Music Safari! A Beginning Keyboard Class
Music Safari is a beginning keyboard and music literacy class for students in Kindergarten and Grade 1. Basic musicianship skills are learned through singing, movement and rhythm activities with keyboard as the primary instrument.
The four-level curriculum, taught by seasoned educator Sarah Okerlund, is designed to be completed successively over two years. Each 12-week level runs in two sessions per school year: October to January, and January to May. Level 1 classes are offered in either/both October or January.
Please scroll down for more information about the class and Level schedules.
Other group classes:
What to Expect
For Beginning Keyboard Class
At the end of the two-year curriculum, each student will demonstrate the basic skills needed to succeed in private instruction and voice lessons (depending on age):
- Maintain a steady beat by feeling rhythm physically,
- Create and Identify changes in pitch by using one’s voice and the keyboard,
- Transfer the feeling of steady beat and pulse into groupings of 2’s, 3’s and 4’s, and
- Learn music vocabulary around staff, measures, clefs as well as basic pitch and rhythm notation.
We recommend completing all four levels of Music Safari before advancing to private instruction, though some students may be ready for this step after completing level 2.
Role of Parent / Caregiver
A parent/caregiver (the same adult each week) must be present at each class. As the attending adult is a partner in learning, they provide ongoing assistance to the student with practice at home. We recommend 10 to 15 minute practice sessions daily, at least five days a week.
What We Provide, What You Need
The level 1 & level 3 materials fee includes a piano book, colored pencils, a notebook/binder, and access to a keyboard during class time.
Before the first class, families must have a keyboard with 61+ full-sized keys at home. If you have limited finances, please contact us regarding financial aid and support in finding an instrument.
Beginning Keyboard
Class Schedule
12 Week FALL 2023 Session: Levels 2 and 4
- Monday, September 25 through Monday, December 18.
- Level 4 Graduation Class: Monday, January 8th
Keyboard Class Times: Levels 2 and 4
- Level 4: 4:15 pm to 5:00 pm
- Level 5: 5:15 to 6:00 pm
Keyboard Class Tuition
Levels 2 and 4
- $295
- No materials needed for these continuing levels
Registration and payment must be received in advance of class start date. As this class has limited enrollment, we recommend registering in advance. Tuition is non-refundable once registration has been submitted.
Potential make-ups include teacher sickness and/or one bad weather cancellation. Additional weather cancellations will not be made up. As this is a group class, there are no make-ups for student absences.
Keyboard Class Schedules for Levels 1 and 3
Level 1 class is currently on hold but may become available for Fall 2023 or Winter 2024.
If you are interested in a Level 1 class, please email kristjon@pakmusic.org
The Level 3 class will begin in January or early February, serving as a continuation class for the Level 2 class which is meeting Fall 2023.
Class times for Winter 2024 TBC.
Keyboard Class Tuition Levels 1 and 3
- $335
- Includes the $40 materials fee required for levels 1 and 3.
Pre-Requisites for Safari Keyboard Class
While we do not require prerequisites, our early childhood Music Together classes provide a quality foundation for Music Safari.
Students should be at a typical Kindergarten/Grade 1 developmental stage. Visit the Education Corner web page for guidance.