Step 1: Musicianship

Recorder musicianship classes are a series of engaging lessons that teach students the skills they need to move on to an instrument of their choice with confidence and success. Due to its suitability for small hands, the recorder is the ideal introductory instrument for students to practice coordination and develop finger dexterity. 

Students focus on playing the recorder while learning initial theory and ensemble skills in a fun and supportive group environment. As well as playing the recorder, students get the opportunity to play boomwhacker and take part in a variety of practical theory activities. 

After one year of playing the recorder, students can join the Recorder Ensemble (Consort) to extend their group performance skills and learn to play the sopranino, alto, tenor, and/or bass recorders. 

Graduating from musicianship recorder classes allows students to move on to instrumental tuition in a wide variety of instruments (see the 'Step 2: Instrument & Theory Tuition' section for further details).

Percussion students have an exciting, jam-packed year of getting to grips with fundamental sticking techniques and a wide range of instruments. Percussion can be taken as a first instrument or by itself after musicianship classes in another instrument (recorder, ukulele, or keyboard).

In addition to the drum kit, students explore how to play pieces using boomwhackers, timpani, table and chair drumming, bucket drumming, auxiliary percussion instruments, body percussion, and keyboard instruments such as the glockenspiel, xylophone, and marimba. Students also learn music theory and improvisation skills. 

Graduating from musicianship percussion can lead to more advanced percussion classes and also allows students to enrol in instrumental tuition for a wide variety of instruments (see the 'Step 2: Instrument & Theory Tuition' section for further details).

The ukulele is a highly portable and social instrument, great for all ages and stages of learning. The ukulele can be learnt as a first instrument in conjunction with an initial theory class or by itself after graduating from musicianship in another instrument (recorder, percussion, or keyboard). Lessons focus on learning chords and fundamental strumming and fingerpicking techniques alongside developing initial theory and ensemble skills. 

Graduating from musicianship ukulele can lead to more advanced ukulele classes and also allows students to enrol in instrumental tuition for a wide variety of instruments (see the 'Step 2: Instrument & Theory Tuition' section for further details).

A very popular class at OSMC, the keyboard can be taken as a first instrument or by itself after musicianship classes in another instrument (recorder, percussion, or ukulele). Students work at their own pace to develop fundamental technical skills and engage in theory activities to enable them to play a wide variety of musical styles/genres.

Graduating from musicianship keyboard can lead to more advanced keyboard classes and also allows students to enrol in instrumental tuition for a wide variety of instruments (see the 'Step 2: Instrument & Theory Tuition' section for further details).