; we like to see his/her response we receive in a classroom setting, so that we can also analyze how one copes in a group class.
[Theory] Generally if the child has taken lessons less than 5 years, s/he likely belongs to the beginning Theory; currently Advanced Theory is identifying chords and analyzing harmonic chord progression.
[Piano Ensemble] We will ask a student to play something they are comfortable playing, followed by some questions which help instructors assess what kind of partner and pieces will be appropriate for the ensemble class.
Q. May I enroll in the middle of the semester?
A. We regret we generally do not accept students in the middle of the semester. While there is no flexibility for the piano ensembles for Spring 2021, it is possible to accommodate Theory students. You will be responsible for paying the registration fee and what classes your child participates.
Q. I do not currently have a private teacher for my child. May I still enroll?
A. Yes. We try to provide extra help to those who need more attention and/or time understanding concepts such as a pattern of a scale - which may be emphasized more if there were a private teacher to remind the student. For Piano Ensembles, we do the best we can to choose a piece that does not necessary require practice outside of the classroom - unless, of course, there is an understanding between the students and his/her partner that they will each devote a certain practice time over the week, so that they will keep improving. While we accommodate beginners, advanced students are also very welcome.
[Chamber Music] Please note: Currently chamber music enrollment is pre-arranged and scheduled on other times than Saturday mornings. Tuition varies according to the individual instructor's fee.
A. The MU School of Music is closed to the outside organizations during the pandemic. The only option to meet as a class is online for Spring 2021.
A. We will meet at the MU School of Music, in Room #146 on the ground floor, for the class you are interested in enrolling. Due to some paperwork, Ayako will be in the building sometime after 9am. Please come no later than 9:10am for Theory and 10am for Piano Ensemble. You do not need to bring anything; we will provide all sheet music, pencils and paper - but if you prefer your own, you may bring them of course.
Please note, We are only responsible for your child as students who are enrolled and physically in the classroom. For example. if there is a break more than 10 minutes between Theory and Ensemble classes, please arrange for a guardian to be present with the child during the wait. (Non-issue for Spring 2021.)
Q. How do I know what level my child is for all the classes?
A. On the first day of the class, we will be assessing your child's knowledge. It will not necessarily be a test however; we like to see his/her response we receive in a classroom setting, so that we can also analyze how one copes in a group class.
[Theory] Generally if the child has taken lessons less than 5 years, s/he likely belongs to the beginning Theory; currently Advanced Theory is identifying chords and analyzing harmonic chord progression.
[Piano Ensemble] We will ask a student to play something they are comfortable playing, followed by some questions which help instructors assess what kind of partner and pieces will be appropriate for the ensemble class.
Q. May I enroll in the middle of the semester?
A. We regret we generally do not accept students in the middle of the semester. While there is no flexibility for the piano ensembles for Spring 2021, it is possible to accommodate Theory students. You will be responsible for paying the registration fee and what classes your child participates.
Q. I do not currently have a private teacher for my child. May I still enroll?
A. Yes. We try to provide extra help to those who need more attention and/or time understanding concepts such as a pattern of a scale - which may be emphasized more if there were a private teacher to remind the student. For Piano Ensembles, we do the best we can to choose a piece that does not necessary require practice outside of the classroom - unless, of course, there is an understanding between the students and his/her partner that they will each devote a certain practice time over the week, so that they will keep improving. While we accommodate beginners, advanced students are also very welcome.
[Chamber Music] Please note: Currently chamber music enrollment is pre-arranged and scheduled on other times than Saturday mornings. Tuition varies according to the individual instructor's fee.
Piano Ensembles
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Theory & Sight Singing
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Chamber Music
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2021 Instructors
* If you are a music teacher with a Master's degree, passionate about music education in our community and interested in teaching at Columbia Music School, we are interested too. Please contact Ayako Tsuruta with your resume and statement of interest, and e-mail to info@OdysseyMissouri.org.
AYAKO TSURUTA (Ms. Ayako)
Pianist, Executive and Artistic Director of Odyssey Chamber Music Series and private piano instructor in Columbia, Missouri. Credentials include Artist Diploma and Masters of Music from Yale University School of Music, and Bachelor of Music from the Juilliard School. |
ANDREW WEIR (Mr. Andrew)
After graduating from Butler University in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in music business, Andrew Weir moved to Columbia to continue his music career with the bands Bockman and Joe Stickley's Blue Print; both bands have toured the country multiple times playing popular clubs and national festivals in support of 12 full-length studio albums in the past seventeen years. In 2009 he became keyboard player of Backyard Tire Fire while promoting the album Good to Be, produced by Grammy Award-winner Steve Berlin of Los Lobos. During that time, the band played on NPR's famous program Mountain Stage and performed at many festivals opening up for such artists as Medeski, Martin, & Wood, Los Lobos, Cracker, and Willie Nelson. In the summer of 2020, Andrew finished a master’s degree in Piano Pedagogy at the University of Missouri while studying piano with Dr. Peter Miyamoto. While studying with Dr. Miyamoto, Andrew received Honorable Mention at the 2018 Missouri Music Teachers Association (MMTA) State Piano Solo Competition. |
COONGRATLATIONS to the BNB Trio for winning the 2020 MMTA State Competition in Chamber Music!
