Saturdays in SE Portland!

We have a fantastic new studio day and location available to RCMA students!

Cole Robinson offers guitar (both electric and acoustic), drums, piano, bass and ukulele lessons in his studio near the Hawthorne Bridge in SE Portland.

In addition to teaching popular private lessons for several years with us, Mr. Robinson's classes at our camps this summer were a huge hit! He taught a large variety of classes including everything from beginner piano to ukulele groups singing pop tunes, to music games that got our high-energy students outside and running while learning more about music.

Here are some of his students performing "Radioactive" after just five days together trying out the Ukulele:


Email rosecitymusicacademy@gmail.com or call 503-308-8863 to enroll or have a trial lesson with Mr. Robinson!

Two videos for fall!

We have just returned from a family trip to China and are jumping into fall scheduling head first. Ms. Doty was very helpful with keeping all the emails answered and calls returned while we were gone. It was truly a "family trip" because we came home with a new 19 month old daughter! In another four years or so, we hope she'll be joining our students in the recitals.

There are a few open spots remaining on violin, cello, piano, guitar and voice. As always, email or call if you are interested in a trial lesson.

Here are two fun videos to inspire your young students this fall!

Who can forget the Grasshopper and the Ant?!



And how fun would it be to get one of our free group classes to put on a show like these ladies?! There are a couple of particularly dramatic young boys (my own 6 and 8 year olds!) who I know would love to play at being competitive like this!

Play Music: Your brain will thank you!

As we enroll new students for the school year, I can't help but get excited. As these students establish and maintain a regular practice routine, they will be given skills that help them learn. I'm not just talking about passive neurological improvement like all the studies keep showing (see the articles below for more on that good news). What I love is that they learn how to teach themselves; how to refine the very way they learn.

I can say from my own experience that this is one of the greatest benefits of studying music, perhaps even beyond the in-the-moment expression which I so deeply enjoy. Learning how to improve in one hard thing helps a person prepare to tackle all the many other hard things in life. Knowing yourself better is a profoundly useful thing.

Refining motor skills and mental focus,
learning the violin is a worthy challenge.

So, stick with your lessons, give us a call if you need an accomplished & caring teacher or go to the great teacher down the street- Portland is blessed with many! Support classes in schools, pick up that instrument you played until 5th grade. Your brain will thank you for it.

A pair of supporting articles:
How Playing Music Changes the Learning Brain

Listening to and Playing Music Excites Lobes and Cortices Throughout the Brain

And if you'd like to know more about enrolling with us:
A link to our Fall 2014 registration form. 

Viola for Sale

One of our faculty members is selling an excellent William Harris Lee viola.

Used most recently to complete both a Masters and part of a Doctorate in performance, this is a beautiful instrument with a rich clear timbre. It's a hair over 16" but has a much bigger sound. The neck was shaved approximately 10 years ago, making this viola relatively easy to play.

The price for this viola with a custom Gewa case is $5000 firm.

Please email rosecitymusicacademy@gmail.com for more information.

Summer Camp Registration 2014 is Live!!

This year we'll offer THREE weeks of summer camp on the beautiful campus of the Catlin Gabel School.

Please click here for the registration form. 

Below are some answers to common questions about our camp:

How much experience do students need? None! We have beginner group classes in addition to groups for more advanced students. Class sizes are kept very small, so that each student has the experience of working in a group while receiving the individual attention necessary to achieve new things within the week.

What if we don't have an instrument? No problem! We have instruments to rent and will even provide some free of charge.

What is a typical day like at RCMA’s summer camp?
We have 6 class periods and a lunch hour spread from 9am to 4pm. When a student chooses a focus area, they will join a small group of students for their “lesson time” with the teacher. They’ll have 45 minutes of class time to explore their instrument with a few other students and will perform together in the recital on Friday for parents and friends.

Each student’s day will include their focus period, choir, and outdoor play. The remaining periods are filled with art and music classes covering rhythm, music history, composition, music theory, and more. With several opportunities for students of all levels to work and play freely together, both friendships and musical skills flourish.

What is the Intensive Chamber Camp like? 
Chamber campers enjoy working in a small group together, playing compositions in different groupings with multiple instructors throughout the day. Our campers often play classical, pop, fiddle and jazz styles with the guidance of professional musicians versed in those styles. The limited size of this camp fosters bonding among the campers and maximizes their musical development over the course of the week. More advanced students are encouraged to help their colleagues and are given music that is tailored to specifically challenge them. An assisted practice session is set aside each day, when the students are given specific input on how to work on the assigned pieces individually and in smaller groups.

Attention is given to technical development, reading skills, and the ability to play in ensembles. The Chamber Campers perform throughout the week for the summer camp students at lunchtime and they also play several pieces in the recital on Friday for parents and friends. We are impressed each year with how these students improve and what they accomplish in just one intensive week!