Classes and Instruction

Saturday Conservatory's classes are all based on having students with similar skills learning together.

Music Theory is the study of music notation (note-reading), rhythm reading, ear training, and music terminology. An initial screening exam is given to place students in the proper level of theory.

Saturday Conservatory students take music theory as part of their normal course of instruction. Students are grouped by skill and background level based on tests given every quarter. Students who successfully pass the end-of-quarter exam move upward to the next level of theory. Students who need a little more time to be comfortable with a level of theory continue in their current level. Saturday Conservatory maintains three levels of music theory, and two levels of advanced theory (harmony). As theory classes are a normal part of the course of instruction, it is included in the Conservatory tuition at no additional cost.

Theory instruction differs from instrument instruction in that the class is designed to give students an understanding of overall musical concepts, not just those specific to their instrument. This greatly enhances the students' ability to advance on his/her instrument, to understand music, to sight-read, and to improve overall performance level.

Instruction is offered in all band and orchestra instruments, piano, and classical guitar, and for voice as well.. Instruction is given by skilled specialists in each instrument in a small-group setting with students of similar skill level. As students progress, they move into an class that is suitable for their new skill level.

Instruction is offered in: Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Low Brass, Percussion (drums), Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, harp, piano, classical guitar, and voice.

Instrument classes perform in a recital on the 9th week of each quarter during their regular class time.

Instruction on an additional instrument is available for a small additional fee of $40 per quarter.

Saturday Conservatory offers four orchestras, each representing an appropriate skill level for students, from those seeking their first orchestra experience to highly advanced players.

Grace Villagomez teaches the choir and voice classes at the Saturday Conservatory. She graduated from Cal State University Los Angeles in 2007 with a BA in Music Education and is continuing her studies during the 3-Summer Masters of Music in Choral Conducting. She has studied under Dr. Sarkis Baltaian, Mary Scheibe, and Renee Sousa. She is an active member in her church choir and has also sung with the CSULA University Chorus. Grace also teaches piano privately and is a substitute teacher at the Pomona Unified School District.

10:30 Youth Choir Hello Youth Choir!
REHEARSAL MUSIC FOR SPRING 2010 10:30 CHOIR (clicking on links below will download a music AIFF file to your computer. Use this music file to rehearse at home)
I Won't Grow Up
Check out these video links for your song! I Won't Grow Up (on you tube)
11:30 Junior Choir Hello Junior Choir!
Below you will find the songs that we learned last quarter and the two songs we will be learning this quarter. These tracks are accompaniment only, so I hope that you will find them very useful in your practice time! To get a better idea of the style of each song, look up the songs online at various websites.
I will give you more information during class about what songs we will be singing for the festival on May 15 and what songs we will be singing for the concert on June 5.
If you have any questions about the tracks or the songs, shoot me an email at: Email Grace !

~Ms. V
Songs from last quarter - Winter 2010:
REHEARSAL MUSIC FOR SPRING 2010 11:30 CHOIR (clicking on links below will download a music AIFF file to your computer. Use this music file to rehearse at home)
Distant Shore (Accomp Only)
Don't Worry Be Happy (Accomp Only)
Sakura Matsuri (Accomp Only)
Songs for this quarter quarter - Spring 2010:
Don't Stop Believin
Put On Your Sunday Clothes
Holy Caboozers! Check out this link: Hello Dolly - Put on Your Sunday Clothes (on you tube)
Note: your computer may say the file is not recognized and recommend not downloading. These files are safe to download and will play in your Windows Media Player that is standard on windows pcs. Also, these are large files. Depending your internet speed this may take up to 30 minutes to download. Click Here to download
12:30 Women's Ensemble
Hello ladies!
Click on the link below to hear the accompaniment track for 'Friendship'. Hope you find this track helpful in your practice time. This will be a fun song to learn. :-)
"Friendship" - Click Here to download Check out this link: Lucy and Ethel at their best (on you tube)
Send me an email at Email Grace if you have any questions.

~Ms. V

Currently, Conservatory offers three string ensembles: The 8:30 String Ensemble (suited for string players playing in the 9:30 Orchestra), the 9:30 String Ensemble (suited for string players in the 10:30 Orchestra), and the 10:30 String Ensemble (suited for players in Youth Symphony West). String ensembles offer students an opportunity to play literature that students normally don't have exposure to at school, or in large orchestras.

Conservatory offers a Percussion Ensemble which meets at 11:30, suited for intermediate and advanced percussionists.

An small additional fee of $10 is required for these ensembles to cover the cost of additional instruction, supplies and literature.

Students are required to have an instrument available for them for practice every day. They need to bring their instrument to Conservatory every week. Students are expected to attend all classes regularly, on time, and to practice a minimum of 20-30 minutes per day. Students who do not meet these expectations may be dropped from the program without refund. It is essential that all Conservatory students behave in a manner which is not unruly or disruptive. Otherwise, they will be removed from the program without refund.