Jam Band 101 is a collaborative, game-based music class where kids dive into music-making through songwriting, instrument exploration, and teamwork as they create original songs with their bandmates.
What Happens in Jam Band 101?
Each class is packed with activities that make music fun and engaging:
- Drum Circle: Rhythm games that build timing and coordination.
- Rock Pit: Interactive, full-body games that teach Big Lessons About Music (BLAMs!).
- Speed Song: Students lead the creation of original songs.
- Bandstand: Play all the instruments! Explore melody on piano, rhythm on drums, harmony on guitar, multiple fluencies on DJ gear, and lyrics and voice on the microphone.
In Jam Band 101, kids learn to communicate through music, develop teamwork, and discover the joy of making music together!
What Your Child Will Learn
Students learn foundational music skills through hands-on practice and games, including:
- Music Fluencies: Rhythm, melody, harmony, and songwriting.
- Instrumental Skills: Understand the roles of piano, drums, guitar, bass, DJ, and voice in a band.
- Songwriting: Write and perform original songs with their bandmates.
- Teamwork: Build confidence and communication skills by playing music collaboratively.
Musical Concepts Developed
Jam Band 101 teaches essential skills and concepts in a fun and engaging way:
- Recognizing beats and measures of 4.
- Isolating beats 1, 2, 3, or 4 while playing.
- Understanding and performing quarter, half, eighth, and whole notes.
- Playing 1- and 2-measure rhythm patterns on all instruments.
- Recognizing major and minor chords and identifying the 1 and 5 chords.
- Exploring the qualities of the 7 diatonic chords and how they sound in songs.
- Learning the roles of each instrument—drums, bass, guitar, piano, vocals, and DJ.
- Recognizing note intervals like 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
- Understanding basic song structure: intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro.
- Writing and performing original songs with their bandmates.
- Performing at mid-year and end-of-year band parties to celebrate their progress.
Program Information
Class Details
- Ages: 6-8 (5-year-olds may join if they’ve completed one year of MiniMusos)
- Class Length: 60 minutes
- Class Size: Small groups of up to 6 kids
Instruments
- Piano/Keyboard
- Guitar
- Bass
- Drums
- Microphone
- DJ
Schedule
Class Availability:
- Saturdays, 11:00-12:00 am
- Saturdays, 2:00-3:00
- Sundays, 11:00-12:00 am
- Sundays, 2:00-3:00
Pricing
$240 per month* (one class per week)
*For months with 5 weeks, the 5th week will be an optional band hangout day.
Why Jam Band 101?
Jam Band 101 inspires kids to grow as musicians while having fun. It’s creative, interactive, and collaborative.
In this program, kids develop confidence, creativity, and teamwork by:
- Communicating through music.
- Learning how rhythm, harmony, melody, and songwriting work together.
- Practicing teamwork and making friends.
- Exploring different instruments to discover what excites them most.
- Experiencing the joy of making music with others!
Benefits for the Whole Family
Jam Band 101 brings music into your home and creates meaningful connections for the whole family. Horizon families enjoy:
- Weekly Class Reports: Stay connected with updates, videos, and at-home activities.
- A Musical Community: Join a supportive network of music-loving families.
- Shared Experiences: Watch your child grow in confidence and creativity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What age are the students in Jam Band 101?
Jam Band 101 is designed for 6- to 8-year-olds. Five-year-olds may join if they’ve completed one year of MiniMusos.
My child is turning 6 soon. Are they ready for Jam Band 101?
If your child is turning 6 within 2-3 months, we may recommend Jam Band 101. However, if they are not turning 6 for several months, MiniMusos might be a better fit. The most important consideration is placing your child in a group with peers their age.
How many kids are in a Jam Band 101 class?
Jam Band 101 classes are small, with a maximum of 6 children.
How long is each class?
Jam Band 101 classes are 60 minutes long.
What happens in Jam Band 101?
Students explore simple techniques on piano, drums, guitar, bass, DJ gear, and singing. They collaborate to write original songs and play music games designed to teach the building blocks of music.
What instruments will my child play?
Students will explore piano/keyboard, drums, guitar, bass, DJ gear, and microphone for singing.
Is there a performance?
Yes! Twice a year, we invite families and friends to join a class where students showcase their original songs and demonstrate what they’ve learned.
What if my child would do better in private lessons?
Most 6- to 8-year-olds thrive in the group setting of Jam Band 101 because it’s fun, motivating, and social. They also get to explore all the band instruments and learn a little about each one instead of committing to a single instrument right away. In addition, group classes teach valuable teamwork skills and how to contribute to something bigger—a band.
However, if your child is highly focused on mastering a specific instrument, private lessons might be a better fit. Group classes emphasize collaboration and variety, so they won’t spend all their time on one instrument.
Can kids this age really write and play an original song?
Yes! And they are always SO excited and inspired by their creations. Our curriculum and games are designed to make songwriting accessible and fun. For example, students practice counting beats and measures on hand drums, then use those same patterns to compose their own songs.
Why is songwriting part of the program?
Songwriting is an incredibly effective learning tool. To write their own songs, students must understand the building blocks of music and how rhythm, melody, harmony, and lyrics come together to create something unique.
What do students in Jam Band 101 learn?
Students learn:
- The basics of composition and how the core music fluencies—Rhythm, Harmony, Melody, and Songwriting—fit together to make a song.
- Basic techniques on all the instruments.
- The role of each instrument in a band.
- Which instrument(s) they are most excited to play.
- Teamwork and communication skills.
Can you explain more about the music fluencies?
Our curriculum revolves around the core music fluencies: Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, and Songwriting. In Jam Band 101, students will learn:
- Counting to 4 and understanding measures of 4.
- Recognizing and isolating beats 1, 2, 3, or 4 while playing.
- Understanding and performing quarter, half, eighth, and whole notes.
- Playing 1- and 2-measure rhythm patterns on all instruments.
- Recognizing major and minor chords and identifying the 1 and 5 chords.
- Exploring the qualities of the 7 diatonic chords and how they sound in songs.
- Recognizing intervals like 1st, 2nd, and 3rd notes.
- Understanding the roles of each band instrument in creating Rhythm, Harmony, and Melody.
- Building songs with basic structures, including intro, verse, chorus, bridge, and outro.
- Writing multiple original songs while exploring the roles of piano, drums, guitar, bass, DJ, and vocals.
- Performing their original songs at mid-year and end-of-year band parties.
Sign Up Now!
We’ll contact you to answer any remaining questions and confirm your child’s enrolment.