FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long do your classes run?
We cater to many different programs. 5 weeks to 1 year classes available for TK - 5th grade.
Is your curriculum standards based, off each grade level?
Yes! Our entire music program --- curriculum, teacher training, instruction, and culminating experiences --- is standards-based and designed to enhance a child's music learning experience while meeting Maestro instructional standards that coincide with state arts standards. Specifically, we base our curriculum on California performing arts music-specific content standards for public schools:
Are your teachers credentialed in music and if not, how do you ensure that a standards based curriculum is followed and understood by the "teacher"?
Our teachers are not credentialed. However, our teachers must meet minimum requirements of a Bachelor's Degree in major or minor in Music. Our highly selective teacher process is based on music expertise, a strong educational background, successfully working with young people, and collective years of music experience at the college or professional level.
Our teachers are required to successfully complete our Maestro Academy, an intense 2-week teacher immersion training program. The program is comprised of key elements to teacher success for: Curriculum, integration of Kodaly and Orff music methods, classroom management, collaboration tools, technology, etc.
Further, we have systems in place to ensure 100% teacher compliance and adherence by:
* Quarterly drop-in teacher observations
* Quarterly professional development training requirements
* Monthly scope & sequence submissions by teacher
* Weekly lesson plan submissions
Our Quality Assurance Program ensures our teachers meet standards at every level. We make quarterly observations of all our teachers and measure all essential teaching and classroom standards requirements. Observation results are shared with teachers for continued development and to ensure the highest quality of instruction.
We provide surveys to your teachers, staff, and parents at mid-semester and end-of-semester periods. Our surveys measure program content, curriculum, classroom management, concert production quality and much more. We can edit any portion of the survey to address district or school site ares of concern.
What curriculum is used and what, of the California State Standards for Music Education are the priority when teaching at this grade level?
Our curriculum, in combination with California Visual and Performing Arts standards, lists sequence learning for respective grade levels. We use a sound before sight approach to music literacy as well as Solfege and incorporate a plethora of music education philosophies such as: Dalcroze, Kodaly, and Off music methods.