Enrichment Classes

*Pre-Twinkle families often opt to add another enrichment class to their schedule. This is available for an additional fee.

Twinklegarten Class (ages 2 - 5)

Gather round as we sing, dance, and tell a story. Twinklegarten incorporates elements from Suzuki Early Childhood Education and Suzuki Pre-Twinkle. Twinklegarten students use their voices, play instruments, move their bodies, and hear stories, all while building skills to get them ready for instrumental study. This course will focus on musical skills such as rhythmic and melodic understanding, social interaction, being part of an ensemble, and pre instrumental gross and fine motor skills. Taught by Rachel Fabulich

Songs, Steps, and Stories (ages 5 - 8)

During the week, we will explore our voices and instruments using them for games, movement, and storytelling. Incorporating a wide variety of instruments to accompany ourselves, our group will learn to sing some familiar and new melodies, move our bodies to understand rhythmic patterning, and try out some story telling to bring music to life. We will explore playful music making, with opportunities for expression, using both ensemble training and creative improvisation. Taught by Rachel Fabulich

Dalcroze Eurythmics (ages 7 and up)

Dalcroze explores the foundations of music by engaging students of all ages and levels through playful activities and movement. With world renowned Dalcroze Instructor, Jeremy Dittus improvising at the piano, students will discover new ways of approaching rhythm, ear training, musical expression, and literacy. This hands-on approach addresses a variety of concepts such as meter, tempo, phrase, form and dynamics through purposeful movement, song, and improvisation. Younger students will often learn through imaginative play and stories, etc. Older students might focus on more advanced skills that are necessary for their continued success at their instrument including advanced rhythmic and metric training, collaborative skills, ear training, sight-singing and improvisation using the body, voice, or even at an instrument. Taught by Jeremy Dittus

Orff Class (ages 8 and under)

Orff Schulwerk is a creative music and movement approach developed by German composer Carl Orff and his colleague Gunild Keetman. Using a variety of barred and percussion instruments, children develop their musicality with movement, singing, playing and improvisation activities. Taught by Becky Hanaburgh.

Orff Ensemble (ages 8-12)

Participants will reimagine pieces from the Suzuki repertoire by playing arrangements of them on glockenspiels, xylophones, metallophones and a variety of classroom percussion instruments. Participants will utilize musical memory, imitation, body percussion, connections between speech and music, improvisation and agency as they work as an ensemble and create aspects of the arrangements. Additionally, experiencing repertoire through a new medium will broaden student perspective as they continue to work with their own instrument. The arrangements will be taught, developed and practiced in class with the goal of a short performance of student work on Friday.

Folk Dances of the World (ages 9 and up)

Based on compilations such as Dance Music for Children by the Shenanigans, Rhythmically Moving by Phyllis Weikert, and the New England Dancing Masters, this class will get students moving while they experience a variety of dances from the United States and countries around the world. Taught by Becky Hanaburgh.

Fiddle Class (violins, violas and cellos/bk 2 and above, basic reading skills)

Join in at one of two levels – beginning or advanced fiddle. If this is your first or second fiddle experience at NESI, select beginning fiddle. If you are a seasoned fiddler, select advanced fiddle. Learn as many songs prior to the institute. Music does not need to be memorized. Click here to download sheet music and audio. Taught by Kaity Newell.

Musical History Tour (ages 7 and up)

Using opera and orchestral masterpieces, take a journey through history and experience music by the great composers. Gain a glimpse into the life, personality, and the time during which each of these composers lived. You will be exposed to the fundamentals of music appreciation as you learn both the vocabulary and substance of this incredible music. By acting out and portraying these stories using costumes, multimedia, and audience participation, Musical History ‘Mystery’ Tours brings the masterpieces to life in a way that is not only fun for children but also memorable and inspiring. Taught by Chuck Speicher.

Black Belt Musicianship (ages 12 and up and book 2 and above)

Black Belt Musicianship is a class dedicated to putting music theory into practice. Students rotate between electric guitar, bass guitar, drum set, and keyboard to interact with musical ideas that allow us to explore rhythm, harmony, melody, and improvisation in a jam session. No previous experience is necessary on any of these instruments as long as the student has experience with book 2 and above. Taught by Chuck Speicher.

Performing with Confidence (ages 12 and up and book 3 and above)

Performing with Confidence is a supportive and interactive class designed to help young musicians confront stage anxiety and learn essential skills to perform with poise and assurance. This class is perfect for preteens and teens who feel nervous about playing in front of others, or who simply want to build confidence on stage. To create a safe space for students, adults are not invited to observe, allowing participants to grow in a judgment-free environment. Each class will focus on a specific technique to help students overcome performance anxiety and develop a positive mindset. Students will have the opportunity to perform a portion of their piece twice—once as they normally would and once applying the day’s skill—with individual coaching from the instructor. Through these guided exercises, participants will discover tools for transforming nerves into energy and self-doubt into confidence.

Second Instrument Master Class (book 3 and up)

Students book 3 and up may take a secondary master class in a different instrument. Group/Technique class will be with the primary instrument. This will have an additional fee. This class is not for beginners.