Music Ensembles
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Register Today! ☆
Music Ensemble Offerings
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Orchestra Program
Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Orchestra
Violin, Viola, and Cello students in Minuet No. 1 or above invited to audition!
Students may enroll directly in Beginning Orchestra. Students interested in joining Intermediate or Advanced Orchestra should reach out to info@musichouseinc.com to schedule an audition - all students who audition will be placed in an ensemble! -
Rock Band
Beginning, Interemediate, and Advanced Rock
Open to Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keyboard, and Voice Students. No prior experience required to join Beginning Rock (enroll below!). Must have at least one year of experience on instrument to join Intermediate or Advanced Rock.
Students with be placed in either Intermediate or Advanced Rock after their audition. All students who audition will be placed in an ensemble. -
Music House Choir
Beginners welcome! No prior voice lesson experience or audition required.
Choir is the perfect entry point into music education – it doesn’t require any prior experience to participate, no instrument rental, and it is lower commitment than our other vocal paths. All you need are yourself and an openness to trying something new!
Ages 6-9. Enroll today!
About Our Ensemble Program
We are proud to offer an ensemble for nearly every music student - Orchestra (strings), Rock Band (drums, bass, guitar, keyboard, vocals), Music House Choir (vocalists), and Advanced Violin Ensemble (violinists in Suzuki Book 3+). We encourage all students in an ensemble to also be enrolled in private lessons.
Ensemble students learn how to communicate and work as a team, gain independence on their own part, and develop performance skills.
Group learning is not only more fun for students, but also can be much more motivating than individual lessons alone. In ensembles, students reinforce the skills they've learned in private lessons, while also learning new skills required for ensemble playing. Just like learning a language, music is better learned when immersed in a community of other music-makers!
Students who participate in an Ensemble will also have additional performance opportunities throughout the year!
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There are so many incredible benefits of playing in an ensemble that cannot be achieved through private lessons alone! Students learn skills such as playing together and following a leader, matching tempos, dynamics, and phrasing. Ensembles can also provide motivation and community by getting students to see the big picture!
Read all about the ideal combination of private and group class here! -
Build community
Learn ensemble skills (listening, following a leader, playing together)
Reinforce technique/foundational skills
Improve rhythmic/metric consistency
Increase confidence on stage through regular performance opportunities (including at Backyard Fest, Do Division Fest, West Fest, and more!)
Have fun!
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Ensemble rehearsals take place weekly. Classes do not occur during Music House scheduled breaks/holidays.
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Yes! Students who participate in ensembles will have high quality performance opportunities throughout the year.
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We hold auditions for Intermediate and Advanced Orchestra and Rock.
There are no auditions for Beginning Orchestra or Rock Ensemble, or Music House Choir.
Students must be nominated by a teacher to participate in Advanced Violin.
Orchestra
Our top musicians of Music House are currently playing in our orchestras, and we would love for you to join us! The Music House Orchestra Program explores a large variety of repertoire, including Pop, Pop-Classical, selections from the Musical Theater Production for Pit Orchestra, and much more. The main focus of our orchestra program is on creating musical friendships, growing as a musician and sight reader, and participating in community-based performances in the winter and spring.
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String students who can play Minuet No. 1 and have begun reading music are invited to audition for orchestra!
Beginning Orchestra Prerequisites:
Suzuki Book 1-2 (Minuet 1-Boccherini Minuet)
Learning to read music, can play A, D, and G Major Scales
Intermediate Orchestra Prerequisites:
Suzuki Book 2-4 (Lully Gavotte - Bach Double)
Has completed “I Can Read Music Vol. 1”
Advanced String Ensemble Prerequisites:
Suzuki Book 5+
Fluent note-reader
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The audition will function like a 15 minute lesson, rather than a test. An audition is a great experience, and preparation for a future of auditions (high school or otherwise!), interviews, performances, and more. We would love to provide our students with the preparation they need to go into (sometimes) scary situations by showing them that an audition doesn't have to be scary- it's just a learning experience!
What to expect from the audition:
Beginning OrchestraA, D, G Major Scales
A piece from Suzuki Book 1-2 (Minuet No. 1 - Boccherini Minuet)
Intermediate Orchestra Audition:
3 scales of your choice
A piece from Suzuki Book 2-4 (Lully Gavotte - Bach Double)
Orchestral excerpts
Returning orchestra students are also required to choose a time slot during this weekend for their excerpt audition. Returning students are expected to play the provided orchestral excerpts as well as a performance piece from Suzuki Book 2-4 (Lully Gavotte - Bach Double).
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Talk to your private lesson teacher!
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Auditions occur twice per year (August and January). If you are interested in auditioning outside of those audition dates, please reach out to info@musichouseinc.com.
Register or Schedule an Audition Today!
Rock Band
Rock Band students learn how to play rock songs as they were meant to be played – with other musicians! Music House Rock Band is a weekly group class that learns and performs rock songs as well as other band-voted songs (past songs include Where Is My Mind by The Pixies, Buddy Holly by Weezer, and All The Small Things by Blink 182)!
Students in the Rock Ensembles at Music House receive high quality, professional performance opportunities at least twice per year (past venues have included Chop Shop Chicago, The Beat Kitchen, Do Division Street Fest, St. Helen’s Carnival, and more!
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Voice, Guitar, Bass, Piano, or Drum students are invited to participate!
Beginning Rock:
Ages 7-10
No prior experience required!
Great first step for students age 7-10 OR for students who have completed Pre-Rock
Intermediate Rock:
Ages 8+ years old
At least one year experience on instrument
Must be in private lessons or MHAS Rock Program
Advanced Rock:
Ages 10+
At least 2 years experience on instrument
Must be enrolled in private lessons
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Beginning Rock: If you are excited to learn a new instrument, you’re READY to rock! No experience or audition required to join Beginning Rock.
Intermediate/Advanced Rock: Talk to your private lesson teacher or MHAS Rock teacher! We require that students have played their instrument for a minimum of 1 year, but your private lesson teacher will be able to guide you on whether you’re ready to take on Rock Band!
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Students sign up for a 15 minute audition at our Humboldt Park Studio!
Audition Requirements:1 Music House Selected Song:
Guitar/Bass/Drums: “Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana
Piano: "Feel Good Inc" by Gorillaz
1 Song of Your Choice!
Music House Choir
Music House Choir is a fun, intro-level choir for students ages 6-9 who want to join their voices with others! Choir students explore many different genres, including folk, pop, and classical. Songs students have learned in the past include Taylor Swift medleys, Wicked Medleys, and kpop!
Choir is the perfect entry point into music education – it doesn’t require any prior experience to participate, no instrument rental, and it is lower commitment than our other vocal paths. All you need are yourself and an openness to trying something new!
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Anyone who is interested in learning how to sing with others in harmony! No prior experience required!
Music House Choir is for students ages 6-9
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We do not require prior vocal experience to participate in Music House Choir!
Students must be able to read (words, not music!) in order to participate.
