First Year

• Fundamentals of Music I: Explores the fundamentals of music necessary for the success of the beginning instrumental student. Instruction includes the study of the musical staff, note values, meter, key signatures and musical terminology.
• Instrumental Paired Lesson: Paired lessons featuring instruction by assigned studio faculty, exploring the care and practice of the instrument teaching two students in tandem. The studio faculty also serves as a mentor to assigned students. (Mentoring includes weekly calls to the students’ homes and occasional outings to musical events.)
• Recital Hour: Provides the opportunity for all MAP students to attend recitals and concerts in order to promote the development of performance and critical listening skills.

Second Year

• Fundamentals of Music II: Explores the fundamentals of music, beginning with a review of the Fundamentals of Music I. Instruction includes the study of rhythm, meter, key signatures, scales, intervals and chord construction.
• Individual Private Lesson (second to fourth year): Private lesson featuring one-on-one instrumental instruction with studio faculty who also serve as mentors. (Mentoring includes weekly calls to the students’ homes and occasional outings to musical events.)
• Recital Hour
• Instrumental Ensemble: Students explore small ensemble repertoire in string, woodwind, brass, percussion, and piano ensembles. Emphasis is given to sight-reading and aural skill development within the instrumental ensembles.

*Third Year Entrance Audition Jury: Audition jury for all second-year students interested in advancing to the upper MAP Division. Auditions held in late spring.

Third Year

• Music Theory I: A systematic study of the basic organization of music, from scales to musical form. Instruction includes all major and minor scales, simple and compound meters, rhythmic exercises and aural exercises.
• Individual Private Lesson
• Recital Hour
• Creative Expression in Music: Explores principals of theory, composition and improvisation in an experiential way to approach music performance and music literacy through a variety of musical genres and styles. Elements of musical form are a part of this creative process.
• Orchestra: Third-year and Fourth-year students comprise the MAP Orchestra. The Orchestra periodically rehearses separately in Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra configurations and each semester’s study culminates in a combined concert.

Fourth Year

• Music Theroy II: A systematic study of the basic organization of music, from scales to traditional four-part harmony. Instruction includes a review of Music Theory I in addition to exploration of music analysis, harmonization of melodic lines and melodic dictation.
• Individual Private Lesson
• Recital Hour
• Capstone/Audition Preparatory Class: The Capstone course provides a historical context for Western Art music and explores performance practice. Also, a portion of the course is dedicated to helping the student prepare for the audition process, including practice, constructive criticism and combating performance anxiety.
• Orchestra