Adult Music lessons & courses
Please check back periodically for new courses, or contact us for more information
If you're more interested in private lessons, or want to learn how to teach yourself, click below for more info.
Awesome adult music courses that are affordable, fun and inspiring!
For each course, you'll receive helpful materials such as links to online resources, printed sheet music, and music theory sheets.
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Weekly recaps are sent out after each class, including practice/study suggestions for the week, so even if you miss a class you'll be able to continue learning!
All courses listed are held in-person at Keylab. We have HEPA filtration in our classrooms.
Instruments are cleaned and disinfected before classes.
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Piano & Music Theory Basics
Levels 1 & 2
"I took the Piano and Music Theory Basics class with Adrian and highly recommend it to anyone interested in building a foundation for playing the piano. I left the course feeling more experienced and invigorated to continue practicing. It’s not your basic piano course, with simplistic exercises void of connection to playing songs. The scope of the course delivered musical theory concepts in a digestible way while challenging participants throughout. It was highly informative and personal with small class size you can get all your questions in and time to build on areas you need to develop. Week after week there was a nice balance reflective exercises and new material. It helped me; understand basic piano layout, musical notation, put musical theory concepts like pitch, rhythm, tempo into action, built my musical lexicon, and practice physical techniques. It was a fun and rewarding experience. Well worth it!"
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 7:00pm
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Course scheduled from October 2023 - June 2024. Click "Book Course" to see available session dates
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4-week courses
In-person at Keylab
Classes are 60 minutes long
$200
PMTB Level 1 - open to all musicians and skill levels, and no musical knowledge is required to participate.
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PMTB Level 2 - for people who have taken Piano and Music Theory Basics - Level 1; or people who can read basic sheet music, play basic piano pieces hands together, know some basic chords and music theory. and who want to deepen their music theory knowledge and piano skills.
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Please note that adult classes are non-refundable.
With at least 2 weeks notice of cancelation prior to the start of a course, we will offer credit towards another course.
PIANO & MUSIC THEORY BASIC LEVELS 1 & 2 DESCRIPTIONS
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Piano & Music Theory Basics - Level 1 is a fun entry level four week long adult music course that is perfect for first time beginners or people with some music background looking to firm up their musical foundation.
In each 60 minute class you will work on developing piano technique, learning how to read music, and practicing playing songs in a variety of styles.
By the end of the four week course, you will understand a lot more about basic foundational music theory concepts and will be able to play simple piano pieces with confidence.
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Some of the topics covered in this course:
Reading music - pitch and rhythm reading
Chords - Major and minor triads
Scales - the C major scale
Piano Pieces - Music used for this course will consist of a variety of pieces from different styles and eras
Song Form - learning to recognize the different sections of a song, and how to understand basic song form
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Piano & Music Theory Basics - Level 2 is a continuation of the level 1 course. This fun 4-week course is for people who can read basic sheet music and know some basic chords and music theory, and want to deepen their music theory knowledge and piano skills.
In each 60 minute class you will work on developing piano technique, learning how to read music, and practicing playing songs in a variety of styles.
By the end of the four week course, you will understand a lot more about basic foundational music theory concepts and will be able to play simple piano pieces with confidence.
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What is covered in this course:
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Reading music
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Review of pitch notation for treble and bass clef
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Review of rhythms from level 1 (whole, half, quarter, and 8th note rhythms)
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Learning 16th note rhythms
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Chords
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Review of basic major and minor triads
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Learning basic 6th and 7th chords
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Scales - The C major scale, 2 octaves
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Playing Piano Pieces - Music used for this course will consist of classical and theory exercises, and one or more rock/pop/R&B songs.
Details:
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This course is open to all musicians and skill levels, but is best for musicians who have completed Piano and Music Theory Basics Level 1 or are at a similar skill level.
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The instructor will review basic information but will not be able to take extensive time to explain concepts covered in other courses. Please choose your course level carefully.
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Making Music in Ableton Live
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 7:15pm - 8:45pm
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8-week beginner level course
In-person at Keylab
Classes are 90 minutes long
$450 or two payments of $225
Click "Book Course" to see available session dates
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Open to musicians and non-musicians.
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No musical knowledge or previous experience with music production software is required to participate.
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You must have a laptop which you can bring to class and can run Ableton Live (see details below).
Please note that adult courses are non-refundable.
With at least 2 weeks notice of cancelation prior to the start of a course, we will offer credit towards another course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
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Making Music in Ableton Live - Level 1 is the perfect class for budding producers of all styles looking to step up their game, or for anyone who wants to learn their way around one of the world's most popular music production programs.
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Each class covers a main topic that we will explore together through various exercises. Participants will also be allowed time to work privately on their own pieces under guidance of the instructor.
By the end of this 8-week course, you will have a much stronger understanding of the most essential music production & songwriting concepts, and you’ll be able to confidently write songs and produce your own tracks! ​
Production topics include:
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Using MIDI keyboards and virtual instruments
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Understanding the basics of waveform synthesis & audio sampling
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Learning how to edit audio
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Using effects like reverbs and delays
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Recording live in real time
Songwriting topics include
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Coming up with strategies for creating musical parts,
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Using chords/harmony
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Understanding basic song form,
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Arranging, layering, and mixing tracks together to create a final piece
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NOTE: You will need Ableton Live Intro, Standard, or Suite to take this course. Ableton a free trial for 30 days. After your trial, you can decide which edition is right for you to purchase. When you enroll in the course, we will help you with choosing the right edition, but feel free to contact us if you have any questions about which edition of Ableton live is right for you!
Unsure of your skill level?
Use this guide to help you choose your class.
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Beginner Classes - For complete beginners, or amateurs who want to start from the ground up and review foundational concepts and skills.
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Experienced Beginner - For people who have previous experience, understand the basics, and are ready to move to the next level.
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Intermediate Classes - For people who have a good amount of previous experience and are fluent with the basics and ready to level up for bigger challenges.
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Still unsure which course is right for you? Contact us!
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Adult LESSON/COURSE FAQ
ARE YOU OFFERING IN PERSON ADULT MUSIC CLASSES AND LESSONS?
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Yes! Most adult music courses are offered in-person at Keylab, and we will be adding both in-person and virtual courses periodically. Check the courses listed here for more information, or contact us at info@keylab.nyc to see if we have any courses coming up that have not been listed yet
WHAT DO I NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ADULT MUSIC COURSE?
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For in person courses - For most courses you'll just need to show up on time, and materials will be provided. Please check the course requirements and bring any sheet music or other materials listed if not provided.
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For virtual lessons or classes you will need:
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An instrument - For most of our classes piano will work best, but you can use any instrument unless the class is specifically geared towards a specific instrument.
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A Zoom account and the standalone Zoom app will provide the best experience.
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For lessons you'll need a camera and mic.
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For classes, you don't need a camera or mic, but your ability to participate will be limited without them.
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DO I HAVE TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MUSIC TO TAKE AN ADULT MUSIC COURSE?
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Most courses are open to all skill levels, including complete beginners, but some courses list recommended skill levels to help you get the most out of each course. Check the specific course you're interested in for details, or contact us if you're unsure if the class is appropriate for you.
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Even if you don't know much about a subject, or feel that you're not at the recommended skill level the class, you'll have access to course materials after the course is over, so you'll be able to use the course as a way to get started and work your way up quickly even if you aren't at the listed skill level of the course.
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AM I GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN CLASS?
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In most cases, you will only be able to hear yourself and the instructor, so you don't have to worry about other people hearing you play
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Sometimes we will ask students to try playing in class, either playing solo or in a group setting, but students will never have to perform or play anything for the group unless they are comfortable doing so!
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WHO TEACHES KEYLAB'S ADULT MUSIC COURSES?
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Our teachers are located mostly in NYC, but we also offer virtual lessons with creative, intelligent, and experienced educators from all over the world.
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HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD I SPEND PRACTICING EACH WEEK?
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It is completely up to you how much time you spend practicing. Our courses are designed so that you can spend as much or as little time as you want and you will still be able to learn.
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This being said, we do recommend that you try to review the materials and practice as much as possible each week so that you can get the most out of each class.
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If you find that you are not able to practice enough to fully grasp the material each week, or even for the entire course, you will still have all of the materials, instructions, and supplemental info so that you can work on the material whenever you want.
HOW MUCH DO ADULT MUSIC COURSES COST?
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Most of our 4 week courses cost around $150-300. Please see class details for specifics.
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DO YOU OFFER REFUNDS FOR COURSES?
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We don't offer credits or refunds for missed or cancelled classes.
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If you give us at least at least 2 weeks notice before the course starts, we'll offer credit for another course or private lessons.
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Adult courses are non-refundable, and we will only offer credit for courses cancelled at least 2 weeks prior to the beginning of a course.
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WHY SHOULD I SIGN UP FOR AN ADULT MUSIC COURSE?
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Taking an adult music course can be a profoundly rewarding experience. Even if you're too busy to have a regular practice routine, our courses are designed to give you everything you need to learn and grow musically at your own pace.
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Learning new things is the foundation to lifelong growth, and learning music as an adult has been conclusively proven to help develop and maintain brain function.
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WHAT ARE KEYLAB'S ADULT MUSIC CLASSES LIKE EACH WEEK?
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Keylab's adult music classes are fun, social, and laid back, but packed with great information and materials designed to help you create a strong and solid musical foundation.
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We use a variety of music from many styles that is fun to play, and we don't use boring adult method books.
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Because adults play in a group setting, but can usually only hear themselves and the instructor (the instructor won't even hear you play in most cases) you are under no pressure to demonstrate expertise in anything covered in class, and you can feel free to participate as much or as little as you want to.
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WHAT IF I MISS MY ADULT MUSIC CLASS?
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Recaps and materials are sent after each class, so if you can't make a class, you can still go over the material and be ready for the next week's class.
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I DON'T HAVE AN INSTRUMENT. CAN YOU HELP ME BUY ONE?
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If you don't have an instrument, we'll help you get one!
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You can go to this page for information and links to our recommended pianos and digital keyboards
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Feel free to contact us for more info on purchasing an instrument
I'M AFRAID I'LL FAIL AT ADULT MUSIC COURSES!​
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You don't need talent to learn to play piano or other instruments.
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Anyone who puts in a good effort will get something out of our courses
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There is no failure with our music courses. Just show up and enjoy learning, talking about, and playing music with other people!
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If you feel like you are struggling to keep up in class, contact us for help and we'll be happy to do what we can to make sure you are getting the most out of our adult music courses.