Pre-college music lessons at San Jacinto College Central will be taught by instructors at the College, such as musician Frank Rodriguez. Photo credit: Rob Vanya, San Jacinto College marketing department.

College to offer pre-college music lessons

Rob Vanya, August 26, 2010

PASADENA, Texas – San Jacinto College (SJC) Central’s music department will offer pre-college music classes for young people during the Fall term. The classes will begin Sept. 13 and continue until Dec. 1.

This autumn’s program will offer beginning lessons in piano for elementary and middle school students, class guitar lessons for middle school students, and lessons for strings.

The strings classes will include lessons for violin, viola, and cello, using the Suzuki Strings method. The system, founded by Japanese musician Shinichi Suzuki, treats learning music like learning a language. Students learn by listening: they listen to Suzuki CDs and play by ear. The method emphasizes careful listening, repetition, and encouragement. Students become comfortable with their instrument before learning to read music. The methodology adapts to the individual needs of a student at any age. The Suzuki Strings program is for pre-school, kindergarten, and elementary students.

The College will provide keyboard instruments, but students in other classes will need to provide their own instruments. All of the pre-college instructors are music faculty members at the SJC Central campus.

To register for the music classes, and for information about times and costs, please contact Dr. Martha Braswell at 281-476-1501, extension 1603, or by email at martha.braswell@sjcd.edu.

San Jacinto College offers a wide range of degree options and course plans in music at each of its three campuses, as well as private music lessons to students and to community residents.

San Jacinto College serves a diverse population of more than 27,000 students in over 140 degrees and certificates in university transfer and technical programs. The College also serves the community through work force training. Students come with various goals and aspirations and we are committed to their success. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.

For more information about San Jacinto College, please visit www.sanjac.edu, or call 281-998-6150.

Contact: Rob Vanya