Piano Safari

Age 4-6

Registration for Piano Safari is currently closed. Please complete the inquiry form to let us know of your interest.

Piano Safari Friends (Pre-K/Kindergarten beginners)

Piano Safari Friends introduces children in Pre-K and Kindergarten to the piano, in collaborative classes which lay the foundation for successful piano study. Through rote playing, improvisation, and follow-the-leader pieces, as well as movement, singing and rhythm patterns, children will learn the layout of the keyboard, diatonic note letter names, and correct piano technique, while continuing and strengthening their music development. These classes for 3-4 students combine partner lessons with overlapping group activity time. Families are provided with a detailed practice outline, making at-home practice easy.

Each student receives 40 weekly minutes of instruction, including a partner lesson and group class. Students should be available for the class duration, as partner lesson schedules may change.

60-minute class format:

First 20 minutes: Partner lesson #1

Middle 20 minutes: Group class

Final 20 minutes: Partner lesson #2

Piano Safari Friends is recommended as a one-year course, spanning Fall and Spring semesters, and prepares students for Piano Safari Level 1 or private study.

Piano Safari Level 1 (For students in Kindergarten or grade 1, who have completed Piano Safari Friends)
Piano Safari Level 1 is for children in Kindergarten or grade 1 who have completed Piano Safari Friends. This class continues rote playing, improvisation and technique exercises, while introducing students to reading, through finger numbers, directional reading and finally reading on the staff. Families are provided with detailed practice outlines, making at-home practice easy.
Piano Safari level 1 is recommended as a one-year course spanning Fall and Spring semesters, and prepares students for private study.
Each student receives 40 weekly minutes of instruction, including a 20-minute partner lesson and 20-minute group class.

60-minute class format:

First 20 minutes: Partner lesson #1

Middle 20 minutes: Group class

Final 20 minutes: Partner lesson #2

For Grade 1 beginners interested in group piano classes, please contact Christy Zarlengo at czarlengo@bmsmusic.org

Piano Safari

Below is a sample class format. Students should be available for the duration of the class (one hour) since partner lesson times can sometimes change during the semester. In extenuating circumstances, we may be able to accommodate a partner lesson time request for the semester. However, please note that we are unable to make partner lesson time changes to accommodate unexpected scheduling conflicts (such as a birthday party, sports game, etc.)

10am class:

10am: Students 1 and 2 arrive

10 – 10:20am: Partner lesson with students 1 and 2

10:20am: Students 3 and 4 arrive

10:20 – 10:40am: Group class with students 1, 2, 3 and 4

10:40am: Students 1 and 2 depart

10:40 – 11am: Partner lesson with students 3 and 4

In cases where 3 students are enrolled in the class, each student will receive a private lesson, rather than a partner lesson, every third week.

Class Details

Fall 2024

Class Age Length Rate Status
Piano Safari Friends (Pre-K/Kindergarten beginners) 4-6 50 minutes $635.00 Closed
Piano Safari Level 1 (For students in Kindergarten or Grade 1) 5-6 50 minutes $635.00 Closed

PLEASE NOTE

  1. For Piano Safari Friends students must be 4 years old by September 1st of the current school year
  2. For Piano Safari Level 1 - New students must be 6 years old by September 1st of the current school year.  Continuing students may be younger than 6 that have completed Piano Safari Friends.

This method requires that parents commit to practicing with their child each week, as well as having an 88-key weighted keyboard at home (if not an acoustic piano). There are also a couple of things that indicate that Safari is a good fit for a child: 

  1. Child is able to listen and follow simple instructions 
  2. Child is willing to try new activities. 
  3. Child has access to a full-sized (88-key) weighted keyboard or acoustic piano at home.

How To Enroll

Enrollment for Piano Safari is not open. Please fill out our inquiry form for more information about our next enrollment period.

Fees & Aid

  • There is a once-yearly non-refundable $45 registration fee per family.
  • There is a $20 fee per term for payment plans.
  • No registration fee is charged for summer study.
BMS is committed to removing any financial barriers. Tuition assistance is available.

Faculty

Shena Miura

Shena Miura

I believe learning music offers both children and adults many benefits beyond the music itself...

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Shannon Prescott

Shannon Prescott

Shannon is an award-winning piano composer and oboist who helps her students find and express their musical interests to the best of their ability....

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About

Classes For Young Children

From infancy through age seven, our classes for young children guide students through sequential, developmentally appropriate lessons which foster their music learning and understanding. These classes for young children provide the foundation for lifelong enjoyment of music and are the first step to preparing children for formal instruction.

Our staff and faculty are skilled in early childhood music development and are happy to discuss any of these programs with you. Contact us at info@bmsmusic.org

Classes For Young Children

Contact Us

Brookline Music School is a nonprofit organization that has provided excellence in music education to the Greater Boston community since 1924. We rely on the generous support of our donors to benefit the community through music.

Brookline Music School welcomes students of all ages. Enrollment is open year-round so students may begin private lesson study at any time. Join us!

Regular Hours

Monday to Friday: 9 am to 9 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 8 am to 7 pm

See the Lessons & Classes or Early Childhood calendars for holiday schedules including flex days, make-up days and closures.

Summer Hours

Effective July 1st, 2024

Sunday: CLOSED

Monday to Thursday: 9 am to 8 pm

Friday: 9 am to 5 pm

Saturday: 8 am - 4 pm