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Program Information

Program Information

Taylor Academy

The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists offers intense and well-rounded musical training in an extracurricular format. Students enter The Taylor Academy in September through an audition the previous spring, and are placed in either the Junior or Senior Academy, based on age. The Taylor Academy program is designed around a core curriculum that includes private lessons, performance through master classes and concerts, and academic courses.

Faculty

The Taylor Academy provides exceptional teaching by dedicated faculty. As part of their training, students are assigned to a private studio with one of our esteemed instrumental faculty.

See the complete list of Faculty  

Junior Academy: The Junior Academy currently accepts students ages 8 to 13 in the disciplines of strings and piano. Activities typically take place on Friday evenings and Saturdays. 

Core Curriculum

Private Lessons
When: Various (arranged at the convenience of the teacher and student)
Students receive 30 hours of private lessons with a Taylor Academy faculty member during the Academic year. Students are assigned to a teacher's studio upon entry to The Taylor Academy, through consultation with the Director.

Performance Class
When: Friday
An informal masterclass setting provides a supportive environment of mentorship and learning as students perform for highly esteemed visiting guest artists and their peers. Junior Academy students have opportunities to perform in masterclasses throughout the academic year. Other performance-related seminars may take place on weeks where no masterclass is scheduled.

Chamber Ensembles
When: Various (Friday or Saturday, determined by student/coach availability)
Upon the approval of the Program Coordinator, students are placed in chamber groups. Weekly coachings and rehearsals provide an opportunity to connect with other students and develop ensemble skills.

Choir
When: Saturday
All Junior Academy pianists participate in choir, and Junior Academy strings have the option to be involved. The choir rehearses weekly and performs in two annual concerts.

Academic Courses
When: Saturday
All Junior Academy students take musicianship, theory, and history classes. Some courses are eligible for Royal Conservatory Examinations credit.

Performances
When: Various
Taylor Academy students participate in a wide variety of concerts and other performance opportunities throughout the year, and are expected to attend concerts as audience members to support their peers.

Junior Chamber Orchestra
When: Friday
Junior Academy Strings students meet bi-weekly as an orchestra and perform two annual concerts. Sectional rehearsals throughout the year provide extra mentorship and instruction.

Friday Schedule

  5:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 8:30 PM
Jr.Strings Jr. Strings Performance Class/JCO BREAK Chamber Ensembles
Jr. Piano Jr. Piano Performance Class BREAK Chamber Ensembles
Sr. Strings Chamber Ensembles BREAK Sr. Strings Performance Class  
Sr. Piano Chamber Ensembles BREAK Sr. Piano Performance Class
Sr. Winds Chamber Ensembles BREAK Sr. Winds Performance Class
Sr. Voice Sr. Voice Performance Class: Ensembles (F) / Acting (S) BREAK Sr. Voice Performance Class: Diction (F) / Acting (S)

Saturday Schedule

8:30 AM 9:00 AM 9:30 AM 10:30 AM 11:30 AM 12:30 PM 1:30 PM 2:30 PM
Intermediate Musicianship 1 Senior Musicianship 1 Senior Musicianship 2 Junior Musicianship Senior Musicianship 3 Intermediate Musicianship 2 Advanced Musicianship (Fall)
  Junior Choir   History 10 History 9   Introduction to Music History
  Theory 5/6 Harmony 9 Theory 7 Harmony 9 Composition 1 (Fall)
  Harmony 9 Harmony ARCT Analysis ARCT   Composition 2 (Spring)

Senior Academy: The Senior Academy currently accepts students ages 14 to 18 in the disciplines of strings, piano, voice, woodwinds, horn, and classical guitar. Students typically graduate at the end of high school. However, members of The Taylor Academy who wish to take an extra year between their secondary and postsecondary education to focus on music studies are encouraged to do so, and may request permission to complete an extra year in The Taylor Academy. Activities typically take place on Friday evenings and Saturdays. 

Core Curriculum

Private Lessons
When: Various (arranged at the convenience of the teacher and student)
Students receive 30 hours of private lessons with a Taylor Academy faculty member during the Academic year. Students are assigned to a teacher's studio upon entry to The Taylor Academy, through consultation with the Director.

Performance Class
When: Friday
Masterclasses with highly esteemed visiting guest artists provide valuable performance experience and mentorship opportunities for student performers and their peers. Senior Academy students have opportunities to perform in masterclasses throughout the academic year. Other performance-related seminars may take place on weeks where no masterclass is scheduled. Senior Academy voice performance classes also include sessions on acting, movement, language study, and other elements vital to the discipline.

Chamber Ensembles
When: Various (Friday or Saturday, determined by student/coach availability)
All Senior Academy instrumentalists participate in ensembles, which are arranged by the Director and Program Coordinators. Senior vocalists participate in a weekly Friday small ensemble class.

Academy Chamber Orchestra
When: Saturday
Senior Academy Strings students rehearse weekly as an orchestra and perform two annual concerts. Sectional rehearsals throughout the year provide extra rehearsal opportunities.

Academic Courses
When: Saturday
All Senior Academy students take musicianship, theory, and history classes. Some courses are eligible for Royal Conservatory Examinations credit.

Performances
When: Various
Taylor Academy students participate in a wide variety of concerts and other performance opportunities throughout the year, and are expected to attend concerts as audience members to support their peers.

Friday Schedule

  5:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 8:30 PM
Jr.Strings Jr. Strings Performance Class/JCO BREAK Chamber Ensembles
Jr. Piano Jr. Piano Performance Class BREAK Chamber Ensembles
Sr. Strings Chamber Ensembles BREAK Sr. Strings Performance Class  
Sr. Piano Chamber Ensembles BREAK Sr. Piano Performance Class
Sr. Winds Chamber Ensembles BREAK Sr. Winds Performance Class
Sr. Voice Sr. Voice Performance Class: Ensembles (F) /  Acting (S) BREAK Sr. Voice Performance Class: Diction (F) / Acting (S)

Saturday Schedule

8:30 AM 9:00 AM 9:30 AM 10:30 AM 11:30 AM 12:30 PM 1:30 PM 2:30 PM
Intermediate Musicianship 1 Senior Musicianship 1 Senior Musicianship 2 Junior Musicianship Senior Musicianship 3 Intermediate Musicianship Advanced Musicianship (Fall)
    History ARCT History 10 History 9   Introduction to Music History
ACO Theory 5/6 Harmony  Theory 7 Harmony 10 Composition 1 (Fall)
  Harmony 9 Harmony ARCT Analysis ARCT   Composition 2 (Spring)