Creators Grades 7-8

Create, arrange, and develop your musical voice.

Creators is where students take the next step in their Performing Artist journey – moving from learning music to shaping it.

In this level, students build on their band experience with greater independence, exploring songwriting, arranging, improvisation, and creative decision-making within a collaborative ensemble environment.

Students continue to strengthen their ensemble skills while beginning to express their own musical ideas and identity. They will also explore creative tools and simple music technology to support their work, including a guided recording project to capture and share their music in a meaningful way.

Creators build repertoire throughout the year and work together to develop a set for their own level-specific gig, gaining experience making the kinds of musical and performance decisions that real bands make.

This level is ideal for students ready to take ownership of their music and explore new ways of creating, preparing them for the more advanced creative and leadership opportunities in the upper levels of the program.

Included in Creators:

Option 1:

  • 1 regularly scheduled 45-minute band group class, which develops performance skills, ensemble skills, band development, music technology, and more.
  • 1 regularly scheduled 30-minute private lesson in any area of study.

Option 2:

  • 1 regularly scheduled 45-minute band group class, which develops performance skills, ensemble skills, band development, music technology, and more.
  • 1 regularly scheduled 45-minute private lesson in any area of study. Recommended for voice or guitar students.

Performance Opportunities:

Up to 7 performance experiences throughout the school year are included that are intentionally designed to build your child’s confidence in performance skills. Learn more about the upcoming experiences here

Additional Benefits:

  • Special events that inspire your child’s creativity
  • A surprise welcome to the studio gift

Prerequisites for Creators

  • Instrumentalists must be confident with C, F, and G chords, including basic 7th chords, and play simple I-IV-V chord progressions and blues-based songs.
  • Drummers must be able to play a steady rock beat, maintain consistent time, and show awareness of groove (e.g., straight vs. swing feel).
  • Vocalists must be comfortable singing solos, matching pitch, and beginning to explore phrasing and simple improvisation.

Students progressing from Players will have had some introduction to C major pentatonic. Students entering from outside the program do not need prior pentatonic experience to qualify for Creators; this can be developed through their private lesson.

ENROLL NOW

Not Quite Ready Yet?

If a student isn’t quite ready to join the ensemble, we’ll guide them through a personalized preparation pathway designed to build the skills and confidence needed for success in a band setting. 

Students in this stage will participate through an Artist Membership, which includes regular private lessons along with connection to our studio community and performance opportunities. 

This ensures they continue to grow musically while staying connected to the collaborative experience of the Performing Artist Program, with a clear plan to transition into an ensemble when they’re ready.