Rochester Contemporary School of Music | Beyond the Nest (Rochester)

Rochester Contemporary School of Music

Address: 
1 Grove Street Suite 122a
Pittsford , NY , 14534
Phone: (585) 348-9135
43° 5' 45.87" N, 77° 30' 58.86" W
Contact name: 
Sean Jefferson
Business/organization type: 
Subjects / Categories: 
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Your hub for contemporary musical arts education!

At Rochester Contemporary School of Music, our goal is to serve as a music prep-school for students interested in pursuing music on a higher level. Our teaching philosophy is centered around the idea that students are naturally receptive to learning about music when teachers take advantage of their students’ existing musical interests. Our instructors embrace the excitement that students have for the music they listen to on their own time. We encourage our students to bring that excitement into the lesson so that they can better understand the concepts they’re learning about by thinking of them in terms of their own listening repertoire. We are absolutely committed to teaching students the fundamentals, as well as to developing their ability to master traditional forms like classical and jazz. However, we feel that harnessing — rather than working against — their curiosity about contemporary styles provides a more effective springboard to the traditional concepts every music student has down pat. Students are more likely to emerge from our programs as better, more well-rounded musicians because we design our lessons to communicate to them in a language they understand. Additionally, all of our instructors are working musicians. We believe that learning how to become a professional, gigging musician is an essential component of the learning experience. That’s why a major part of our curriculum entails playing actual shows as members of working groups — trios, quartets, big bands, rock bands, pop bands, etc. To us, performance lies at the heart of everything we cover in our music theory and music history classes. We do everything in our power to ensure that our students successfully avoid the all-theory/no-practice trap, and it is of the utmost importance to us that everything we teach in the lesson room also applies in real life. At Rochester Contemporary School of Music, our instructors draw on every aspect of our collective expertise to make sure our students walk away from their lessons prepared for any musical situation. We match rigorous training with an open attitude to all styles, and we stress adaptability. We aim for our students to be professionally viable even in situations they may have otherwise turned down for lack of familiarity. Most importantly, our ultimate goal is to prepare students for the ever-daunting challenges of sustaining themselves and making a living from playing music. We also supply them with enough knowledge and insight so that they can wholeheartedly enjoy music — and still feel like they’re learning — for the rest of their lives. When you choose the Rochester Contemporary School of Music, you’re choosing to learn about music not just as notes on paper, but as an integral, richly rewarding part of life.

Music